HOPE COMMUNITY INC

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT HOPE INVOLVED NEARLY 350 COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN GARDEN PLANNING, PLANTING, TENDING, SHARING THE HARVEST, AND BUILDING RELATIONSHIP WITH EACH OTHER. IN THE 2024 GROWING SEASON, WE GAVE AWAY AN ESTIMATED $10,000 WORTH OF PRODUCE TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS AT OUR WEEKLY FOOD DISTRIBUTION SITES. SIX YOUTH INTERNS SERVED A TOTAL OF 480 HOURS OVER THE SUMMER. THEY SUPPORTED GARDENING EFFORTS, VISITED OTHER URBAN GARDENS, LEARNED TO COOK WITH LOCALLY GROWN PRODUCE, AND SUPPORTED THE FARM STANDS.HOPE COMPLETED THE 5TH YEAR OF TRANSFORMATIONAL CREATIVE STRATEGIES TRAINING (TRCSTR) WITH 8 COMMUNITY ARTISTS WITH A FOCUS ON BIPOC ARTISTS, TO WORK EFFECTIVELY WITH COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE ORGANIZERS TO EMPLOY PUBLIC ART AS A STRATEGY FOR COMMUNITY BUILDING AND ORGANIZING. IN 2024, HOPE ENGAGED WITH OVER 260 YOUTHS IN THE YOUTH, LEADERSHIP AND LEARNING PROGRAM. THEY BUILT THEIR SKILLS, CONNECTED WITH EACH OTHER, AND DEVELOPED MINDSETS TO CHOOSE THEIR CAREER PATHS THROUGH THREE SMALL GROUP LEARNING COHORTS (YOUNG MEN'S GROUP, CAREER PATHWAYS, AND CAMP READINESS), INTERNSHIPS, AND TOPICAL WORKSHOPS ON STEAM SKILLS AND SOFT SKILLS. .

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND ASSET BUILDINGHOPE'S DEVELOPMENT VISION CALLS FOR INVESTING IN THE PEOPLE, PLACES, AND ASSETS ALREADY IN THE COMMUNITY AND CREATING NEW OPPORTUNITIES THAT SUPPORT EXISTING RESIDENTS TO THRIVE WITHOUT THE RISK OF DISPLACEMENT. AS OF 2024, HOPE OWNS AND MANAGES A ROBUST PORTFOLIO THAT INCLUDES 237 HIGH-QUALITY RENTAL UNITS, 12 AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP UNITS, HOPE'S OFFICES, A COMMUNITY CENTER, COMMUNITY GARDENS, AND SPACES FOR SMALL COMMUNITY BUSINESSES. IN 2024, HOPE HAS PROVIDED STABLE HOUSING TO APPROXIMATELY 800 RESIDENTS WHERE PEOPLE CAN GATHER, PLAY, LEARN, AND LEAD. SEVENTY PERCENT (70%) OF THE RENTAL UNITS ARE AFFORDABLE TO VERY LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS EARNING BETWEEN 30% AND 50% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME (AMI).HOPE'S PROPERTIES ARE MANAGED BY TWO PROFESSIONAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANIES. AS A PROPERTY OWNER COMMITTED TO ITS BUILDINGS FOR THE LONG-TERM, HOPE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TRADITIONAL DUTIES OF A REAL ESTATE ASSET MANAGER FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT, SELECTION OF A PROPERTY MANAGER, COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATORY AGREEMENTS, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLANNING, ETC. IN 2020, HOPE LAUNCHED A STRATEGY TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO BECOME OWNER-OCCUPANT LANDLORDS OF SMALL MULTI-FAMILY BUILDINGS (DUPLEXES AND TRIPLEXES) AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND NEIGHBORHOOD AFFORDABLE HOUSING OWNERSHIP. THESE PROPERTIES ARE OFTEN OVERLOOKED EVEN THOUGH THEY MAKE UP A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THE HOUSING STOCK IN NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE PHILLIPS AND OFFER AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRESERVE LARGE FAMILY UNITS. AS OF 2024, HOPE HAS CONDUCTED 9 COHORTS AND 12 OUT OF 74 GRADUATES HAVE PURCHASED SINGLE FAMILY HOMES OR DUPLEXES. HOPE WILL OFFER ANOTHER TWO TRAINING COHORTS IN 2025 AND CONTINUE TO PROVIDE ONE-ON-ONE SUPPORT TO GRADUATES.