Hope Harbor residents receive Holiday cheer at Christmas Party
Hope Harbor residents received lots of holiday cheer on December 15. The Hope Harbor staff put on their annual Christmas Party for residents and all of the Hope Harbor families were adopted by several business, families and individuals in Grand Island. Case manager Sadie Nielsen is in charge of matching donors and families together for Hope Harbor’s in house Adopt-a-Family program. The residents were also be treated to a Christmas dinner and free phone calls to their loved ones courtesy of US Cellular. Santa Claus made a special appearance too and handed out goodie bags to the children, that were provided by the Grand Island Optimist Club.
Neilsen has been in charge of the in house Adopt-A-Family program for 7 years. Nielsen contacted previous donors in late November about participating in this year’s program.
“I have had the privilege of organizing this event for the past 7 years. It is so rewarding to see the children faces when they open the gifts they have received,” said Nielsen. “The smiles and joy makes it all worth doing. A special thank to all the families and businesses for their sponsorship.”
Our Mission
Our mission is "Lifting those in need to lives of sustainable self-sufficiency." Hope Harbor accomplishes this mission by providing services to needy, displaced homeless, near homeless families, and women and children. We help meet their needs for safe shelter, meals, and supportive case management with a goal of obtaining permanent housing and becoming self-sufficient.
Thank you to all the individuals, organizations and groups who generously give in support of Hope Harbor. Your donations truly make a difference in the lives of others. A few of these corporations who assist are : Tom & Kim Dinsdale | Skagway | St. Leo's Catholic Church | Trinity United Methodist Church | Trinity Lutheran Church | Johnny's Lock & Key | Home Depot | Principal Financial Group | Wave Pizza Company | and many many more.
WHO ARE THE HOMELESS
*There are 68,000 children living in poverty in Nebraska. 7 out of every 100 of these children are homeless.
*The typical homeless family consists of a single mother and 2 children.
*The average monthly income for a single mother in Nebraska who receives public assistance is less than $557, or less than 50% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).
*This family can afford to pay $167 per month in rent, leaving a deficit of $463 from the amount needed to rent a two-bedroom apartment at the state's average fair market rent.
*For families in this situation, even a seemingly minor event can trigger a catastrophic outcome, pushing a family onto the streets.
(All according to Nebraska State Report Card on Child Homelessness)
*According to the 2008 Nebraska Homeless Assistance Program Application, the State defines homelessness as: "A person or family who lacks fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence and who has a primary nighttime residence that is (1) a supervised publicly or privately-operated shelter designed to provide temporary living accommodations including welfare hotels, congregate shelters, youth hostels, domestic abuse shelters; and transitional programs for the mentally ill; or (2) an institution that provides a temporary residence for persons intended to be institutionalized; or (3) a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings."