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Goals For Diversity
 Our goal statement for Citrus County's needs is as follows:
- To lay a foundation that will spread the Gospel to those who need it most and have poor fundamentals for living in the world today.
- To meet the needs of those individuals for food, shelter and emergency care.
- To place them in an environment that represents the teachings of the Bible.
No client who is actively abusing controlled substances will be allowed to stay at the facility. Following commitment to The Path's program, each client, according to the discretion of the Director, will be given enough time to change their personal circumstances, learn proper guidelines from the Gospel and be prepared to reintegrate with society.
 Each client will be required to do various chores at the shelter, bargain store and Path farm.
Each client will be required to search for work and report their progress to their case manager and the Director. The client will commit to a savings plan with an approximate goal of $1,000, so that the client will be equipped to live on their own. Once a client establishes income, The Path charges 20% of income for a program fee to encourage responsible budgeting and bill-paying.
The Director has plans to start a discipleship program for those who are dedicated to the Lord's work. This does not necessarily include clients.
 The Director has launched an organic farming project to provide food for the shelter and the hungry in our community. Future plans include a soup kitchen to feed not only the shelter but any other soul in need of a hot meal or some fellowship. The soup kitchen would supply a constant need to the community for fresh food and once the supply lines are open, could keep larger organizations involved in giving large amounts of food for the shelter. The Director has plans for raising funds outside the normal channels of donations, such as fund raisers, grants, foundation support and direct mailings.
This idea includes the involvement of the local churches, their volunteers, pastors, and key people, working with the shelter to help provide the funds for every-day bills and needs. It also includes the labor involved in building or improving the property. The service of the leaders is to direct the Bible studies, prayers and cooking of the meals.
Yours sincerely with Gods commitment,
DuWayne Sipper
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Help Support
The Path
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Additional Resources
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Visit GuideStar (your non-profit watchdog) to verify The Path's
IRS Filing Form 990
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We wish to avoid the temptation to argue our commission. We will keep the spirit of Christ's love in accomplishing what God has told us to do. We seek the Holy Spirit's guidance on how to distribute all of God's assets. We will serve the public with humility, honesty and integrity.
Our Statement of Faith
- We believe the Bible to be the inspired, infallible, and authoritative Word of God.
- We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and HolySpirit.
- We believe in the Deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, His sinless life, His atoning death on the cross, and His bodily resurrection from the grave.
- We believe that Jesus Christ ascended to the right hand of the Father, now rules as Head of His Body, the Church, and will personally return in power and glory.
- We believe that man in his natural state is lost and thus alienated from God and that salvation through personal faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ is essential.
- We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling a Christian is made spiritually alive and enabled to live a Godly life.
- We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost, they who are saved unto the resurrection of life, and they who are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
- We believe in the spiritual unity of the believers in Christ.
If any man be jealous of me, let him be jealous that God has touched me with love in my heart.
DuWayne Sipper
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About the Path Shelter for Homeless Men, Women and Children
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 The Path of Citrus County ("The Path") is a faith-based rescue mission located in Citrus County, Florida. In operation since 2001, with a 2009 budget at $552,000, this organization is committed to the needs of homeless men, women and their children and provides a structured, nurturing living environment for anyone who becomes homeless for any reason. Staff members make every effort to assist anyone regardless of ethnicity, age, gender or creed. The Path provides services to the homeless regardless of geographic area and has received calls from as far west as the Florida panhandle, and as far south as Tampa due to 211, the emergency referral phone number. However, most clients requesting shelter are from Citrus County. Currently, The Path is the only shelter in Citrus County for non- abused women and their children.
 The Path shelter consists of two houses for men and a house for women, six beds each and fully equipped with bedrooms, bath, laundry, kitchen and common living areas. The Path shelters single fathers or single mothers with children. All houses are equipped to provide for the needs of infants and children. Parent and children are housed together. Additional facilities include a multi-purpose building/office, a bargain/thrift store managed by a Path graduate (provides revenue for the shelter, work therapy for clients, opportunities to fulfill community service hours, a central location for free giveaways to the needy), and 10 acres of loaned farm land to grow crops, shrubs and trees (provides work therapy for clients, food for the shelters, and supports local "green" initiatives).
 Recovery is achieved at The Path through providing food, clothing and shelter, work therapy, case management, individual and group counseling, biblical guidance, chapel services and bible studies, a Christian twelve-step recovery program, basic budgeting, job training opportunities, advocacy support with the county legal system and social services, and assistance in establishing stability through development of life skills and future goals. There is no time limit for the length of stay. Clients agree to program guidelines on intake, and stay as long as a counselor deems necessary to retrain, afford the cost of living on their own, or save for their own permanent housing.
