To donate today, contact us for more information.

Phone: 319-232-3823 Email: info@houseofhopeccd.org

Donate Today

Contact us for more information

Phone: 319-232-3823 Email: info@houseofhopeccd.org
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House of Hope

Empowerment Center

Capital Campaign Project

Extending hope

Capital Campaign Goal

$0

$4.5M

 

Extending hope

Capital Campaign Goal

$4.5M

To donate today, contact us for more information.

Phone: 319-232-3823 Email: info@houseofhopeccd.org

Who Is House of Hope?

House of Hope started in 1995 in response to a growing number of single mother families in the community. A group of church leaders established the Christian Community Development (CCD), a holistic method of serving from within. House of Hope began as a peer support model of service with an eight-plex building for seven families and a live-in House Mother to oversee the program.

House of Hope continued to maintain a lengthy waiting list, always hovering around 30 families. In 2015, the Board of Directors made the decision that it was time to expand. June 14, 2018, they opened the doors to their present day building, expanding services to 15 families.

Knowing that women ages 18-24 who age out of foster care are the highest at risk for becoming single mothers in homelessness, they started another transitional housing program to close the housing gap in services for this population. The result was Pillars, a two-year transitional housing program for these women, with doors opening in August 2018.

Over the last five years, House of Hope has evolved to a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach to addressing root causes of poverty and homelessness among single-mother families and women who spent time in out of home placement. With the addition of their Outreach program, House of Hope served more than 96 single-mother families last fiscal year alone. Amazing growth since those days in 1995!!!

Learn more about House of Hope

Learn more about House of Hope

Your Impact of Giving

In five short years, House of Hope has tripled the number of families served, increased programs/services, and solidified many great community partnerships. Although they have solved some of the housing shortages with strong partnerships with local landlords, the volume of affordable housing cannot seem to keep pace with those in need.

The Empowerment Center is dedicated to delivering evidence-based, inclusive programs, education, and resources to support any single mothers facing challenges, offering them the assistance and guidance to achieve secure families and permanent homes.

The House of Hope Empowerment Center will extend programs to single mothers and women who are not currently being served, furthering the reach of House of Hope's mission and vision to end cycles of poverty and homelessness in the Cedar Valley.

Why Extend Services?

The new House of Hope Empowerment Center will serve as a hub for single mothers in our community. The 2-story, 6,000 square foot building will provide much needed space for programs which will focus on wellness activities, education, career and life skills education, financial mentoring/empowerment, family support, children’s programming, childcare, and much more.

Increase Outreach services by 100%. Double the number of families served through Outreach.
Increase financial mentoring, health and wellness, direct assistance, and case management to 60 single working moms who are housed but struggling.
Serve 2 more families per year in current building by adding an apartment in new building for Framing Hope participants  to live in while completing home ownership requirements.
Providing space for up to 150 meetings per year for outside professionals; such as attorneys, mental health, and Behavioral Health Intervention Services to meet on-site confidentially.
The kitchen and dining space will provide cooking and nutrition classes, peer-support programming, and capacity for shared meals for 60-80 additional families. This will increase participation in community building through coffee chats by 100%, and provide 12 community meals to the families per year.
We are currently operating at capacity and this Empowerment Center will allow us to serve more families.

View Campaign Booklet

Why Extend Services?

We are currently operating at capacity and this Empowerment Center will allow us to serve more families.

With a successful capital campaign, this new community empowerment and outreach center will allow House of Hope to double its impact by providing programming and services for twice as many single mothers and women as they do now. We are excited about the future as we EXTEND HOPE for single-mother families in the Cedar Valley. We know House of Hope CHANGES LIVES! Will you help?

The new House of Hope Empowerment Center will serve as a hub for single mothers in our community. The 2-story, 6,000 square foot building will provide much needed space for programs which will focus on wellness activities, education, career and life skills education, financial mentoring/empowerment, family support, children’s programming, childcare, and much more.

