|
House
of Hope programs
House of Hope's service programs provide
assistance to Martin County residents in need.
-
Food Pantry.
-
Clothes Closet: Clothing and small
household goods.
-
Project HOPE: Financial assistance,
case management, furniture and appliances,
holiday programs.
Eligibility varies for each program.
Appointments are required for Project HOPE
programs, but Martin County
residents can walk in and receive food and
clothing assistance at the House of Hope
location nearest
them (Stuart, Hobe Sound, Indiantown and Jensen
Beach).
To
make an appointment or ask questions, please
call (772) 286-4673 during normal business hours
of 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday.
The House
of Hope's food pantries are the leading source of food
for the hungry in Martin County. With answers to a
few simple questions, people can receive a supply of
nutritionally balance groceries. For example, a family
of four will usually be given about 25 pounds of staples
-- enough to sustain them for a few days.
As more
people struggle with their monthly bills, they are
increasingly turning to food banks to help stretch their
dollars. About one-third to one-half of the food
provided by House of Hope feeds hungry children in
Martin County. Senior citizens on low fixed incomes also
represent a large portion of the clients regularly
served by House of Hope food pantries.
Service statistics for 2008-2011 (PDF)
Families seeking help from House of
Hope often lack the resources to buy sufficient clothing
and other necessities. House of Hope's "Clothes Closet" program
provides
clothing and small household necessities free or a significantly low cost to people who would otherwise do without.
The "Clothes Closets" at each House of Hope
location double as
income-producing stores. Donations and
purchases help House of Hope provide services to
people struggling through hard times.
Service statistics for 2008-2011 (PDF)
Project
HOPE (Helping Others Progress through Empowerment)
includes financial assistance, case management, help
with furniture and appliances, and holiday programs.
Financial Assistance:
Since the
mid-1990s, House of Hope has conducted a program
to pay the rent/mortgage, household
utilities or prescription medications for families and individuals
who are struggling for
stability at times of crisis. Typically, these people are low-wage
workers, low fixed-income seniors,
single parents, and people facing a sudden life crisis
(divorce, abandonment, abuse, death in the family, major
medical issue, etc.).
Case Management:
Over the years,
House of Hope generally has focused
on providing short-term aid to help people get
through a period of crisis. However, people who
request help from House of Hope generally have
more complex problems that one-time assistance
can provide. Additionally, in today’s
disastrous economic climate, many clients are newly
unemployed middle-class wage earners who have
exhausted their personal resources. They are
suddenly desperate and unfamiliar with services
and benefits that may be available to them.
In
2008, the agency implemented a case
management program to address these longer-term needs
and help guide people toward economic
stability and self-reliance. In addition to being able
to provide short-term financial relief, case workers
can help clients make a plan
for bringing greater stability to their lives --
and the lives of their family members. Such
planning involves helping clients access
training and educational opportunities,
referring them to other support services in the
community, and helping them improve life skills
such as managing their household finances.
Furniture and appliances: This component of
Project Hope has eligibility guidelines similar
to the financial assistance program. Clients
often are families who need a bed for their
children, or women who are escaping domestic
abuse and need to set up a new place to live.
Holiday programs: Individuals, families, neighborhoods, businesses, civic and
faith-based organizations, etc., are welcome to adopt a House of
Hope family during the Christmas season. House
of Hope also refers eligible client families to
the White Doves Holiday Project. These programs
generally begin accepting sign-ups in October
each year.
Service statistics for 2008-2011 (PDF)
Read more about people helped by
House of Hope >>
|