New federal program fits Hope Center philosophy of helping people
From the veteran who is experiencing homelessness to the father with addiction to pain pills following surgery to the person unable to afford rent after the loss of a job – all are served by the Hope Center.
As vital as they are, our services don’t end once the basic and immediate needs of our clients are met. We know Lexington envisions more for them—a future that is self-sustaining, healthy, and thriving.
That’s why we provide clients with programs that address challenges that may prevent them from obtaining and maintaining stable housing, such as mental health problems, addiction, and lack of education and employment skills.
And that’s why the Hope Center, in partnership with the Lexington Housing Authority, recently became the first organization in Lexington and one of less than 40 nationwide to be designated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as a federal EnVision Center.
Denise Cleveland-Leggett, HUD Southeast Region Administrator, toured the Hope Center last year and was instrumental in championing efforts to award the designation.
EnVision Centers offer HUD-assisted families and individuals access to support services that can help them achieve long-term self-sufficiency, which, in turn, makes scarce federal resources more readily available to a greater number of households waiting for HUD assistance.
The program is based on the principle that financial support alone won’t solve poverty. Intentional and collective efforts across a diverse set of organizations are needed to implement a holistic approach that builds lasting change.
EnVision Centers provide communities with a centralized hub for support in four areas:
Economic Empowerment: Empowering people with opportunities to improve their economic sustainability.
Educational Advancement: Providing non-traditional educational opportunities through partnerships with public and private organizations.
Health and Wellness: Ensuring access to better health.
Character and Leadership: Providing supports to build on their strengths through meaningful volunteer and mentoring opportunities so they contribute to the community and grow their sense of purpose and belonging.
HUD Secretary Ben Carson, who visited in 2018, expressed his appreciation of the Hope Center’s work, along with the vision and commitment of the city of Lexington, the Lexington Housing Authority and community partners in making the EnVision Center a reality for the benefit of those who need support.
“The measure of success is not how many people we can bring into HUD assistance but how many people we can lift up and beyond it into a path of self-sufficiency and upward mobility,” Carson said via video.
“I’ve seen the great promise and tremendous potential unlocked through HUD’s EnVision Center initiative. EnVision Centers are a way to help connect resources with the people who need them most. They empower people to reach their highest potential and achieve the American Dream by interconnecting available resources and services across federal agencies and by leveraging local resources and private funding to supply education, job training, financial literacy and mentoring.”
We couldn’t agree more.
And we know we couldn’t be successful without strong public and private partnerships with the city, the Lexington Housing Authority, Bluegrass Community and Technical College, New Vista, Health First, Bluegrass Community Health Center, Bluegrass Area Development District, NAMI, Jubilee Jobs, Chrysalis House, Community Action Council, AVOL, Greenhouse 17, criminal justices partners, and so many others.
The holistic and collaborative philosophy of EnVision Centers mirrors the Hope Center’s approach of providing refuge when needed, access to individualized services and connections to permanent housing resources for people experiencing or at risk of becoming homeless.
The EnVision Center designation is not just a recognition of the Hope Center. It is a testament to Lexington’s strength as a community. By strategically working together, we can achieve the vision Lexington demands for its people.
Janice James is interim executive director of the Hope Center, which provides emergency shelter, food, and clothing 365 days a year to help people experiencing homelessness and those with addiction and mental health issues.