Increase Outreach services by 100%. Double the number of families served through Outreach.
Increase financial mentoring, health and wellness, direct assistance, and case management to 60 single working moms who are housed but struggling.
Serve 2 more families per year in current building by adding an apartment in new building for Framing Hope participants  to live in while completing home ownership requirements.
Providing space for up to 150 meetings per year for outside professionals; such as attorneys, mental health, and Behavioral Health Intervention Services to meet on-site confidentially.
The kitchen and dining space will provide cooking and nutrition classes, peer-support programming, and capacity for shared meals for 60-80 additional families. This will increase participation in community building through coffee chats by 100%, and provide 12 community meals to the families per year.

The Space

Rendering of the Empowerment Center
Rendering of the Empowerment Center

NEW KITCHEN

Having a working kitchen and coffee shop area will provide many learning, healing, and community building opportunities. The kitchen will be a place that families can gain cooking skills and nutritional knowledge, a place that churches and community groups can make and serve a meal, and even a place that women can throw a birthday party for their kids. The attached coffee shop is a place that the women can build community, create together, eat meals together, and participate in life skills.

NEW CLASSROOMS

Classrooms for BOOST employment readiness program, financial literacy, health and wellness, and for children’s programming are an essential part of skill building and sustainability. Trauma informed yoga, coping skills, healthy relationships, and positive parenting support the health and well-being of all of our families. Financial literacy and life skills classes support long-term sustainable skills. BOOST employment readiness gives women the opportunity to be prepared and connected to employment with a livable wage and opportunities for growth and advancement with local companies. With additional classroom space, these important, effective programs will be accessible to all single mothers and women aging out of foster care, beyond just residents of House of Hope.

NEW HOME

The Framing Hope apartment will provide safe, affordable housing for a family transitioning to homeownership. This will make a transitional housing apartment available for a family on the waitlist who truly needs all the programs and services House of Hope offers. Additionally, this serves as a visual reminder that homeownership is within reach. When families see a peer mom becoming a homeowner, they begin to picture themselves as one, too.
First Floor Plan
Second Floor Plan

Campaign Leadership

Abby Sears

Co-chair

Jane Lindaman

Co-chair

Amy Wienands

Honorary Chair

Karin Rowe

Executive Director

With a successful capital campaign, this new community empowerment and outreach center will allow House of Hope to double its impact by providing programming and services for twice as many single mothers and women as they do now. We are excited about the future as we EXTEND HOPE for single-mother families in the Cedar Valley. We know House of Hope CHANGES LIVES! Contact House of Hope to make a gift or get involved today.

Board Members

Lisa Gates

President

Friendship Village

Seth Voigt

Vice President

TurnKey Associates

Patty Cutts

Secretary 

Community Volunteer

Amy Eastman

Treasurer

Viking Pump

Sara McSweeney

Assistant Treasurer

Community Volunteer

Abby Sears

Past President

Farmers State Bank

Glen Keith

Love INC

Jason Klein

Farmers State Bank

Katy Susong

Grow Cedar Valley

Kingsley Botchway

Unity Point

Nina Forcier

Cedar Valley Lawyers/ 
Forcier Law

Nicole Sallis

Grow Cedar Valley

Patsy Ott-Pick

Community Volunteer

Traci McCausland

Follow Your Strengths

Staci Cook

Cedar Valley Eye Care

Leadership Team

Karin Rowe

Executive Director

Dusky Steele

Development Director

Susan Backes

Program Director

Testimonials

  • “As a House of Hope graduate, I believe House of Hope truly brings HOPE to all single mothers and women who age out of foster care. For me, House of Hope was the key to a dream that was lost and kept in the dark. House of Hope opened doors I never thought possible. House of Hope makes a big difference in our community. We should have more space for more women to access services. The House of Hope team listens and works with you until you reach your goals. They will not leave you out. They will do their best to help with anything and provide any service as if you are their own family.”

    Sulyntha

    Former Client

  • "House of Hope IS a transitional housing program, but it's so much more. We got an apartment, but that wasn't where it ended. My kids got safety, support, understanding; and I got the same. We got what we didn't know we needed, but the staff and volunteers could see it so clearly. When you're in crisis you can't see the future and the person you are becomes so unclear. Well, they helped me not only see our future, but we achieved it. We now have a home that we own, stability, and we have embraced the new people we became through our crisis. Change was inevitable, but The House of Hope helped us become stronger, not victims."

