BACKGROUNDER FOR HOPE HOUSE FOUNDATION 2006 – 2008
Mission Statement
“To nurture the well-being, independence and faith of women and children by providing shelter, services and support.”
A Community Need
In the 30-mile radius that comprises the affluent Lake Norman area, there are no shelters and few services or agencies to help individuals who are in desperate need of housing, food and employment opportunities in this vicinity. Individuals in this area must seek help and support in the metropolitan area of Charlotte which is approximately 21 miles from them. Caught in a hopeless spiral of trying to find shelter, food, and work, homeless women and their children have few options and recourses. The Salvation Army Shelter in Charlotte is the only shelter in Mecklenburg County that takes women with children (boys will be separated from their mothers if they are over 12 years old). Without a permanent address, finding employment is difficult and food is not readily available.
History
Seeing the dire community need in her family medical practice in the Lake Norman area, Dr. Lee Beth Lindquist and the Hope Team, a community volunteer group established by Davidson United Methodist Church, initiated a grassroots effort to do something about the situation. Dr. Lindquist spearheaded developing the Hope House Foundation and when an existing house came up for sale in Huntersville that could be remodeled into a group home, the idea became reality to help women and children.
Incorporated in February 2004 and awarded 501(c)(3) status a month later, the Hope House Foundation became an initiative to serve at-need women and children in the area. After gaining non-profit status, the Foundation acquired an existing house in Huntersville and obtained the necessary zoning requirements in September 2006 to renovate it into a group home and building permits to proceed with extensive renovations to make it into a group home setting.
The Foundation is also organizing itself to exist under written by-laws, a working board of directors, volunteer committees and a staff to handle the day-to-day operations and development needs for current renovations and for ongoing operations funding.
Hope House’s Renovations Postponed One Year
Although the initial plan was to reconfigure the home’s floor plan into a group home and open its doors in early 2006, there was a postponement. While awaiting zoning and building permits to begin the renovation process, the Foundation offered this house to a family in need. A year later, the family moved into permanent housing and the extensive renovation process of the Hope House began to take shape once again in October 2006. The anticipated opening of the house for occupancy is scheduled for spring of 2007.
Description of the Home
As the first of its kind in the Lake Norman area, the Hope House is located in a pleasant residential neighborhood in Huntersville. Zoned as a group home, Hope House will have multi-families and individuals living under one roof. The 4,000-square foot ranch-style house is located on four acres of wooded land with an arbor, greenhouse and parking in the back of the house. Residents of Hope House will include single women and women with children, allowing boys under age 12 in the house. Residents of Hope House will be from various backgrounds, ages and experiences who seek self-sufficiency.
The house has two levels: an upper and lower level. Handicapped access to the upper level will be installed. When renovated, the Hope House will have six bedrooms with dormitory-style living.
The lower level will have three bedrooms, two baths, a multi-purpose meeting room, a wheelchair-accessible mini-kitchen and a secured children’s playroom with educational computers and planning activities.
Volunteers
Volunteers from the Lake Norman Home Builders Association have donated time, talent and building products to renovate the house. Architectural drawings were donated by Pippin Home Designs, Inc. of Cornelius, N.C. and EFC Builders of Troutman, N.C. and Piedmont Design Association of Mooresville, N.C. contributed their expertise to the renovation building and permitting process.
Services
In addition to providing shelter and food, Hope House residents will receive life skills training in money management, stress management, literacy, parenting, career assessments and employment searches. The Hope House Foundation also provides access to comprehensive services for families by providing social services, individual caseworkers, legal services and referrals, medical and dental care and nutritional education. Goals of the program aim to encourage self-sufficiency, help women attain enriched and satisfying lives and work toward stable permanent housing.
Volunteer Needs
To meet their mission on a daily basis, the Foundation depends upon the generosity from friends, neighbors and businesses in the Lake Norman region. They welcome volunteers’ time and talent, gifts in-kind to furnish and maintain the house and tax-deductible monetary donations. As a 501(c) (3) non-profit, the House Foundation is a charitable organization eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Contact the Hope House Foundation to let them know how you wish to participate as an active volunteer or contribute funding and/or in-kind gifts to ensure the goals of the Foundation are met.
Foundation Contact and Address
Dr. Lee Beth Lindquist, Founder
Hope House Foundation
P.O. Box 61
Huntersville, NC 28070
Office 704-992-1902
Fax 704-973-9637