 Over the years, Executive DuWayne Sipper has built significant outreach networks within the local community to assist Path residents in obtaining needed support and services to achieve self-sufficiency. The Path provides client advocacy support with Citrus County courts, probation department, legal aid services, child and family services, and other Citrus County Social Service agencies. Key relationships have been established with medical, dental, vision care and psychological practitioners to promote the physical and psychological well being of Path clients.
 Local beauty salons and barbershops provide free services that help rebuild a positive self-image. Transportation to offsite providers and services is provided with Path-owned vehicles at no cost to clients, and DuWayne was a major supporter behind the recent launch of the pilot program for public transportation.
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The Path Farm Project: Harvest Hope
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 The demands to provide food continue to exhaust food pantries within days. The Path of Citrus County has joined with other community groups and individuals to provide local food relief through our farm project, "Harvest Hope" by supplying fresh fruits and vegetables grown organically on 10 acres of loaned farmland from Hernando Church of the Nazarene. Plans are to continue expansion and development of this project, which began in 2005 and continues today. Our goal is to develop a sustainable farm by evaluating current environment-friendly farming methods to increase organic crop yields, and improving distribution to the organizations that focus on feeding programs in Citrus County. The Harvest Hope project: (1.) provides work therapy opportunities for our homeless clients, especially during the current economic climate where jobs are scarce and take longer to obtain; (2.) feeds the homeless men, women and children at the shelter (fresh food improves health and addiction recovery); and, (3.) provides for the community's needy by supplying fresh locally-grown produce to supplement grass roots food distribution efforts.
 Purchases and donations of farm equipment have alleviated many of the manual and labor intensive activities, and improved our ability to farm productively: general maintenance, water sprinklers, potted seedlings, implements, tarps, worm bins, purchase of a 1,000 gallon water tank and trailer, harrow, and purchase of 150 lb. scale to replace the 33 lb. scale. With additional funding support, the objective is to continue efficient farming improvements, including our use of available manpower, through purchase of environmentally-friendly supplies, a better tractor, a spreader to seed and fertilize, a farm supervisor and other items.
 The Path's farm project runs year round, with a variety of crops selected based on growing season. Using a third of the total acreage (3 acres), the farm project in 2009 has so far yielded over 1,000 lb. of produce-- broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, spinach, mustard greens, collards, romaine lettuce, radishes, cucumbers, yellow squash, zucchini, eggplant (two varieties), banana peppers, green peppers, several varieties of tomatoes, okra, and cantaloupe. In spite of drought in April 2009, the Harvest Hope farm project accomplished many goals during the first six months of 2009: (1.) improved crop yield baseline of 600 lb. to over 1,000 lb. (approx. 67%); (2.) distributed produce to The Path Shelter and 6 local food distribution programs; (3.) contributed to feeding over 2,500 men, women and children each month through the shelter and these community partners. During the first six months of 2009, at The Path alone a total of 5,019 meals were served, and a total of 55 men, women and children sheltered. Last year, The Path sheltered a total of 117 men, women and children, and fed over 10,000 meals.
All adults staying at the shelter are involved at the farm in some way, with additional support from volunteers, retired master gardeners and staff, including Executive Director, DuWayne Sipper. Several local restaurants are purchasing Path farm produce in support of this program, and produce is made available to the public at The Path Shelter Bargain Store.
 With support from the community, our donors, grants and support from local foundations, The Path's farm project can further impact The Path's ability to make a difference in our community: Not only to feed the homeless at our shelter, but connect with community organizations to serve anyone hungry and in need of food.
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 About ten years ago, DuWayne Sipper relocated from Palm Beach, Florida to Citrus County after doctors were unable to diagnose a serious life-threatening illness. One day, he got a burning desire to volunteer at a local homeless shelter. After several days of searching and making inquiries, DuWayne realized that no homeless shelter existed in Citrus County. So, he felt compelled to start one.
 It took 3 1/2 years for the first door to open: first, land donated and immediately sold; the sudden availability of two houses next to each other, purchased with the cash proceeds from the land sale; an established 501-c-3 with a board of directors seeking an executive director. The Path of Citrus County was established in 2001 with DuWayne Sipper at the helm.
 Through the joint efforts of Citrus community churches, scores of volunteers, private donors, donations and local grants, The Path of Citrus County initially provided one house dedicated to the needs of homeless men, one house dedicated to the needs of homeless women and their children, an administrative office, a play area and sanctuary garden. A second shelter house for men was acquired in August 2008. During their stay men, women and their children are provided a compassionate, nurturing, safe and structured environment while the proper long-term needs are addressed.
