Over Lent, we are featuring ministry partners who received a Blacknall Grant in October. View a full list of Durham ministry partners here.
Reflection from Kay Ferguson, Blacknall Member - Until last September, I had the privilege of serving on Housing for New Hope’s board of directors for nine years. I was able to watch the dedicated staff work with individuals and families facing homelessness as they located and moved into stable housing. I often think about Jesus calling us to live in community. We need Him and others for effective ministry in our community of Durham. I am so grateful that we are in partnership with Housing for New Hope as they minister to our homeless neighbors.
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A note from Russell Pierce, Executive Director, Housing for New Hope
Dear Blacknall,
For nearly 30 years, Housing for New Hope has connected our most vulnerable neighbors to housing and hope. Unique among our community’s agencies, we are engaged with both affordable housing development and homeless services. Holding together these two important aspects – housing and the supportive services folks need to achieve their next steps toward long-term housing stability - has been part of our work since the beginning.
In 2020, Housing for New Hope served 543 individuals with solutions focused on long-term sustainability. In June we re-launched and expanded our Street Outreach efforts as the City of Durham and Durham’s County’s designated agency for this important work. In just half the year we served 133 people at the very beginning of their journey toward housing and stability. Our Rapid Rehousing team has grown dramatically through the year in order to serve more clients and better serve clients with more complex needs. Through these efforts we served 269 individuals by locating affordable housing, providing short-term rental supports, and connections to key supportive services including childcare, transportation, food, employment counseling, etc. Our Supportive Housing programs, geared toward multi-year housing and support for those who have experienced at least one year of homelessness and live with a disabling condition, supported 87 individuals at Andover Apartments, Williams Square, Housing for New Hope’s apartment communities focused on Permanent Supportive Housing, and in Streets to Home, our scattered site, community-based Permanent Supportive Housing Program. Finally, Housing for New Hope’s two Affordable Housing communities served 54 residents including 7 women living at the award-winning Holloway Place, our region’s first project with affordable co-housing.
As one of Housing for New Hope’s longest ministry partners, Blacknall provides foundational support for our work. While we often receive significant grants from local, state, and federal government sources, they are restrictive and do not cover all needs. For example, several housing grants will cover rental assistance and move-in costs, but other barriers that may prevent participants from obtaining housing, such as rental and utility arrears, are ineligible. Many current grants also require matching funds. Housing for New Hope is required to raise $25 for every $100 we receive. For our Streets to Home program, that means we need to raise nearly $100,000 annually. New grants, especially during the pandemic response period, have required agency programs to expand rapidly incurring many start-up expenses. Whereas some may not be reimbursed for months, other expenses, such as computers and desks may not be reimbursable at all. Your gift in December allowed Housing for New Hope to meet all these needs: supporting clients, contributing to match requirements, expanding despite delayed reimbursement, and allowing new staff to onboard and run quickly and well. The targeted investments that Blacknall has allowed us to make have made a big impact in serving the community. Thank you!
Blacknall’s prayerful support undergirds Housing for New Hope across many programs. If we could name one primary prayer needed for these next several months, it would be for additional landlord partners to open their units to our clients. Rental rates continue to sky-rocket: one-bedroom units increased 34% from Sept. 2019-Sept. 2020, and two-bedroom units increased 45% during the same period. Housing for New Hope’s engagement with landlord partners in our community is both a business proposition – and community focused one. Please pray for our ability to successfully engage with landlords in our community to secure more safe, affordable housing for those that need it most.
Due to the COVID pandemic, Housing for New Hope’s volunteer opportunities are currently very limited. We are exploring several options, particularly at our residential communities, and hope to establish more opportunities in the Spring that encompass public health guidelines related to reducing the spread of COVID.
In order to support the increased number of move-ins during 2021, Housing for New Hope recently made a mass purchase of approximately 50 beds, bed frames, and dinette sets and would welcome volunteer support assembling. We expect to deliver approximately 10 sets per month. To volunteer, contact us at volunteers@housingfornewhope.org.
Warmly,
Russell Pierce