    Megan

    Former Client

  • "The part I love most about the House of Hope is that as much as it is to help us mothers break chains, it makes the most significant difference in giving our children the chance to not grow up in them at all, which is invaluable. The beautiful people who make up the program genuinely do, house our hope, and it has been such a gift to be a part of. The opportunity to come together in a safe space and not only gain, but become part of a village is life changing."

    Ashton

    Former Client

  • "Their mission statement is “Empowering Women, Building Futures, and Enriching Communities.” Because they’ve been so successful in doing that, their waiting list consistently ranges from 30-50 families at any given time. They can reach more women & children only if we, the community that’s enriched by competent, confident, and committed single moms, must provide more space to help more families. Please join me in generously supporting the House of Hope’s Extending Hope."

    Cathy Young

    Supporter

  • "House of Hope’s impact on the City of Waterloo is immeasurable. With its mission to end cycles of homelessness and poverty by taking a multi-pronged approach that empowers women, the agency is positively impacting families for generations to come. "

    "We appreciate all the good work House of Hope is doing through its staff, volunteers, board members and generous supporters. The agency’s continued expansion means more women will benefit from the extensive programming and our entire community will be better for it."

    Mayor Quentin Hart 
    City of Waterloo

    Supporter

  • "House of Hope has been a lifesaver. The women who volunteer and work with House of Hope are some of the kindest, most positive people I have ever met. My quality of life has improved immensely with the help I received from the House of Hope."

    Kassandra

    Former Client

  • "As the CEO of Friendship Village and also the Board President of House of Hope, I am proud to be a part of these two mission minded entities. Partnering together, we are able to come along side single mothers and young woman aging out of foster care and support and mentor them. "

    Lisa Gates

    Board President

Campaign News

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Frequently Asked Questions

For commonly asked questions about House of Hope and our Extending Hope Campaign

Click Here

Frequently Asked Questions

Programs and Services

Who is eligible for services?

Single mothers experiencing homelessness or struggling to maintain, and women ages 18-24 who spent time in out-of-home placement as a minor and/or aged out of foster care.

How long is your waiting list?

Consistently between 40-60 families.

How are you funded?

Up to two years, unless they are in Framing Hope, then until their house is finished.

How long can women stay?

Up to two years, unless they are in Framing Hope, then until their house is finished.

How many apartments do you have?

15 at W. 4th St., Two Home For Awhile (one in Cedar Falls, one in Waterloo), and two apartments in our Pillars house on Walnut (to house four women at capacity in dorm-style living).

What programs do you offer?

For a complete list of our programs, visit House of Hope (houseofhopeccd.org) under the “Programs” tab.

Capital Campaign

Why do you need a new building?

Our current location limits the programs we can offer and the number of single mothers, women, and children we can serve. 70% of single mother headed households live in the ALICE (Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed) threshold. We want to make programs and services accessible to all single mothers.

How much are you trying to raise?

$4.5 million

How big will the new building be?

6,000 square feet, two stories

If your waiting list is so long, why aren’t you building more apartments?

1) Operations to expand housing would be costly and we have built solid partnerships with local landlords that have increased our housing options, but not our space to serve.
2) We have seen exponential success from women completing our program without residing at House of Hope.
3)Making programming and services accessible to all single mothers prevents them from experiencing homelessness.
4)We will include one apartment in the new building for women who have completed the residential program and are on a homeownership track. This will make another apartment available for a family who truly needs all House of Hope programs and services and bridges the housing gap for a mom waiting for her house to be ready.

What will be in the new building?

The two story, 6,000 square foot building will include one on one case management rooms, large versatile multipurpose room for classes, computers, yoga, children’s activities, and more; a children’s programming room; one apartment; a commercial kitchen with an adjacent coffee “shop.”

Who is chairing the campaign?

Co-Chairs: Abby Sears, Jane Lindaman
Honorary Campaign Chair: Amy Wienands
Steering Committee: Lisa Gates, Seth Voigt, Marty Metcalf, Amy Eastman, Dodie Young, Beth Anderson, Katy Susong, Alex Renaud, Sharon Voigt, Joy Briscoe, Tammy Smith, Sandy Helmers, Karin Rowe, Dusky Steele

Gifting Opportunities

What are the naming options?

How can I donate?

How long is a pledge?

3-5 years
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