About House of Hope

House of Hope has been providing basic human needs for struggling people in Martin County, Fla., since 1984.

A nonprofit community service agency, House of Hope provides its core service programs at each of its four locations -- Stuart (Golden Gate), Hobe Sound, Indiantown and Jensen Beach:

House of Hope programs:

Food Pantry: House of Hope is the largest provider of food for the hungry in Martin County. In 2011, the agency provided people with 179 tons of food — the equivalent of about 280,000 meals -- through its four locations. More than a third of this amount feeds hungry children.

Clothes Closet: House of Hope gives thousands of garments, household items, furniture and appliances free to those who would otherwise go without. Items go to families and individuals as well as as veterans groups and other agencies.

Project HOPE: In 2011, the agency's longstanding financial assistance program became a component of Project HOPE (Helping Others Progress through Empowerment). House of Hope typically covers rent, utilities and prescriptions, but clients frequently have more complex problems than a one-time payment can address. Case management has developed as a say for House of Hope social workers to provide follow-up and longer-term service. The goal is to guide people through a period of crisis and help them access resources and/or training to bring greater economic stability to their lives.

Service statistics for 2008-2011 (PDF)

Who we help: Your neighbors

Those served by House of Hope typically are people who work for low wages and exist paycheck to paycheck, victims of personal life tragedies (such as a major medical catastrophe, death in the family or sudden job loss) and low fixed-income retirees who live on Social Security benefits of only a few hundred dollars a month.

Our clients are people like the cashier at the grocery store, the laundress who dry cleans your clothes, the waiter who serves your meals, the laborer who cuts your grass, the elderly man who helps take your groceries to the car, the tradesman who lost his job in the economic downturn, the saleswoman whose hours were cut. They are people you know, people you like. They are your neighbors in need.

More than 95% of House of Hope's resources come from within Martin County ... and stay in Martin County. Furthermore, nearly 92 cents of every dollar donated is used to provide program services.

In 2010, the major sources of HOH's income were as follows:

• Donations from individuals: 23%

• Thrift store revenue: 28%

• Grants/foundations: 19%

• Special events: 15%

• Congregations, businesses and organizations: 9%

• United Way: 6%

Other sources of agency funds include interest payments, bequests, and minor miscellaneous income.

More than 90% of the food House of Hope gives away each year comes from community donations. Most notable are the substantial donations made annually through:

• The National Association of Letter Carriers' "Stamp Out Hunger" food drive.

• The WPTV Channel 5 "Food for Families" drive each November.

• Various food drives held by churches, temples, communities, businesses, schools, Girl Scout troops, etc.

The 120+ volunteers offering their time and talent enable the agency to operate. Read more about volunteering >>

 

Very low overhead

The most recent House of Hope audit indicates that management and general expense combined with fund-raising expense is equal to 11 percent of our total expense.

That means nearly 89 cents of every dollar donated is dedicated to providing program services.