You can’t live without hope. That’s what Tamara Monroe, Founder and CEO of Hope Restored Missions, believes. In 2019, Tamara and three like-minded women sought to fill the gap in services for people experiencing homelessness. At the time, there was no social service agency in Collin County that specifically specialized in providing holistic wrap-around support services for the unsheltered, where anyone needing assistance could receive help without any eligibility requirements.
Hope Restored Missions' primary program, Bridge to Hope, provides a complete range of services based on the client’s barriers to being able to meet their basic needs of housing, food, employment/income, and physical and mental wellness. Services are designed to provide long term solutions to meeting the clients’ needs rather than a “quick fix.”
The hallmark feature of HRM is the foundational belief that helping the homeless is not just about housing, it's about relationships. Woven throughout what we do and how we do it is the effort to be intentional about developing relationships with our clients so that they feel that they are known as individuals, each with a unique life story and each with strengths and abilities that will enable them to build stable, meaningful lives. HRM becomes not just their service provider but also their community. This develops trust and motivates them to persevere through the challenging and difficult actions most will need to undertake to rebuild their lives and bring Hope alive.
Any client who comes to HRM is welcomed and offered food, water, hygiene items, clothing, and shoes to meet any immediate needs. Through an intake interview, the client is assessed to identify any immediate circumstances or needs to be prioritized such as a medical or mental health. Additional information is gathered that will become the starting point for a case manager to work with them to build an individual action plan.
Besides food, hygiene and clothing, the most common needs we address are procuring official government forms of identification and applying for any government benefits for which they may qualify.
People who are experiencing homelessness come from all walks of life and range from those who have been chronically unsheltered (about 30%) to those who are recently evicted and are without a home for the first time in their lives. In the last twelve months, HRM has helped 1,800 individuals going through this crisis.
Most of the work at HRM is done by dedicated volunteers and most of our funding is through grassroots donations. If you have a few hours a week, we would love to have you come to our office to sort donations, put food and hygiene packets together and/or answer the phones. We also need volunteers with computer skills to help with intake.
Follow us on social media and sign up with your email address. Our Monthly Outreach Events require lots of volunteers. Our clients get free haircuts, hot meals, fresh fruit, health checks, art, music and so much more.
We always need individuals, organizations, church groups, and/or schools to hold food drives for items that can easily be eaten on the move, without can openers or stoves. Travel size hygiene items are also greatly appreciated. Our current needs are blankets, sweatpants, sweatshirts, coats, and gloves.
Office hours are Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Your donations are welcomed during those hours. 1947 K Avenue, Plano, TX 75074. (214) 501-2181. www.hoperestoredmissions.org
The hallmark feature of Hope Restored Missions is the foundational belief that helping the homeless is not just about housing, it's about relationships.
