HOPE IS AN ACTION

For 30 years, Chapman Partnership has been addressing homelessness in Miami. Its latest venture with The Underline and Lennar Foundation transforms second chances into lasting, self-sufficient change.

By Yulia Strokova

Photo Courtesy of Chapman Partnership

Under the shaded paths of The Underline, Miami’s linear park that runs beneath the Metrorail, a quiet transformation is taking place. Seven individuals, once unhoused and now employed as park stewards, start their mornings clearing litter, tending to native plants, and caring for one of the city’s most ambitious urban green spaces. 

Their work is more than maintenance. It’s restoration, not just of the park, but of lives once uprooted.

“Working here has helped me learn new things and feel more confident,” says Levi Adams-Parker. “Seeing people smile or thank us makes me happy about the work I do.”

Nearby, Marie Rockemore moves with purpose, checking benches and planters to ensure the park looks just right. “I help with the daily operations that keep the park clean, organized, and welcoming,” she says. “I’ve learned to communicate better, work with different people, and take pride in what I do.”

Both Levi and Marie are part of CP Works, a new park stewards program created by Chapman Partnership in collaboration with The Underline and supported by the Lennar Foundation. 

The CP Works program prepares participants with certifications through Miami-Dade College and hands-on skill development. Graduates now earn real wages maintaining four miles of The Underline’s trails and green corridors, with plans to expand to 28 stewards as the park grows to its full 10-mile stretch.

“The Underline is for everyone,” says Patrice Gillespie Smith, Chief Operating Officer of The Underline. “We realized we could do more than just welcome people who are struggling with homelessness — we could provide them with opportunities. This program allows them to rebuild their lives through steady, dignified work.”

For Marshall Ames, chairman of the Lennar Foundation, this partnership symbolizes not only  workforce training, but a blueprint for civic responsibility.

“We have a philosophy: if you give a person a fish, you feed them a meal. If you teach them to fish, you feed them for a lifetime,” says Marshall Ames. 

“The mission of the Lennar Foundation isn’t to build parks, but to help people build independent, self-sufficient lives. The need for maintenance, repair, and care on The Underline will last for years, and we are happy to be partners with Chapman Partnership in providing skilled workers for that”.

Ending Homelessness: Thirty Years Strong

For more than three decades, Chapman Partnership has been at the heart of Miami’s advocacy against homelessness, offering not only shelter but also pathways to education, healthcare, and employment. 

As the private-sector partner of the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust, Chapman Partnership manages two Homeless Assistance Centers in Miami and Homestead, serving individuals impacted by domestic violence, veterans, people with disabilities, and unaccompanied youth, among others.

“For 30 years, the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust and Chapman Partnership have worked hand in hand to prove that homelessness is a solvable issue,” says Ron Book, Chairman of the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust. “Our progress shows what happens when compassion meets accountability and the public and private sectors truly work together in true partnership fashion.”

From left to right: Miguel Claro, Maintenance Services Supervisor of The Underline & Alex Paz, Vice President of  Education and Workforce Development of Chapman Partnership

Residents begin their journey by “stabilizing,” receiving healthcare, counseling, and essential services like internet access, daycare, and nutritious meals. From there, they move into education and employment. More than 100 community and government partners collectively guide residents toward independence.

“We’re changing everything we do in a trauma informed way to reflect a more positive, empathetic approach, what I call empathetic accountability,” says Alex Paz, Vice President of Education and Workforce Development at Chapman Partnership. 

“Everyone still needs to be responsible for their goals, whether it’s education, parenting, employment, or housing, but we can guide them with compassion. There’s a way to hold people accountable while also understanding their journey, and our team does a great job of that.”

“No One Sleeps on the Streets”

When Alvah Chapman Jr., then-publisher of the Miami Herald, helped establish the Homeless Trust and Chapman Partnership three decades ago, an estimated 10,000 people were living on the streets of Miami. His leadership, alongside a coalition of civic and business figures, created a model that still defines Miami’s approach to homelessness: prevention, rehabilitation, and reintegration.

Today, fewer than 1,000 individuals live unsheltered in Miami-Dade County, a testament to the endurance of that vision. 

By comparison, Los Angeles counts more than 50,000.

“Mr. Chapman always said he wanted Chapman Partnership to be the hub of community economic advancement, education, and resources, ultimately helping people find permanent housing,” continues Alex. 

“It’s much more than three meals and a place to sleep. It’s a thunderous defense of the least, the last, and the lost. ‘No one sleeps on the streets’ – that’s our mantra.”

From Alvah Chapman’s vision in the 1990s to today’s public-private collaborations, Chapman Partnership remains a cornerstone of Miami’s social fabric. Each year, it helps more than 2,300 people transition into permanent housing, supported by a team of 170 professionals and a network of care grounded in both empathy and accountability.

Toward Economic Mobility

“Our 30-year milestone isn’t just a celebration,” says Scott Hansel, CEO and president of Chapman Partnership. “It’s proof that long-term community investment works. The Park Stewards Program is an extension of that legacy, a living example of how innovation and collaboration keep our model evolving.”

Scott sees enormous potential in transforming initiatives like CP Works into a staffing and training agency, not only for Chapman’s clients but for others across Miami-Dade’s homelessness continuum of care. 

Rather than relying solely on traditional grants, the organization is exploring partnerships with municipalities, real estate developers, hotels, and hospitals for landscaping and maintenance contracts. 

Looking further ahead, Scott envisions a future where Chapman also owns and operates transitional workforce housing, affordable units linked directly to employment and education opportunities. This model would allow residents to move seamlessly from shelter to stability and, ultimately, to self-sufficiency.

“Housing in Miami is out of reach for too many people. If a two-bedroom apartment costs $2,500 a month, maybe we can offer it for half that — giving people more runway to rebuild their lives. We want to create what I call a bridge to self-determined success, combining workforce housing with employment programs like CP Works.”

Scott emphasizes that realizing this vision depends on strong cross-sector partnerships and new ways to sustain funding.

“We see ourselves as a vital part of Miami’s economic ecosystem, not just a charity,” he says. “Yes, we’re helping people on the margins of society find hope and reestablish themselves, and that’s a social and moral duty. But there’s also tremendous economic value in what we do. That’s the message I share with the business community: this isn’t just our issue, it’s everyone’s.”

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This article is sponsored by The Miami Foundation. We’re grateful to our partners who collaborate with us to bring meaningful stories to life.