Student Contributor -Lara
Hope House was founded in response to the 1997 serial murders of women on the streets of Spokane to offer women protection from violence on the street. Hope House is a shelter in Spokane for women 18 years or older. There are 100 beds open a night for women that need it. Each woman receives personal care including nutritious food, a hot shower, clean and dry clothing, hygiene items, a warm bed, onsite case management, resource information, connection to permanent housing, and referrals to community resources.
This organization takes in women of the streets of Spokane and gives them a place to stay, clean clothes and hygiene items. Hope House offers an environment of dignity, respect and compassion that honors the intrinsic value and unique experience of every woman. These women are mothers, sister, grandmothers etc. There is also an extension of the hope house called hope housing for chronically homeless adults with disabilities who have the greatest needs and face the most risk, including serious mental illness, addiction and/or poor physical health. Tenants pay 30% of their income toward rent and utilities. The remainder is paid through grants and donations.
I partnered with a shelter like this one by having students bring in donations. This hosing doesn’t take in children however mind did. Students can still get together with their families and donate things that they may not use anymore. The most needed items in the shelter are. Bath towels, disposable razors, Gatorade, ground coffee, sunblock, socks, leggings. Most of these things on this list students and teachers have in their home. Another thing that means a lot to these women are letters of encouragement that the students write to the women. This allows students to understand selflessness and empathy for their community members in a great way.
