Let's Help Our Homeless Neighbors!
Hancock, Michigan is located in Houghton County in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Baraga, Houghton and Keweenaw Counties are called "The Copper Country" and also known as "God's Country!"
Even though it's a great place to live and raise our families, there is a harsh reality. During our long winters, we have over 149 Homeless individuals surviving on the streets and off the beaten path (according to HUD and MSHDA They break them down between Actually Homeless and at Imminent Risk of being Homeless). Keep in mind our average snowfall in the winter is approximately 183 inches. Remember our record snowfall was in 1978-1979 with 390.4 inches in Keweenaw County! To see what 32.5 feet looks like take a peak at the Keweenaw County Road Commission Snow Thermometer on Pasty.com.
Approximately 9 years ago, I became aware of the homeless problem and set off to see what could be done to help. I was introduced to The Copper Country Homeless Prevention Coalition, a group of service agencies and organizations who serve the needs of the homeless. (Since November 2014 I have been serving as Chairman for this Coalition) I also serve on the Michigan Homeless Assistance Advisory Board on the Steering Committee.
I also found "The Room At The Inn" in Marquette, Michigan, which operates a rotating homeless shelter hosted by area churches for a week at a time, before rotating to the next host church. They have just completed 10 years of service.
I caught the "vision" of their model for our local area, as there is no emergency homeless shelter locally to serve our homeless neighbors.
This "vision" was put on the back burner for many years, as I had some health challenges. However this past spring of 2017, I was approached to see what help could be provided for the homeless who were contacting some of our local churches. I began to explain the vision for "Hope House Homeless Shelter" that I have had, and we began the process of starting to open a shelter.
The Saturday, April 8th edition of "The Daily Mining Gazete" reported 51% of our neighbors cannot afford the basic necessities of life, such as housing, healthcare, and food. The following is a link to that article:
On May 19, 2017, we officially formed "Hope House" with a board of directors and are incorporated here in Michigan and registered with the IRS. On 8/22/17 we applied for our 501 (c) (3) "Non Profit Status". 1/9/18 We were recognized as a 501 (c) (3)
Non Profit organization by the IRS and all dontations to Hope House are fully tax exempt.
We need your help to move closer to this reality of providing a safe, warm shelter to our homeless neighbors.
The funds currently being raised will be used for the following:
1. Purchase of supplies. including mattresses, storage totes, etc. (Each guest will be provided 2 large storage totes to store their personal belongings.) We are planning on a max of 10 guests but anticipate 6 to 8 per evening.
2. Expenses associated with meetings with the community and churches.
3. Office Expenses inculding supplies and printing.
4. Legal assistance as we move through the IRS NonProfit Status.
Our target date of opening the shelter is November 1, 2017. The model of Rotating Homeless Shelters is one church will host the Shelter in their church for one week from 6 PM to 6 AM. At the end of the week the shelter relocates to the next host church. This pattern is repeated throughout the winter. As I reviewed the rotating shelters in Marquette, Escanaba and Iron Mountain and their numbers, we estimate we will be housing between 6 to 8 people each evening.
We will use all of these funds as carefully as possible because we are grateful for the assistance our friends and neighbors can provide to see this shelter become a reality. Further, our Board of Directors and staff are strictly volunteers.
The scripture promise of "Hope House" is found in Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you HOPE and a future.”
Please prayfully consider what support you may provide to this shelter. Also, please "share our campaign" on your social media sites. We need lots of help to promote this campaign.
We will keep you updated on our progress.
For more information about "Hope House", please check out our Hope House Homeless Shelter FaceBook page, "like the page", and "share" on all of your social media sites.
Finally, we are all called to offer help to our neighbors in whatever capacity we can.
Matthew 25: 34 to 40
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.
35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,
36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?
38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?
39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
If you would prefer to mail in your donation make your check or money order payable to: Hope House Homeless Shelter
Hope House Homeless Shelter
John E Niemela. President/CEO
606 Quincy Street
Hancock, MI 49930
Please add your email address, if you have one, so we can keep you updated on our progress.
We welcome you to come along side us and lend a hand to make this shelter a reality!
October 22, 2017 Update
I wanted to get you this update to let you know what is happening with our attempt to open the shelter November 1, 2017.
At this moment, we do not have enough host churches to work with us to provide emergency shelter for our area homeless neighbors.
This past week the "Hope House" Board of Directors met and we are all committed to working to open the shelter as soon as possible. We will also work with our area churches to answer any additional questions they may have before they are able to help host the shelter.
So far this these past couple days, I have been getting phone calls from homeless people that we can not help. I will be keeping track of all of these calls to see exactly the need is locally. Maybe when the snow starts coming down, real soon, we may be able to get churches to see the need and be willing to help us mid-season.
Even though the shelter will not be ready to open yet, we will still need to raise funds for ongoing financial needs, as we move forward. Please pray for our needs and if you would be able to provide us with financial support, we would be extremely grateful!
One big favor - I would like to ask all of our local people, who have been supportive of our plans to open the shelter, if you would be willing to volunteer during the evenings and overnight (6 PM to 6 AM) to monitor and serve the guest staying with us, Please send John an email and mention you would be willing to volunteer.
One of the recurring reasons why many of the churches were not able to commit to hosting the shelter for a week at their church, was they did not think they had enough of their church members who would be able to volunteer for the necessary shifts. If I could develop a large list of community members who would consider volunteering this may help the churches see we do have great community support to operate the shelter. Maybe this list will show the pool of volunteers would be able to meet the needs!
Please check back often for additional updates.
Thank you for standing with us and for all of the help you have provided so far. We still have lots of work to do ahead of us and we need your help even more!
God Bless You Abundantly. Remember to keep us and our homeless neighbors in your Prayers!
John E Niemela
Hope House Homeless Shelter
President/CEO