UW aids Hope in Action

HOPE – The last 17 years has seen a lot of changes at Hope in Action #2 homeless shelter.

Located at 2500 Highway 67 W in Hope, the shelter is an old migrant center that was donated to the City of Hope. The City leases the premises to Hope in Action #2 for a nominal price.

Hope in Action #2 Director, Helen Byers, has lived on site at the shelter for the last 17 years. Byers has recruited several other very dedicated volunteers that help by picking up donated food and preparing the meals that are served daily, as well as handling the intake procedures when a new resident arrives.

A facility of this size has constant needs, volunteers help with carpentry, mowing and in the past have had a garden for use by the kitchen. Working with the residents at Hope in Action #2 is truly a labor of love for Byers and the many volunteers that dedicate hundreds of hours each year to the mission of Hope in Action.

The top photo is of the House of Hope, a shelter opened in 2011 to address the varying and complex needs of homeless women and children in our community. Located in a double-wide mobile home that has been remodeled. Eight individual rooms are available for homeless women and homeless mothers and their children.

The bottom photo features the homeless shelter rooms at Hope in Action #2. An average of between 30-40 people stay at Hope in Action #2 each night. Without United Way funds, it would be very difficult for us to keep all of the rooms open. With utility costs running over $3,000 in the very cold and very hot months, United Way funds have been invaluable in helping us to give shelter to the disenfranchised in the Hope community.