Bridge of Hope: May 7th

Dear Colleagues,

This past fall, Mel Trotter launched a church-based program that, if adopted by enough churches, will significantly reduce family homelessness in West Michigan. The average number of families on a waiting list for shelter in Kent County is 115. We dream of a day, perhaps even 5 years from now, when 100 churches will serve 100 families facing homelessness annually.

The Bridge of Hope initiative centers and empowers local church bodies to serve families in their own congregation or wider community who are at risk of homelessness. This is accomplished with team training in current best practices of wraparound care and professional support from a Mel Trotter case worker. In other words, it’s a three-way partnership between a family facing homelessness, a 6-10 person church team and a Mel Trotter case manager. The church team will walk alongside the family facing homelessness for 12-18 months as they work toward stability.

You are cordially invited to spend an evening at the mission to learn about The Bridge of Hope initiative that has recently been launched. We can accommodate a few people from each church. We encourage you to send a pastor or a leader who can represent the vision of your church and a congregation member who might be passionate about this kind of ministry. Please join us Tuesday evening May 7^th from 6:00pm-7:30pm at the mission to learn more about the Bridge of Hope initiative and how your church can change the trajectory of a family at risk of homelessness.  Dinner will be provided. (Free street parking available).

In peace,

Dr. Ben Lepper