18 Feb Three years after the Hope Forest ribbon-cutting

In January 2017, we officially opened Hope Forest, home to the families in our supportive housing program. This program is a bridge from transitional to permanent housing, and it helps families thrive by providing services like case management, life skills training, and access to community resources.

Hope Forest started as a dream, a vision to create more affordable housing opportunities for families with children in Montgomery County. The hard work and dedication of many people in our community made this dream a reality. First Presbyterian Church of Ambler contributed $300,000 to acquire the property. Volunteers from First Presbyterian, Ambler Church of the Brethren, Ambler Mennonite Church, Church of the Messiah, Congregation Beth Or, Grace Baptist Church, Jarrettown United Methodist Church, Supplee Presbyterian Church, Trinity Episcopal Church, Upper Dublin Lutheran Church, Ambler Savings Bank, Global Indemnity, Lowe’s, Sports Unlimited, and Temple University dedicated hundreds of hours to gut, renovate, furnish, decorate, and stock the two apartments, creating safe, comfortable homes for families on the road from homelessness to self-sufficiency.

Hope Forest residents have gone on to achieve great things. Two former residents now live in fair-market-rent apartments in Montgomery. Two residents have earned an associate’s degree at Montgomery County Community College. One now works as a registered nurse, and the other is enrolled at Temple University.

And one former resident is now a homeowner! Selena participated in Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery and Delaware Counties’ Almost Home FREE program. She and her teenage son just moved into a three-bedroom townhouse.

We’re so proud of all of the hard work that our families have put into their journey to improve their education, find housing, and make a better life for their children. We’re also grateful for the incredible effort and dedication demonstrated by our partners. Together, we can create the opportunities that families with children need for long-term stability so that they can flourish.