Many of our readers have asked us to cover affordable housing in the Greenville area, so last week we went on a Homes of Hope tour to learn about what this nonprofit does for the community + how it works.

Experience:

Touring a Homes of Hope home to learn about their Affordable Housing program — and hear more about their free virtual gala on Thurs., June 10 at 6:30 p.m., which benefits Homes of Hope programming.

What we tried:

We toured a Homes of Hope home with the housing client and asked Denice Harris, the Director of Housing + Property Management, and Brooke Wedding, the Community Relations Manager a few questions about Homes of Hope.

Q: What makes Homes of Hope so unique?

A: It’s affordable housing, but we are so focused on fitting the clients’ lives. It’s a holistic view of the person or the family and their needs and figuring out how that looks in terms of housing.

Q: What do you hope people talk about when they talk about this organization?

A: Hope. Hope for opportunity, for better housing. Know that there’s a chance to fulfill your dreams and find what’s right for you.

A Homes of Hope Home | Image via Brooke Wedding

We were also able to ask the residents — Charles and Virginia — about their experience with Homes of Hope and what home means to them.

Charles: Sanctuary. Your home is where you should be comfortable and feel safe and secure. You look around and say ‘I’m at peace here.’

Virginia: Your home should be an example of you. You should be able to put your key in the door at the end of the day and step into your own space and feel good about it.

See the video of our visit here — and read on for more information.

What we’re still talking about:

Homes of Hope doesn’t just place folks in homes and move on — they work to make sure the home and the client are a good match, whether that means placing a family with children in a home that has a yard to play in or making sure the client ends up in a 1-story unit when stairs may be a safety issue. It’s all about the details.

“Just because someone needs help, doesn’t mean they shouldn’t also have options.” –Denice, Homes of Hope Director of Housing + Property Management | Image via Brooke Wedding

Q: The term “affordable housing” is used quite commonly, but what does it mean?

A: Housing is considered affordable if 30% or less of a resident’s monthly income goes towards housing expenses, including utilities.

Homes of Hope opens doors for economic mobility through housing, economic and workforce development, like their Housing Programs and Men’s Workforce Development Program. Since it began in 1998, Homes of Hope has developed 642 homes, graduated 319 men, and invested $83+ million in community and economic development.

“It started as a house and we made it a home.” – Virginia, Homes of Hope resident | Image via Brooke Wedding

How you can get involved:

Attend the Homes of Hope Virtual Spring Gala on June 10 at 6:30 p.m. Registration is free. Homes of Hope will match donations dollar-for-dollar up to $200,000 thanks to the support of their generous donors.

When you register, you’ll automatically receive email reminders + instructions on how to access the gala.

Things to know if you go:

Experience: Learning more about Homes of Hope
Website: https://homesofhope.org/
Nonprofit HQ: 3 Dunean St., Greenville, SC 29611
Hours: Mon.-Thurs., 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Fri., 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Social: Facebook | Twitter | InstagramⓅ