Bridge of Hope 2023-26 Strategic Plan:

Making Space for Families:
Housing, Support and Brave Conversations

1.) Increasing Affordable Housing Spaces to meet increased numbers of families facing homelessness

In the wake of a global pandemic and economic uncertainties, rental housing costs have outpaced the ability for many families, especially single mothers with children, to find affordable rental housing.  With exponential increases in calls for help and dramatically increased costs for rental assistance to stabilize families facing homelessness, we recognize that one solution won’t solve this national crisis so we commit to using multiple avenues to work toward solutions for more families, recognizing this must be a multi-prong approach.

      • Develop affordable rental housing solutions that end homelessness and tackle existing barriers with creativity and new strategies.
      • Building partnerships with others in the housing arena, to open new doors for more families to end homelessness.
      • Reduce days that families experience homelessness, by decreasing the # of days to house families
      • End homelessness for more families as the need continues to grow
      • Engage new communities in Neighboring through Bridge of Hope, with 30 locations serving families by 2026.

God desires all people to have a safe home (Psalm 68:6, Psalm 84:3 and Isaiah 32:18)

2.) Strengthening the Scaffolding of Support for Families Facing Homelessness

To fully serve families who are experiencing deeper levels of stress, isolation and economic uncertainty, Bridge of Hope must build up our scaffolding of support around each family.

    • Deepen and widen creative church engagement across diverse Christian faith communities in Neighboring, financial, and volunteer support in ending homelessness.
    • Reduce days to launch Neighborhoods of Support while engaging Neighboring Volunteers to love their neighbors.
    • Widen avenues of care and connection with program graduates, empowering them as engaged policy makers and influencers.
    • Enhance support services for families, specifically around mental health and wellness supports.
    • Build resilience and foster well-being in staff across the network and equip case managers to meet the challenges of vulnerable families who are facing increased stress, isolation and economic uncertainty.
    • Strengthen National and affiliate boards in governing and fundraising, to grow thriving organizations with increased capacity toward ending family homelessness.

 God’s invitation is to build up our neighbors with love and surround them with care. (Romans 13:10, 1 Corinthians 16:14 and Galatians 5:14)

 3.) Creating Brave Spaces, as we fulfill our mission

Families facing homelessness have known complex trauma, walking in many unsafe spaces.  To create safe spaces for families (emotionally, physically, spiritually and more), we must first intentionally cultivate vulnerable, brave conversations that embody cultural humility and demonstrate Christ’s love.  We commit to doing so in a way that continually reminds us to see and name God at work.

    • Create brave spaces for experiencing God at work.
    • Create brave spaces for practicing cultural humility.
    • Create brave spaces for financially supporting our mission in expansive ways.
    • Create brave spaces for generously sharing our learnings, across national platforms, around ending family homelessness, engaging churches in loving their neighbors facing homelessness and practicing cultural humility as a way of neighboring across divides.

God calls us to a life of courage, relationships and humility.  (Deuteronomy 15:7-11, 2 Kings 4:1-7, Luke 6:38, Philippians 2:3-8, Ephesians 4:1-2)