Sean C. Morgan
The HOPE Center has reached the end of a transition period.
Two years ago, co-directors Lynn Wiens and Nancy Robeck stepped down and turned the reins over to the First Baptist Church. About a year ago, the church withdrew from the board, although members continue to support the center as individuals. Litta Montiel and Sandi Hegge became the new co-directors.
“We’ve gone through a transition,” Hegge said. “At this point, we’re finding our our groove.”
The Hope Center is functioning under the organization established by Sharon Pryor and Esther Bennett in 1990.
“God just opened the door for me to come back here,” Hegge said.
Two years ago, the HOPE Center had difficulty obtaining an occupancy permit from the city of Sweet Home building division when it had to replace its fire sprinkler system.
“We did have to take out a loan,” Hegge said. “For the first time in 20 years, they had to take out a loan – for the fire (sprinkler) system.”
That resolved the occupancy permit issue, Hegge said.
“We are solely supported by private donations and churches, and we are in need of a new roof,” Hegge said.
The HOPE Center helps women and children in crisis that are ready to make changes, Hegge said. The facility, located at the corner of 12th and Kalmia streets, can house up to nine mothers and children.
The women served by the HOPE Center go there for a variety of reasons. It could be something they need to prove to a probation officer. They may be escaping abuse. Others come from living in their cars.
One woman had her hours cut and couldn’t afford to pay her rent, Hegge said.
The HOPE Center is not a drop-in shelter, though, Hegge said. It has an application process.
The center reaches out to “people from all walks of life,” Montiel said.
“We’ve had an excellent summer,” Hegge said. The center has been full until about two weeks ago. Right now, it has one resident, and two more women have applied.
“We are Christian-based, so we do make some requirements of them,” she said. The center’s goal is to teach its residents about God, while helping them with housing.
“We’re looking for somebody that’s looking for a different answer,” she said.
“Our goal is to reach people for Christ,” Montiel said.
And the service gives the center the opportunity, she said.
They count success two ways, they said. One is when residents follow God and also when they successfully improve their lives.
“There’s a couple of gals who moved out this last week and moved into their own house,” Hegge said.
“It’s exciting when they go to their own house,” Montiel said.
And when they are walking with the Lord, Hegge said.
“We were able to reunite another with her family out of state, and her faith was renewed,” she said.
Sometimes, though, they go back to the lives they left, she said.
“The giving is down,” Hegge said. “But Litta and I are just starting to go and talk to the churches.”
She stressed that the organization has never received government funding and is the longest-running shelter of its kind operating without public funding in the state.
“God has always been faithful,” Hegge said. When the program is down to its last volunteer or dollar, God provides.
“We know He’ll be faithful in the future,” Hegge said.
The entire staff of 15 to 18 is volunteer, she said.
The HOPE Center also helps other charity programs in Sweet Home, including the Food Pak program, which provides food to children to take home during the weekend.
To contact the HOPE Center, call (541) 367-HOPE. Donations may be mailed to P.O. Box 351, Sweet Home, OR 97386.