HISTORY, VISION & MISSION

History of the House of Hope

In the spring of 1994 a group of men and women from a local church in Gainesville, Florida formed a council to consider ways to establish a prison transitional house to assist men and women coming out of prison. 

In one of these meetings a scripture was given as the foundation in which this transitional house ministry was to be founded “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, a longing fulfilled is the tree of life” Proverbs 13:12. In the winter of 1994, a fundraiser event dinner was organized as an effort to raise funds to establish what will later become the House of Hope. 

After months of prayer and planning, in July of 1995, the House of Hope officially opened its doors, and since its inception, the House of Hope has helped hundreds of men and women coming out of prison, helping them to break the cycle of crime and addiction, assisting them to become responsible and successful members of our communities.

For more than 20 years the House of Hope has been extending HOPE to those coming out of prison. Those who come through our program have a 88% chance of NEVER returning to prison.

Vision

“Transforming lives by giving hope”

Mission

The House of Hope is a prison transitional ministry that assists and helps formerly incarcerated men and women succeed in their reentry into the community. 

We provide a welcoming, and safe faith-based environment which inspires and encourages formerly incarcerated, both male and female, to grow in their relationship with God as they are productively assimilated into society. 

We encourage and enable our residents to get on the path to success during this critical transition time by assisting them with housing, food, spiritual development, opportunities for employment, and life-skills training in a highly structured program of personal accountability.

We help our residents get surrounded with mentors and support, so that they may grow and serve, becoming productive members of our communities.