Gospel Inc.
Services
- Repurpose Art Studio for Women
- Local neighborhood help for the homeless and chronically homeless
- Coming Soon: Gospel Town — housing for the chronically homeless
In the last two years, Brian Seeley and Gospel Inc. have fundraised almost half a million dollars to help build something new for the homeless in Lakeland — permanent housing for the chronically homeless.
The chronically homeless are people that have been homeless for at least three to five years, if not more, and more than likely have a disability that keeps them from holding down a job.
“On the practical side of things, there’s nothing that a chronically homeless person, or even just a low-income person, can do to afford rent,” Seeley says. “If you’re on disability and have a fixed income, $750 a month might be your entire check.”
In 2018, a team from Gospel Inc. visited a community like this in Austin, Texas, to see how it was accomplished and managed. The Community First Village has been a great model for Seeley and his team in establishing a village like this in Lakeland.
The hope is to start with 50 homes and expand to at least 250. Gospel Inc. staff will be onsite to help and encourage, and to help residents work jobs at Gospel Inc. and in Gospel Town that will help them pay rent for their homes — the first rule of living in Gospel Town.
Currently, Gospel Inc. works in the areas north of downtown Lakeland near the same areas as Lighthouse Ministries, Talbot House, and Parker Street Ministries. Their Repurpose Art Studio shares space with the Market Lofts near Haus 820, and they work with women through art and teach them skills through creating.
You can often see Seeley and his Gospel Inc. team walking through the downtown neighborhoods, especially on Friday nights, building relationships with the homeless of the city. They hope that they can help engage with them and build relationships with them, and assist them in getting the help they need where they’re at.
They’re also creating a program where men can learn skills that can help them develop a trade.
How you can help
Gospel Inc. welcomes anyone from Lakeland to be a part of their community, whether it’s taking the time weekly to join them in the neighborhood or through setting up a Serve Day with a local church or organization. Gospel Inc. is also funded primarily through private funding.
For more information about Gospel Inc. you can visit them on Facebook or at their website gospelinc.org