As a small church built under the leadership of Reverend Otis C. Green in the late 1950’s, Everybody’s Tabernacle was the catalyst for HEP, which was founded in 1986. The church remains an integral part of this groundbreaking organization and is the backbone of HEP.

Over the years, the church has sacrificed for the betterment of both entities. Rather than use the church grounds to build additional worship centers to increase members and money in the collection plate, Everybody’s Tabernacle has remained a small church with unwavering adherence to its original mission: to help those in need.

The church’s three square blocks have been utilized to expand HEP’s campus to build additional services facilities, housing for individuals and families, and a thrift store to bring money back into HEP, while providing free clothes, furniture and housewares to the clients.


Our Founder, the Late Reverend
Otis C. Green “Preacher”

Otis was born in Alabama on September 2, 1926. His family moved to Florida shortly after his birth and the Green's settled in Largo, where Otis' mother used to give food to the transients who invariably showed up on the train tracks adjacent to his childhood home. His mother gave him all the inspiration he needed.

A block mason by trade, Otis built Everybody's Tabernacle from the ground up, and thereafter,  began implementing his church's mission to help those in need by delivering clothes and food to the poor. Otis continued to open his doors to anyone in need of shelter, food or employment. If he couldn't find them a job, he'd employ them himself.

Otis has been recognized as an outstanding leader in the community. His voice on policy, faith, and social issues led to honors from Governors Lawton Chiles and Jeb Bush, Congressman Michael Bilirakis, and Jack and Ruth Eckerd. The Mayor of Clearwater honored Otis with his lifetime achievement award and named the former LaSalle Street in his name.
 
His accolades include a Proclamation from the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners as an outstanding citizen for his efforts to end homelessness, the prestigious America's Award in 1998 from the Norman Vincent Peale Positive Thinking Foundation, the Golden Rule Award by JC Penney in 1999, and Florida's Finest Award by Governor Lawton Chiles in 1994. Furthermore, he and his wife Barbara were the first couple ever to be named Mr. and Mrs. Clearwater by the Clearwater Chamber of Commerce.
 
Homeless Emergency Project, Inc. (HEP) was incorporated under section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code in 1986, as a vehicle to extend the reach of the homeless assistance program through charitable contributions.
 
A decade later, he'd built two apartment complexes for families and individuals with disabilities and purchased properties adjacent to the church for additional housing for the homeless. He donated his own rental properties to expand the program's web of assistance and constructed a kitchen and dining area to provide free daily meals.
 
He also constructed a free dental clinic and offices to house a full-time staff and volunteers. Residents now have the ability to receive career and mental health services without leaving the grounds of HEP.
 
Today, HEP is one of the most outstanding charitable outreach programs in the country, helping over 1,000 people in need each year. The program's exceptionality is rooted in its ability to deliver supportive housing and dynamic personal growth that empower people to begin again on stable financial and emotional ground.
 
Otis will be missed greatly by his large and loving family, his loyal congregation, and countless volunteers from the community. We will never forget the man we call "Preacher" and the ideals he stood for, ideals that were the guiding lights of his great works.