Two businesses were established to provide work therapy for clients, jobs and community service opportunities, and contribute financial support for The Path. A local church has loaned 10 acres for crop farming to provide organic fruits and vegetables for the shelter, since most clients when they arrive are malnourished. An additional building was purchased and converted to a thriving bargain store for new and gently used furniture, appliances, home furnishings and other household items. Today, The Path Shelter Store is managed by a Path graduate.
The Path's program is tailored to address any phase of sheltering, according to the needs of clients who commit to The Path's guidelines at intake: attending bible study, church services, group and individual counseling, work programs, coaching for life-skills, financial literacy, and seeking full-time employment. There is no tolerance for alcohol consumption, use of illegal drugs, or sexual misconduct.
 Clients stay as long as deemed necessary to transition effectively (although a client can leave at any time). Once clients have stabilized, obtained employment and accumulated modest savings, they are ready to graduate from the structured shelter environment.
From the beginning DuWayne Sipper saw the need to get help in the hands of the people who need it most. He developed an extensive resource guide, posted it on The Path's website and distributed to over 140 local churches, support ministries and other community service groups. This guide is still used today, and posted on many other organization websites as well. Outreach networks have been established throughout the Citrus County community to assist Path clients in obtaining needed support services to achieve self-sufficiency. Throughout their program, Path clients are referred to a variety of agencies and services to enhance their personal growth and employability.
 Path leadership also engages in outreach efforts to build a better community. Executive Director, DuWayne Sipper is an active member of several local service organizations, including the Citrus County Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club of Inverness, and member of the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions (AGRM), a national organization of rescue shelters for the homeless. Additionally, he is a current governing board member with the Early Learning Coalition, with the Mid Florida Homeless Coalition (MFHC) and Board President for The George A. Dame Health Center--a local medical and dental clinic for indigents-- in order to build networking relationships and maintain awareness with other service providers. Recently, he joined the steering committee organized to form the Citrus County food bank, "Feed Citrus", and steering committee for the Citrus County Economic Development Council for Agriculture. Sipper has been influential in the formal and informal networks to get food out to the community through individuals, churches, and the various food pantry organizations. The Path is also listed with 211, a resource hotline of community services.
 The local county newspaper, The Citrus County Chronicle (Sunday circulation of 33,000) has awarded DuWayne and The Path a regular monthly column to promote The Path's efforts in raising public awareness and support for providing affordable permanent housing in Citrus County. The Path is well known, supported and highly regarded in the Citrus County area because of DuWayne Sipper's efforts, vision and persistence.
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And He Shall Direct Your Path - Prov. 3: 6
Gary Bryant - President
5663 W Crossmoor Pl
Lecanto, FL 34461
352-344-3100
Connie Lobel - Treasurer
1537 E Ventnor Ln
Inverness, FL 34453
352-726-3200
Maria Converse - Secretary
5946 W. Osmond Ln
Dunnellon, FL 34433
352-586-5087
Stuart Green
1026 Russell Ave.
Inverness, FL 34453
352-637-3585
Mark Stone
715 S Adolph Point
Lecanto, FL 34461
352-746-2626
Dick Windle
3957 W Poinciana
Citrus Springs, FL 34434
352-489-4167
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Advisory Committee for the Path
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(Under Progress)
Dr. Randy T. Hodges - Sr. Pastor, Hernando Church of the Nazarene. (352) 726-6144
Chuck Morgan - Morgan Legacy Trust. Certified Senior Advisor (CSA) for financial planning; speaker, author and educator. (352) 527-1527
Dan Wilson - Florida Low Income Housing Associates, Inc. (352) 726-1113 or (888) 563-1110
Nancy Kennedy - author, speaker and columnist for The Citrus County Chronicle. (352) 563-6363 or (888) 852-2340
Ron Kitchen, Jr. - Mayor of Crystal River. (352) 795-9010 or (352) 795-2883
James T. Shidner - Rotarian, Rotary Club of Crystal River. (352) 527-4198
Rev. Don Moody - Executive Director of the Orlando Rescue Mission in Orlando Florida and assigned mentor to The Path by the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions. 407-422-4855
Bob Cohen - Owner of Bottomline Bookkeeping Service in Inverness. Bottomline has monitored the financial statements of the Path since 1999. 352-637-1122.
Association of Gospel Rescue Missions - Willing to counsel and lead in homeless missions across the United States. Over 280 missions founded by this group.1st Baptist of Leesburg is a standing member.
E-mail us at : sipperd@bellsouth.net
The Path of Citrus County
27 S. Melbourne Street, Beverly Hills, Florida 34465
352-527-6500
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