It has always been the mission of those who helped to develop Homes for Hope, Inc. to establish an organization that was fueled by passion and the love of helping others. After many attempts this was accomplished with sheer will and determination. Our first goal was to develop a program that first ended the acceptance of homelessness and steered the individual towards the goals of self reliance, self sufficiency and productivity. This would entail the institution of a multi- dimensional program of supportive services and three tier housing development...

The plan would need creative resources for funding and negotiating services that would minimally affect the clients and promote company growth and perpetuation. With this idea as a back drop, it became increasingly clear that the mission of this organization would start with housing.

The Homes for Hope, Inc.'s program is based on a three step principle to successfully re-acclimate clients into society. Patients are identified who have been chronically homeless and/or who have successfully completed a program of detoxification and are ready to transition to the Step One facility. This is the beginning a twenty-four (24) month period of transition to tenant based supportive housing. The Step One program is an extension of the ninety (90) to one hundred and eighty (180) day traditional de-tox program with intensive emphasis on retraining and reeducating clients for skills development to seek jobs or higher training. There, in single room occupancy quarters, supportive services are initiated for continued self growth and continued sobriety. The foundations for life skills are stressed with ongoing primary medical care. Case management with accompanying services such as mental health therapy, recovering substance abuse support groups and pastoral counseling are available. During each day, clients will follow the intensive supportive individualized program developed as a part of the rehabilitative assessment done on program entry. Life skills building will be a part of the daily program for all clients. Clients will be fed two meals a day with accessibility to nutritional snacks and water throughout the day. Meals will be in common areas and generally as a group.

After the completion of the Step One program, clients are then referred for Step Two housing where they will be placed in apartments with continued supportive services. This means that clients have their own apartments but intensive supportive services continue. Presently, Homes for Hope, Inc. has two apartment buildings for supportive housing less than 100 feet away from the proposed new structure. Clients will be allowed to develop a daily program schedule and independently address activities of daily living. Job skills training will continue and clients will be encouraged to participate as volunteers in the ongoing programs of the organization.

Step three housing is a totally independent housing arrangement where clients live in individual apartments, are responsible for rental payments and activities of daily living.

The support structures in independent housing consist primarily of case management visitation and reevaluation quarterly to assure continued client growth and development.

Independent housing will be made available through collaborative connections with other housing agencies and for profit companies. To further this cause and make the properties exclusively owned , HFH looks to purchase and renovate two properties previously leased to strengthen the structure of its program. In addition, we wish to construct an independent dwelling for families and women with children on two lots purchased through the city tax sales.

Homes for Hope, Inc. has invested in several properties to house clients and developed a team of dedicated professionals to offer supportive services in an individualized manner to each client served. The services offered include intensive case management, substance abuse recovery support groups, mental health support, life skills development and primary medical care through scheduled home visits.

The program is sustained through the payment of rental fees for each apartment. Clients pay fair market value for housing and programs are leveraged with funding generated through fund raisers, foundation and government grants. To date, HFH has grants through the HIV/AIDS Administration, Escheated Estates and Regional Resource Networks (of HRSA).

Future goals include larger living spaces for women and children as well as total family settings. HFH proposes to include transgender, recently incarcerated and chronically homeless persons to the list of disenfranchised clientele. The most recent project development is the acquisition of a property to begin the transitional housing program component.

Our goals for the coming year include purchasing and developing larger rental properties to accommodate families, partner with the HIV/AIDS organizations of the District of Columbia to enhance the comprehensive services that are available to those challenged with chronic diseases and faced with homelessness.