Hope Community Services Inc

THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO HELP THOSE IN NEED THROUGH THE OPERATION OF A SOUP KITCHEN, FOOD PANTRIES, COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMING, AN AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM, SUMMER CAMP, A CHILD HUNGER PROJECT, AND TWO HOUSING PROGRAMS FOR THE HOMELESS.

FOOD PROGRAM - SEE SCHEDULE OSOUP KITCHEN -HOPE'S SOUP KITCHEN PROVIDES A WELL-BALANCED HOT MEAL TO CLIENTS 52 WEEKS A YEAR, 5 DAYS A WEEK. AT 5 PM WE SERVE A HOT MEAL INCLUDING FRESH SALAD, SOUP, A MAIN COURSE WITH FRESH VEGETABLES, BREAD AND BUTTER, POTATOES, RICE OR PASTA AND DESSERT. WE ALSO SERVE SPECIAL HOLIDAY MEALS AND, WHEN AVAILABLE DISTRIBUTE FRESH PRODUCE. IN ADDITION, THE SOUP KITCHEN OPENS AT 9 AM AND STAYS OPEN UNTIL 7 PM FOR OUR HOMELESS RESOURCE CENTER (HRC) CLIENTS MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. THE HRC CLIENTS ARE SERVED BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND DINNER AS WELL AS SNACKS AND BEVERAGES THROUGHOUT THE DAY. IT HAS BECOME A REFUGE FOR THE HOMELESS OF NEW ROCHELLE. HOPE ALSO PROVIDES BREAKFAST AND LUNCH FOR THE RESIDENTS OF THE OASIS SHELTER ON SUNDAY MORNING.FOOD PANTRY -HOPE'S FOOD PANTRY PROVIDES BAGGED GROCERIES TO THE MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS OF NEW ROCHELLE. OUR CLIENTS INCLUDE SENIOR CITIZENS EXISTING ON A FIXED INCOME, PEOPLE WITH PHYSICAL AND MENTAL CHALLENGES, PEOPLE IN RECOVERY, WORKING POOR FAMILIES, IMMIGRANTS, NEWLY UNEMPLOYED AND THE HOMELESS. THE GROCERY BAGS DISTRIBUTED ENABLE STRUGGLING INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO REALLOCATE A PORTION OF THEIR LIMITED INCOME TO THE HIGH COST OF HOUSING IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY. CHILDREN REGISTERED IN OUR PANTRY RELIED ON HOPE TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE NUTRITION FOR THEIR GROWING BODIES AND MINDS. IN AN EFFORT TO ASSIST HOME BOUND SENIORS AND OTHER CITIZENS, HOPE DELIVERS DIRECTLY TO SENIORS LIVING IN LOW-INCOME HOUSING BUILDINGS. IN 2019, HOPE HAS EXTENDED ITS PANTRY SERVICES, BY ALSO INCLUDING HOPE-FULL KIDS, WHICH PROVIDES CHILDREN WITH FOOD WHEN IS ON BREAK, DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR. FOR HOLIDAYS WE PROVIDE SOMETHING EXTRA SO THAT OUR CLIENTS CAN ENJOY A HOLIDAY MEAL WITH THEIR FAMILIES OR SIGNIFICANT OTHERS. FOR EASTER WE GAVE OUT CHICKENS AND HAM. FOR THANKSGIVING, HOPE GAVE OUT TURKEYS WITH ALL OF THE TRIMMINGS; WE ALSO PARTNER WITH LOCAL HOUSES OF WORSHIP WHICH DELIVER COMPLETELY COOKED THANKSGIVING MEALS TO CLIENTS' HOMES. FOR CHRISTMAS WE GAVE OUT HAMS AND TURKEYS. KOSHER PANTRY -IN 2021, HOPE OPENED WESTCHESTER COUNTIES FIRST KOSHER PANTRY, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH UJA, MET COUNCIL, AND FEEDING WESTCHESTER. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES KOSHER FOOD TO RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT WESTCHESTER COUNTY, TWICE MONTHLY. THE PROGRAM OFFERS HOME DELIVERY SERVICE FOR SENIORS THROUGHOUT WESTCHESTER COUNTY. PARTICIPANTS CAN ALSO PICKUP KOSHER ITEMS FROM HOPE'S OFFICE AT 50 WASHINGTON AVE TWICE MONTHLY. THE PROGRAM ALSO SUPPORTS THE PASSOVER HOLIDAY WITH SEDER MEALS DELIVERED DIRECTLY TO PARTICIPANT HOMES, AS WELL AS THANKSGIVING TURKEYS IN NOVEMBER.

