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 My husband, Rick and I have been residents & business owners in Central Florida for over 20 years. During that time, we have been involved in various volunteer and or outreach programs at our church; various civic organizations and our community. In 2006, we decided to reach out to a homeless family and in doing this we discovered that although there are resources available, it is extremely difficult for the homeless to gain access to those services. We also found that there is a huge need for many ancillary services that are not yet available anywhere in our region. By using our contacts & resources, we were able to get this family off the street and into secure housing, but we realized if we hadn’t taken the time and effort to do this, that they would still be on the street.
We have since met with many of the homeless organizations and service providers in Central Florida and have also attended many conferences held by The White House Faith Based & Community Initiatives on Homelessness, The National Law Center on Poverty and Homelessness, The Florida Coalition for the Homeless & Florida Supportive Housing as well as many others. Although we have learned a lot along the way, we realize that we in no way know “the system”, but we have learned that many of the services out there are merely “band aids” and do not deal with the root causes of homelessness nor do they offer real solutions to those experiencing homelessness. It was at this time that our vision became clear and we established a foundation for the homeless called, HOPE.
HOPE is now working to address the problems of housing and homelessness with a coordinated, comprehensive, and strategic approach. Our plans include coordinating all levels of state and local government effectively utilizing those existing programs that serve the homeless as well as establishing new programs and services that are desperately needed. Some of the initiatives we want to start are educational programs that include apprenticeships & job placement programs that are accessible to the homeless, shelter for couples & families, transportation, access to food, health services, prisoner re-entry programs and many others.
We want to enable communities to develop the capacity to envision, organize and plan long term solutions to address the problems facing the homeless.We are approaching this from a business perspective and as such, partnering with educational institutions, medical groups, large corporations, government entities, community leaders, non-profits, local businesses and civic groups. We are moving forward with our plans and feel that we are utilizing our collective abilities & resources to help make this a reality and truly make a difference in our local area and beyond. Please let us know if you are interested in learning more about HOPE and how you can become a part of the solution. Together we can make a difference.
Sincerely,
Rick & Krissy Todd
How We Help
 HOPE plans to address the problems of the working poor and homeless in a comprehensive, coordinated, and strategic fashion. To educate & change the way people think about the poor and homelessness in a way that compels them to action. We must publicize the need, promote the goal and provide the opportunity for change.This will be accomplished by utilizing the collective abilities and resources of partners in local government, business, civic organizations, medical groups, state universities & community colleges. Together we will make a difference in the lives of those human beings who have fallen on hard times and/or are less fortunate, but still deserve to live in dignity.We plan to effectively utilize those services that exist and to also establish new programs and services that are desperately needed, such as access to food, transportation, clothing, jobs & training programs in the rural areas of Central Florida, specifically Seminole County.
For 20 years, communities throughout the country have been managing the homeless problem rather than seeking to address the root causes. The Federal Government has spent billions of dollars on homeless programs since the McKinney act of 1987. Despite this investment, there continues to be millions of people who experience homelessness nationally. Recently, the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness has spearheaded a national effort to both prevent and end homelessness. But they feel that it is only through local community efforts that this type of plan will work. We want to initiate such a plan here in Central Florida.
It is actually a lot less expensive to prevent and end homelessness than to keep supporting it. We must implement prevention strategies that reduce the number of people who become homeless and increase supportive services and expedite placement into housing. The cost to provide one year of housing & supportive services to one homeless individual is approximately $9,000 a year. The cost to provide a family of four with a $300 monthly subsidy is $3,600. Waiting for at risk populations to fall into homelessness only creates more homeless specific programs, increases costs and deepens the human tragedy. The average person has only one picture of what homelessness is - but in reality, homeless people are men, women, children & families. Homelessness crosses all lines - and affects everyone.
Homeless people are not a monolith; in fact, a "one size fits all" solution does not exist. Homelessness is a societal problem that requires a partnership between private charities, government & active public support. Homelessness is a national problem with local solutions. We feel we should do everything we can to help those living in conditions unworthy of their human dignity. Together we can end this National disgrace.
 HOPE has five board members and Ms. Todd is the executive director and oversees and manages the operations of HOPE.
The five board members are:
Chairman of the Board - Ms. Joan Faulkner who is very involved in HOPE’s outreach activities, including but not limited to, business development, fundraising, marketing and event planning.
Dr. Randy Lewis - Senior Program Manager for Orange County Health & Family Services Department serves as a mentor to HOPE and offers invaluable advice in non-profit management and in developing new services.
Seminole County Commissioner Robert Dallari is supportive of HOPE’s service in Seminole County and is helping HOPE to get through the myriad of difficulties involved in developing affordable housing.
Dr. Joe Maclaren is the Senior Pastor of University Carillon United Methodist Church in Oviedo, Florida, and provides significant support to HOPE’s outreach activities.
Mr Jim Keeter is an attorney and provides legal guidance and support to HOPE.
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