H.O.P.E. is the name of a Mid-South Peace and Justice Center sponsored organization whose members are exclusively people who are currently or have formerly experienced homelessness. For over a year now, H.O.P.E. has been organizing and agitating around the issues that are a priority to the homeless community.
♥ Project Homeless Connect 3
Last month we ask for your help with the Point In Time Count, which is conducted once a year by the Community Alliance for The Homeless and is required by the Department of Housing and Urban Development to retain federal funding for homeless programs. Now we are reaching out for your assistance with another event that will positively impact the lives of individuals experiencing homelessness.
♥ On Valentines Day, February 14, please join us in showing some love for our brothers and sisters on the street by participating in this third installment of Project Homeless Connect 3; a massive outreach and service event to break down barriers that make it difficult to leave homelessness. We are expecting 1000 peoplewho are in need to attend this event, and we need just as many passionate volunteers to help connect folks with services! Check out the Facebook event page or visit the Community Alliance for the Homeless’ website for more details.You can also link straight to the volunteer sign-up by clicking here!
100k Homes: Memphis 100: UPDATE!
Back in October, H.O.P.E. members hit the pavement, volunteering with the Community Alliance for the Homeless for the 100k Homes campaign: Memphis 100 campaign, Which prioritizes individuals experiencing homelessness based on their vulnerability to living on the streets, The program aims to get 100 people off the streets by Easter who might otherwise be dead in the next two years. H.O.P.E. members were instrumental in securing the funding for this campaign and assisted with outreach, conducing surveys to connect folks with the housing and supportive services that they so desperately need. We are now happy to announce that two of H.O.P.E. members who gave their time and energy to the success of this campaign have just received housing and wrap around services through the Memphis 100 program!
The Struggle Continues….
H.O.P.E. would like to thank everyone who came out to celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with us! We had a great time with folks from the community and other organizations like Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition [TIRRC], Memphis Center for Independent Living, Tennessee ADAPT, and the Memphis Bus Riders Union/ Sindicato De Pasajeros.
We watched coverage of the inauguration, screened the documentary, At The River I Stand, and followed that with a round-the-room discussion of the struggle for civil rights and equality for all people and how we can continue this work today. It was a fun way to network with other organizations and hear about all the awesome work that is going on in our community. We also had special guest, Coby Smith, who is featured in the documentary. He is a founding member of The Invaders, which was a militant black power group that was organizing in Memphis during the 60’s and worked closely with Dr. King during the time he was in Memphis. Thanks to everyone who came out and special thanks to MCILfor hosting this event!
Feeding the Movement:
H.O.P.E would like to once again thank Just for Lunch and Trolley Stop Market for showing some love by donating meals each month for our weekly H.O.P.E. meetings! We would also like to thank Catholic Charities and Memphis Center for Independent Living for providing us with space for our meetings. There are lots of ways to feed the movement, and we would like to thank all of our allies for their continued support.
If you are interested in how you can support the work of H.O.P.E. members, please contact Paul Garner @ 901.725.4990 or paul@midsouthpeace.org and don’t forget to like us on Facebook for more H.O.P.E. updates!