Press Releases

 

 

The Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore awarded a $25,000 grant to HALO (Hope and Life Outreach) to support the new Center of Hope Day Facility.

 

HALO has plans to open the Center of Hope in space the organization currently occupies on Eastern Shore Drive.  This center will help to meet a growing need to provide services and a safe place for homeless individuals and families during the day.  Currently, most local shelters provide evening accommodations but guests must leave during the day due to staff and resource limitations.  

 

The grant resulted from the Foundation’s Community Initiatives Committee which works to identify programs that help to address a regional need.  Past initiatives have focused on building capacity in the local nursing workforce through the Partners in Nursing Program, enhancing the construction trades curriculum in local high school career and technology programs, and engaging older adults in service and volunteerism and the re-launch of the ShoreCAN Volunteer Center.

 

The impact of recent economic crisis has caused an increase in housing insecurity with more people homeless, near homeless, or struggling to meet basic needs.  Locally, shelters report a specific increase in the number of women and children who lack housing. The new Center of Hope Day Facility will be a resource for homeless individuals to get “off the street” and access the resources and services they need to achieve self-sufficiency.  Local services providers will benefit from the ability to reach their target clients in a central location, increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of their efforts.

 

Homelessness is a complex problem with many challenges to be addressed.  The Community Foundation is proud to support the efforts of HALO and the many local nonprofits and service providers who work to meet the needs of the most vulnerable in our community.  Organizations including Help and Outreach Point of Entry, Diakonia, Samaritan Shelter, Village of Hope, Joseph House and the Christian Shelter are recipients of CFES funding to support a wide range of programs and services.

 

“We appreciate the Community Foundation’s support of the Center of Hope,” states Celeste Savage, Executive Director, HALO.  “I believe we are engaged today in some of the most important work of our eight year history and we are excited to be collaborating with them.  They are assisting us in making a difference in the lives of men, women, and families we serve.”

 

Spicer Bell, President, Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore stated, “We’re excited for HALO because of the amazing work they do in our community.  We know they and their many partners have worked diligently to ensure that this type of facility is a necessary one and will have only positive long term benefits for their clients.  We know the rest of the community will be just as supportive in this valuable effort.”

 

Please visit www.haloministry.org to learn more about HALO.