Charity Spotlight: Hope Coalition
Kate Marie Robbins' book, Behind Closed Doors proceeds are donated to Hope Coalition.
About Hope Coalition:
HOPE Coalition works with ordinary people facing extraordinary trauma: domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, homelessness, inability to meet their basic needs. When they come to us they’re frightened, confused, feeling alone; and looking for assistance and guidance as they rebuild their lives. We step in at that point: We restore hope and help rebuild lives.
HOPE serves an average of 1,700 people annually in Goodhue, Wabasha, and Western Pierce (WI) counties. We are the sole provider of domestic violence, child abuse and sexual assault services and a primary provider of services to the homeless in our service area. The Haven of Hope, our domestic violence shelter, accepts women and their children from anywhere in Minnesota, and from out-of-state (if needed, for safety reasons). All services are provided free of charge.
Mission:
Empowering lives through HOPE.
Services:
HOPE Coalition provides the following programs and support for individuals and families in need:
● Haven of Hope domestic violence shelter – A secure, 24 bed emergency shelter for women and their children under age 18. Services include support groups, safety planning, legal advocacy, information and referrals, and a 24-hour crisis hotline.
● Sexual Assault Services – In addition to our 24-hour crisis and support hotline, we also provide: support groups; advocacy during medical exams, law enforcement interviews, and civil or criminal court matters; safety planning; assistance in securing emergency services; assistance in filing victim compensation claims; collaboration with other social service providers; and access to culturally-appropriate interpreters and materials.
● Housing Support Services – We assist families and individuals in securing emergency and short-term/long-term transitional housing, case management, and self-sufficiency skills. We also provide housing assessment and release planning for inmates at Goodhue County Adult Detention Center.
● Community Care Fund – Providing assistance to families in crisis who are unable to pay for basic necessities or living expenses (rent, food, utilities,etc.). Our program focuses on developing self-sufficiency to help reduce future needs.
History:
Since our genesis in 1990 as the Red Wing Area Coalition for Transitional Housing, our organization has achieved a great deal. In 1995 we opened our domestic violence shelter, Haven of Hope, (originally called The Women’s Center), which helps women and their children find safety and rebuild their lives after fleeing domestic abuse. The following year we launched Kids Count, our program focusing solely on children experiencing or witnessing violence and abuse. In 2006, we took over management of the Community Care Fund, supported by local churches, foundations, and the United Way of Goodhue, Wabasha and Pierce Counties – to provide a general fund for people seeking help with basic needs.
In 2008, we changed our name to HOPE Coalition, to reflect better our expanded services. In 2014, at the request of the MN Office of Justice Programs (OJP), HOPE took over the provision of sexual assault services to Goodhue & Wabasha Counties. At the request of the Rochester Women’s Shelter and Support Center in Rochester, we assumed responsibility for domestic violence outreach in Wabasha and opened a satellite office in Wabasha, staffed with a full-time advocate, in late 2017. Services for at-risk youth were expanded to the Cannon Falls Public Schools in 2018.
In February 2018, HOPE was one of five agencies awarded a 16-month pilot study grant, by the Minnesota Department of Health and the Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault, to develop and implement local Safe Harbor protocols for sexually exploited youth. And in 2018, HOPE was recertified for the Charities Review Council’s “Meets Standard” Seal – an assurance of “a clear, concise, and accessible indicator of [our] continued commitment towards accountability and ethical practices”.
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