Pathlight HOME grew from the teamwork of Reverend Fred Maxwell — a pastor, civil rights leader, and advocate for the homeless community — and Helaine Blum, an attorney and lifelong Central Floridian. Maxwell and Blum instinctively believed in Housing First, long before it became adopted by communities around North America. 

Together, they established Grand Ave. Economic Community Development Corp., and secured a federal grant to purchase and renovate a 75-unit motel building near Colonial Drive and John Young Parkway. This began the state of Florida’s original “Housing First” project. After the redevelopment of this property — now known as Maxwell Terrace — they purchased and renovated another motel building on Orange Blossom Trail, now known as Maxwell Garden.