HEROES

TWO LANDLORDS HAVE PARTNERED WITH THE LORD’S PLACE TO FIND A SOLUTION TO THE LOCAL HOUSING CRISIS

BY SAM KERRIGAN

Nyasha and Ike Chimbandi are putting their real estate know-how to work helping unhoused people in Palm Beach County—and it all started with an empty rental unit and a chance encounter with a man in need whom they housed for free.

“We were like: ‘You know what? Go ahead and use our place,’” Ike recalls. “In the meantime, we contacted [Palm Beach County] and got him services. He stayed there for three weeks.”

“That’s when we realized there was a need in the county for affordable housing,” Nyasha adds.

The couple founded their nonprofi t, We Second Chance, fi ve years ago to purchase, manage, and provide safe and affordable housing to people in need. Now, through a partnership with The Lord’s Place, they’ve helped dozens of local families fi nd housing.

Deirdre is one of the Chimbandis’ residents who turned to The Lord’s Place when serious medical issues set her back. “I couldn’t have done it without The Lord’s Place and without people like the Chimbandis who have the properties to give to people like me,” Deirdre says. Now, she says,

she fi nally feels at home again. “I get the opportunity to take my life back with dignity.”

The Chimbandis currently have more than 30 people living in their homes, all referred to them by The Lord’s Place. They say every resident is like a part of the family. “Our whole family is involved, so it’s extremely fulfi lling ... for my husband, me, and our children,” Nyasha says.

Ike says their effort to help others has been an eyeopening experience in more ways than one. “Prior to doing this work you don’t realize how close you are to homelessness yourself,” he notes.

Calvin Phillips, vice president of The Lord’s Place’s housing services, says the Chimbandis’ deep understanding of his organization’s mission allows their close collaboration to have an even greater community impact. “We started out saying it was a partnership, but now we talk on a regular basis, and it’s become more of a family,” Phillips says. “They understand the work we’re doing, how we deal with the homeless [population], and what we’re looking for when we’re talking about affordable housing.”

The Chimbandis are on a mission to keep expanding We Second Chance so that they can continue to be a part of the solution to homelessness in Palm Beach County. They say they’re proud to be working with an agency like The Lord’s Place that shares their same goals.

“This is something that’s much bigger than my husband and I,” Nyasha says. “We love working with The Lord’s Place and their approach to ending homelessness. They recognize it’s not a one [person] show.” (wesecondchance.com) «

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“PRIOR TO DOING THIS WORK YOU DON’T REALIZE HOW CLOSE YOU ARE TO HOMELESSNESS YOURSELF.” —IKE CHIMBANDI V WATCH SAM’S “HOMETOWN HEROES” SEGMENT MONDAY MORNINGS ON CBS12 NEWS