HOPE HAS INVESTED MORE EFFORTS IN SERVICES FOR CHILDREN IN LOW INCOME FAMILIES. IN 2022, HOPE INTRODUCED SEVERAL NEW INITIATIVES AIMED AT SUPPORTING CHILDREN IN THE COMMUNITY. HOMEWORK HAVEN IS HOPE'S FIRST SATELLITE PROGRAM AND OFFERS AFTERSCHOOL HELP FOR CHILDREN LIVING IN A PARTICULAR LOW-INCOME COMPLEX. HOMEWORK HAVEN OPERATES 4 DAYS A WEEK DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR AND PROVIDES AFTER SCHOOL SUPPORT AND ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN. THE PROGRAM WAS COMPLEMENTED BY A CORRESPONDING PROGRAM CALLED FUN FRIDAYS, WHICH SUPPORTED CHILD MENTAL HEALTH AND FAMILY BONDING. THIS PROGRAM RAN ON FRIDAYS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR.HOPE ALSO REINTRODUCED CAMP HOPE IN 2022, WHICH PROVIDES A DAY CAMP FOR CHILDREN OF LOW-INCOME FAMILIES. HOPE PROVIDED THESE SERVICES TO CHILDREN FOR TWO WEEKS IN AUGUST OF 2023. CAMP INCLUDED ARTS, SPORTS, GAMES, AND PROJECTS. HOPE'S SUMMER STEAM PROVIDED A TWO-WEEK CURRICULUM IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ARTS, AND MATH. THESE PROGRAMS COMPLIMENT HOPEFULL KIDS, WHICH PROVIDES NUTRITIOUS MEALS TO CHILDREN WHEN SCHOOL IS NOT IN SESSION DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR.

HOUSING STABILIZATION PROGRAMS - SEE SCHEDULE OHOPE'S HOUSING STABILIZATION PROGRAMS SEEK TO PREVENT HOMELESSNESS BY PROVIDING RENT ASSISTANCE AND INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SERVICES. IT OPERATES THREE MAJOR HOUSING PROGRAMS FUNDED THROUGH THE CITY OF NEW ROCHELLE, WESTCHESTER DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, AND HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (HUD). ALL THESE PROGRAMS OFFER CRITICAL HOUSING SUPPORT FOR CLIENTS. CITY OF NEW ROCHELLE RE-HOUSING INITIATIVE (CNR) IS A PERMANENT HOUSING PROGRAM FOR ELIGIBLE HOMELESS RESIDENTS OF WESTCHESTER WHO HAVE SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND/OR MENTAL HEALTH DISABILITIES. THE PROGRAM BENEFITS INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE DEEMED TO BE HOUSING-READY WITH A FOCUS ON HOMELESS VETERANS. IN ADDITION TO PLACING THEM IN HOUSING, THE PROGRAM PROVIDES CASE MANAGEMENT AND REFERRALS TO SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. IT IS FEDERALLY FUNDED THROUGH HUD. THE HRC (HOUSING RESOURCE CENTER) PROGRAM PROVIDES ACCESS TO SHELTER HOMELESS PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF NEW ROCHELLE. GUESTS ARE ABLE TO UTILIZE HOPE COMMUNITY SERVICES DINING ROOM ON WEEKDAYS, WHILE ALSO RECEIVING BREAKFAST LUNCH AND DINNER. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE OASIS SHELTER, THE PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES ASSISTANCE IN LOCATING HOUSING AND MAINTAIN THE NEW ROCHELLE'S TBRA (TENANT BASED RENTAL ASSISTANCE) PROGRAM.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH - SEE SCHEDULE OHOPE'S COMMUNITY OUTREACH/SELF-SUFFICIENCY PROGRAM (SSP) HELPS LOW-INCOME FAMILIES ACCESS ENTITLEMENTS, FIND JOBS, AND OBTAIN HEALTH CARE AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT. IT ALSO ASSISTS WITH CITIZENSHIP AND LITERACY CLASSES, IMMIGRATION ISSUES AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ISSUES. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES COUNSELING AND SUPPORT TO SINGLE MOTHERS AND WORKS WITH THEM TO PROBLEM SOLVE AND NEGOTIATE THE DAY TO DAY ISSUES RELATED TO HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SERVICE SYSTEMS ON BEHALF OF THEMSELVES AND THEIR CHILDREN. ADDITIONALLY, SSP PROVIDES CLIENTS WITH CLOTHING, CAR SEATS, BABY FOOD, FORMULA AND DIAPERS FOR THEIR CHILDREN. WE OFFER HELP FILLING OUT APPLICATIONS FOR FOOD STAMPS, MEDICARE AND MEDICAID AND INTERFACE WITH THE SCHOOLS AND MEDICAL PROVIDERS ON BEHALF OF NON ENGLISH SPEAKING CLIENTS. THE SSP PROGRAM OFFERS WALK-IN CRISIS INTERVENTION, PROBLEM SOLVING AND REFERRALS TO ALL OF HOPE'S PROGRAMS AS WELL AS REFERRALS TO OTHER AGENCIES AND GOVERNMENT ENTITLEMENTS. IN ADDITION TO THE OUTREACH ASSISTANCE, HOPE ALSO HOLDS SEVERAL COMMUNITY EVENTS AIMED AT SUPPORTING THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. IN 2023 HOPE HOSTED A MOTHER'S DAY MINI HOLIDAY WHICH PROVIDE LOCAL MOTHERS WITH DONATED BEAUTY CARE ITEMS. HOPE'S ANNUAL BACKPACK GIVE-AWAY PROVIDED LOCAL CHILDREN WITH BACKPACKS FILLED WITH SCHOOL SUPPLIES. HOPE ALSO GAVE OUT WINTER COATS TO 533 MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, WHILE GIVING AWAY SOCKS TO 236 CLIENTS IN 2023.