H.O.P.E, Inc.

H.O.P.E, Inc. (Helping Other People be Empowered) began in November 2009 as a passion and focus of the CEO, & founder, Kenita Pierce-Lewis. As a former single parent she struggled to complete her B.B.A & M.B.A. She noticed that there was not much support for single parents trying to finish their college education, and she wanted to create an organization that would allow her to give HOPE to others that are in the same situation she was in at a season in her life. Statistics show that the number one reason students do not finish their college education is due to financial stress. The government supports single parents with rent financially (up to $250) if they are not employed, and only assist with childcare if the parent is enrolled in diploma school and has an income under the poverty level for their household. Our goal is to target those single parents who do not qualify for government assistance, but without assistance are unable to provide for their children and plan for a better future. Our purpose is to help single parents focus on their academics without the anxieties of shelter lost and childcare issues. The services we provide are based strictly upon donations with 100% going towards the program. The organization assists single-parents by providing them with subsidized housing vouchers and child care vouchers while they attend school. The vouchers are directly paid to the apartment leasing offices and direct child care providers on behalf of the program participants. H.O.P.E, Inc. determines eligibility by conducting an application process, in which the individuals provide an application, proof of dependency and residency, proof of employment and income (last four check stubs), and proof of academic enrollment, as well as current/last semester transcript. Applicants are not expected to pay to participate in our program.

Rent Assistance - Up to $400 a month is paid in rent assistance directly to the mortgage lender/apartment leasing officer on behalf of the program participant.