HOPE Community Celebrates One Year Anniversary: March 7, 2006
What is HOPE Community?
HOPE Community is a comprehensive human services center designed to be a “one-stop-shop” to provide a seamless array of services to address the needs of the homeless. It will serve as an entry point to our continuum of care where coordinated services will be tailored to help meet the needs of homeless individuals and families. This single location will provide a multitude of services needed to help individuals and families move from homelessness to independent living.
These services will include:
* Separate dorms for families, women and men
*
Counseling and case management
* Job training and employment listings
* Access to mainstream resources and other social service benefits
* Parenting and child resource center
* Developmentally appropriate play and learning areas for children
* Kitchen and dining area which will also serve as a job training site
* Medical triage and referrals
* Secure park like environment
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Why is it needed?
Everyone Should Have a Place to Call Home
Approximately 3,000 to 4,000 individuals and families in our community lack a permanent place to live over the course of a year. What happens to these people who have no place to call home? Where do they go, and who helps them “get back on their feet”? At the Coalition, we believe everyone should have an opportunity to learn needed skills and be empowered to achieve self sufficiency. The Coalition - the leader of a compassionate community partnership dedicated to coordinating resources that empower the homeless, is ready to help the disenfranchised meet the challenge of personal growth and development to facilitate independent living.
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Who will be served in HOPE Community?
HOPE will offer transitional housing and supportive services for 164 homeless men, women and children in a setting that encourages responsibility and offers the opportunity for independence and self-sufficiency in a challenging and dignified manner. The men’s dorm will house 72 men, the women’s dorm will house 32, and the family dorm will hold 60 people. Families with children are the fastest growing segment of the homeless population. In our 2003 Street Count, we identified 322 homeless children in Tallahassee on one day.
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How will services at HOPE be provided?
The HOPE service delivery model, combined with dormitories, is a new concept in our community. Each guest will work with their case manager to identify personal goals and develop their Individual Service Plan. These plans will target physical and mental health issues, education and employment goals, and/or disability issues and payments.
By co-locating services offered by other providers and offering immediate access to comprehensive and effective services, we will empower individuals to end their episodes of homelessness and remain in safe and stable housing.
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What can I do?
- DONATE
-Funds (donate funds here)
-Items needed for the facility
-Items needed for the guests (toiletries, bus passes, etc.)
- SPONSOR A ROOM IN THE FAMILY DORM
- VOLUNTEER
During construction:
-
Help with fundraising
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Help in the office
After we open this fall:
We will still need assistance with fundraising and administrative tasks after we open in the fall. Volunteers will be needed to Help the HOPE Community Children's Program. We will also need volunteers to provide meals and other assistance to our guests. Do you have a special talent or skill that you could share with the guests of HOPE? Even providing a listening ear or assistance with daily living activities can contribute much to our community. Contact us to learn more about volunteer opportunities.
- HELP US SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT HOPE
Are you involved with a religious or civic organization? We can come and speak to them or give you information to share with them and others. Contact us for more information.
HOPE will only become a reality with the support of this community. Won’t you help us help others achieve the skills necessary to live independently? Your investment is important and a contribution or pledge, of any size, will be sincerely appreciated. Please help build HOPE and give hope back to our community.
HOPE Community Brochure (297k)
HOPE Highlights (MS Word doc, 46k)
Economic Impact of HOPE Community (MS Word doc, 526k)
Architectural Rendering of HOPE Campus (new window, 78k)
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For more information please contact us
Big Bend Homeless Coalition
(850) 576-5566
2729 W. Pensacola
Tallahassee, Fl. 32304
www.bigbendhc.org
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A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE 1-800-435-7352 WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.
