Hope Community Services Inc

THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO HELP THOSE IN NEED THROUGH THE OPERATION OF A SOUP KITCHEN, FOOD PANTRY, COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM AND FOUR HOUSING PROGRAMS FOR THE HOMELESS.

FOOD PROGRAM - SEE SCHEDULE OSOUP KITCHENHOPE'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. HOPE'S SOUP KITCHEN HAS BECOME A UNIQUE COMMUNITY WHERE BIRTHDAYS AND SPECIAL OCCASIONS ARE CELEBRATED BY THE VOLUNTEERS AND CLIENTS. IT HAS BECOME A REFUGE FOR THE HOMELESS OF NEW ROCHELLE. THE SOUP KITCHEN IS ALSO A POINT OF ENTRY FOR ALL OF OUR OTHER PROGRAMS. HOPE ALSO PROVIDES BREAKFAST AND LUNCH FOR THE RESIDENTS OF THE OASIS SHELTER ON SUNDAY MORNING.FOOD PANTRYHOPE'S FOOD PANTRY PROVIDES BAGGED GROCERIES TO THE POOREST RESIDENTS OF NEW ROCHELLE. PEOPLE LEARN ABOUT THE PROGRAM BY WORD OF MOUTH, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND THROUGH OUR FLYERS AND BROCHURES THAT ARE DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT 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. WITHOUT HOPE'S ASSISTANCE, OUR CLIENTS WOULD FACE THE TERRIBLE CHOICE OF FOOD OR SHELTER. OUR SENIORS WOULD HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN MUCH NEEDED MEDICATION AND FOOD. IN AN EFFORT TO ASSIST HOME BOUND SENIORS AND OTHER CITIZENS, HOPE DELIVERS DIRECTLY TO SENIORS LIVING IN LOW-INCOME HOUSING BUILDINGS. 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. HOPE ALSO OPENDED A KOSHER PANRTY, DESIGNED TO PROVIDE KOSHER FOOD TO THE JEWISH COMMUNITY IN 2021.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, WE GAVE OUT 1,000 TURKEYS WITH ALL THE TRIMMINGS OVER; WE ALSO PARTNER WITH A LOCAL HOUSES OF WORSHIP WHO DELIVERS A COMPLETE COOKED THANKSGIVING MEAL TO CLIENTS' HOMES. FOR CHRISTMAS WE GAVE OUT HAMS AND TURKEYS. OUR EFFORTS TO PROVIDE FOOD TO THOSE IN NEED ARE COORDINATED WITH LOCAL CHURCHES, SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS, AND SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES TO ASSURE THAT RESIDENTS IN NEED CAN ACCESS THE FOOD REQUIRED TO PROVIDE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE FOOD PANTRY SERVES AS A POINT OF ENTRY TO OUR OTHER PROGRAMS. IT IS A MEANS TO IDENTIFY PEOPLE WHO CAN BE ASSISTED THROUGH OUR OUTREACH SERVICES AND SOUP KITCHEN AND HOUSING PROGRAMS.

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 PROGRAM PROVIDED RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO 15 INDIVIDUALS IN 2021. THE REFUGE IS A HOUSING PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY FOR LGBTQ YOUTH BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18 AND 25. IT IS TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, WHICH MEANS CLIENTS ARE PERMITTED TO STAY IN THE PROGRAM FOR A MAXIMUM OF 18 MONTHS. THE PROGRAM IS PERSON-CENTERED AND EACH CLIENT WILL HAVE A GOAL AND MULTIPLE CASEWORKERS WHO WILL ASSIST IN REACHING THAT GOAL. THE YOUTH WILL BE REFERRED FOR JOB TRAINING, VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND COMPLETION OF ANY HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE. WE HAVE FORMED A PARTNERSHIP WITH WESTCHESTER JEWISH COMMUNITY SERVICES, CENTER LANE AND THE LOFT. THESE AGENCIES WILL PROVIDE BOTH INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT AND SOCIAL INTERACTION SKILLS TRAINING FOR THE CLIENTS. THE PROGRAM PROVIDED RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO 9 INDIVIDUALS IN 2021. 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. THE PROGRAM PROVIDED ASSISTANCE TO 269 INDIVIDUALS IN 2021.

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.