I have been working with Bridge of Hope for many years, as a volunteer, board member, donor and now as an employee. We currently have 20 locations in 12 states, and work to end homelessness with families. In addition to a comprehensive whole family case management program, we have a unique component of Neighboring - which is connecting a family facing homelessness with a group of 6-8 volunteers from a local church who walk alongside the family, to encourage and help them achieve safe and sustainable housing, an improved financial position, and build family resilience and wholeness.
As a six-year board member, I have been impressed with Bridge of Hope's steadfast commitment to several key components of effective work: 1) seeing board work as a learning community, constantly searching for the best ways to work alongside real human people, not a target group; 2) constanting keeping the women & their children as the main focus of our energies, not the perpetuation of our organization; and, 3) seeing the strengths that a woman & her family bring to the task of ending their cycle of homelessness & its attendant issues.
Bridge of Hope National has the audacity to think it can end and prevent homelessness for women and children. As a board member I am impressed with our willingness to tackle this huge issue, to use the "best board practices" in the process of our work, and to use a professional model with such a high rate of sucess in working at this challenge.
I have been volunteering with Bridge of Hope for 3 years. In that time, I have witnessed God's hand at work in a powerful way, working through men and women who take the command to love our neighbor seriously. This is an extremely well organized and efficient organization, made up of people who are trained and ready to help women and children change their lives. The staff with whom I work are extremely dedicated people. They care deeply about the plight facing so many women and children who truly want to improve their lives, but need some HOPE to do so, which is what this organization gives them in a very personal way. I recently heard a young woman speak at our National Conference, and she witnessed with her words and spirit the difference this organization has made in her life. What a powerful witness to the loving involvement of so many dedicated men and women. This organization is the best I've had the pleasure of working with.