Involved Communities:
The Homes of Hope Program seeks to help keep families housed within the school districts in which they are facing homelessness. Homes of Hope is active in the following school districts:

Cocalico

Columbia

Conestoga Valley

Ephrata

Lampeter Strasburg

Manheim Township

Manheim Central

Warwick

 

---

History:
Homes of Hope is a Relational Ministry Program of Love INC – Love In the Name of Christ. Its mission is to ‘mobilize local churches to transform lives and communities in the name of Christ through transitional housing and supportive services’.
Homes of Hope began as a discussion among pastors of the Manheim Central School District. Faced with homelessness in their community, they asked themselves, “How can the Church make a difference?” After much prayer and dedication, the Manheim Housing Assistance Committee was formed. They operated two transitional homes successfully.
These homes afforded individuals and families shelter for three months and time to begin overcoming the obstacles that led to homelessness in the first place.

Soon after the Manheim Housing Assistance Committee began operating, the Mount Joy Housing Assistance Committee was established; their program was modeled after Manheim’s with a few programmatic changes.

In 2004, Love INC became the new umbrella for the program, which is now known as Homes of Hope Transitional Housing. With the addition of homes in six more communities by 2007, Love INC continued its commitment to seeing the ministry of transitional housing developed throughout Lancaster County.

Today, there are 8 active Homes of Hope communities operating 11 homes. Partner churches provide financial and volunteer support for the homes. Additionally, Homes of Hope works in partnership with local schools, community resources, and agency partners to provide a holistic response that strives to break the cycle of homelessness.

The Love INC Board and staff are committed to providing oversight to the existing 8 committees and to developing the program in other parts of Lancaster County.

Program Components:
The Homes of Hope program offers families with school-aged children a 4–6 month stay in transitional housing. The transitional homes are fully furnished so residents bring only what they will need for their temporary stay. The residents are responsible to comply with the Homes of Hope Rules and Regulations, actively work on their Program Goals, regularly work with other Professional Case Management and utilize all available resources offered.

Once in the home, residents are connected to:
Church Care Teams offering mentoring and hands on assistance
Professional Case Management and Budgeting Services
Other community resources

In need of help?

Families facing homelessness who are interested in Homes of Hope please contact:

Shawn Moyer (Homes of Hope Program Coordinator)
717-735-7540 Ext. 105
smoyer@loveinclancaster.org