Who We Are
Family Promise of the Big Bend was founded in 1986, and for many years was known as the Big Bend Homeless Coalition. We are an affiliate of the national Family Promise, the leading national nonprofit addressing family homelessness, providing homelessness prevention, emergency shelter, workforce development, education, financial capability, health and wellness, and so much more.
Our mission is to end homelessness in the Big Bend through leadership, education, advocacy, and the provision of quality services. We provide:
- Emergency shelter for families at HOPE
- Rehousing services for veterans and persons who are homeless
- 3 affordable housing complexes that serve formerly homeless veterans and low-income families.
We’re open 24-hours a day, 7-days a week. It’s the kind of work that takes people with kind hearts and keen abilities to deal with people in crisis. Our board is appreciative of our team that deals with family crises with such grace and understanding.
Based in Tallahassee, we serve the entire Big Bend community. We rely on the compassion and generosity of hundreds of donors and volunteers.
Staff Leadership
Executive Leadership
Nick Maddox
Nick Maddox, CEO, is a passionate advocate for families in crisis. As a child, he had first-hand experience with the hardship of being homeless. He leads a dedicated team committed to helping families with emergency shelter and affordable housing solutions.
Chief Operating Officer
Tamika Fields
Tamika Fields, COO, provides the leadership to our operational team. She is experienced in personnel management, project management, implementation of process innovation. She leads a team of 50 strong who are dedicated 24/7 to help our community members in crisis.
Property Manager/Homeless Veterans Liaison
Tim Griffith
Tim Griffith opened our newest Division in 2024 and heads our property management efforts. This includes managing our three properties which serve formerly homeless veterans, low-income families and persons with special needs.. He is a veteran and has a gift for partnering with local businesses and volunteers to reign in our costs.
Director Finance and Administration
Tara Hall
Tara Hall, Director Finance and Administration, leads our financial and human resource efforts. Tara ensures that we are cost-efficient with our funds, and keeps an eye toward ensuring that our partners and donors understand the organization runs efficiently.
Board Leadership
Board Chair
Shamarial Roberson
Shamarial Roberson, Board Chair, is a nationally recognized public health leader who most recently served as Florida's Deputy Secretary for Health and now leads DSR Consulting & Management, LLC. She holds a doctorate in public health from Florida A&M University and a Master of Public Health from Florida State University. "My passion is health and well-being, and there is significant evidence that safe housing is critical to a family's well-being. Our board is committed to continued expansion of our efforts."
Vice Chair and Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee
David Vincent
David Vincent, Vice Chair and Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee, is President of JRA Architects. Family Promise is committed to growing our footprint of affordable housing units, and we appreciate the expertise that David brings on new development.
Secretary
Brenda Williams
Brenda Williams, Secretary, is the former Executive Director of the Tallahassee Housing Authority (THA), bringing more than 30 years of experience in affordable housing administration and policy. She previously served as Chief of Staff for the New Orleans Housing Authority and ran her own consulting firm specializing in affordable housing and supportive community services. Her deep expertise in public housing systems, landlord relationships, and housing policy is an invaluable asset to our board.
Finance Committee Chair
Michael Yaworsky
Michael Yaworsky, Finance Committee Chair, serves as the Florida Insurance Commissioner and brings a wealth of expertise in government and regulatory issues. Family Promise is funded by federal, state, and local government funding that requires regulatory and financial compliance, so Mike's skillset is valued.
Miron Richardson
Miron Richardson is Vice President of Universal Retail Banking at VyStar Credit Union, where he oversees branch operations, business development, and community partnerships across the Tallahassee metro market. He has built partnerships with more than 80 nonprofit organizations and brings deep expertise in financial wellness and community investment to our board.
Captain LaCarra James
LaCarra James is a decorated law enforcement professional with the Leon County Sheriff's Office, where she serves on the command staff administration and special services for the Leon County Detention Facility. Captain James brings deep community ties and a firsthand understanding of the intersection between public safety, housing instability, and family welfare. Her perspective and relationships across Leon County government and law enforcement are a valuable complement to our board as we continue to grow our community partnerships.
