Single parents are some of the most resilient people we know, and we created a 501c3 tax-exempt organization to empower, encourage, and equip low-income single parents to obtain a college degree, develop essential life skills, and ultimately become self-sufficient through wrap-around services including financial assistance for housing and childcare, community resources, financial training, and counseling.
H.O.P.E., Inc. stands for Helping Other People be Empowered. Kenita Smith founded it in November 2009, out of her own experience. She was a single parent, and she struggled to finish her BBA and MBA. There was almost no help for parents in her position, and she wanted to change that.
Money is the number one reason students do not finish college, and government aid leaves a gap. It covers rent only if a parent is not working. It covers childcare only for parents earning a diploma or certificate who are living below the poverty line.
That leaves out the parents who are working and going to school to build a better life. Those are the parents we help. We put up to $400 a month toward rent and up to $400 a month toward childcare while you attend a two or four-year accredited college. The money goes straight to your landlord, lender, or licensed childcare provider.
We determine eligibility by conducting an intake and application process. Each individual must provide the following for consideration:
Programs
- Childcare Assistance
- Rent Assistance
- Social Services
hopbe.org
