OUR MISSION

HOPE’s mission is to prevent homelessness and promote self-sufficiency and dignity. Does that mean that everyone who visits our campus becomes a middle-class, independent person? No, it doesn’t. It does mean that all who come to HOPE for help are given the tools, education, and methodology to work toward becoming independent, tax-paying citizens of our community at the level to which they are able.

You may have seen our “Meet Betty” campaign in 2018. Betty is a woman who lives in the 70805 zip code community. She was hungry and came to the Client Choice Food Pantry where she could select food that suited her and her family’s needs, including fresh vegetables. An intake volunteer recognized Betty’s potential and referred her to HOPE’s The Way to Work Sustainable Workforce SOLUTIONS© program. The Way to Work’s career coach worked closely with her to give her the tools to become successful. She got a job at LSU. After Betty was employed, her coach worked with her to become financially independent. Eventually, Betty paid off her mortgage.

Betty is a Baton Rouge success story.

Each person comes to HOPE with a different story. There is no “one size fits all” solution, and taking the time to listen and hear someone’s story is key to helping them stabilize their lives and start making life-long decisions to benefit their families. Since 2003, HOPE has served thousands of people, helping them move closer to and often achieve self-sufficiency.

During the storms of the past, HOPE became a second responder to those affected. Very quickly our doors were open, providing water, food, flood buckets, household items, and help with complicated assistance paperwork for people who lost everything. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the flood of 2016 changed HOPE’s footprint and the direction—providing opportunities for growth.

In 2018, HOPE became the only third-party provider of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Education and Training, helping people who receive SNAP benefits to get jobs. In 2019, thanks to our many sponsors, including the Baton Rouge General, Huey and Angelina Wilson Foundation, and the Pennington Family Foundation, HOPE opened the doors to the The Way to Work Learning Center, enabling clients to attend adult education classes, apply for certifications in the computer lab, and increase their employability. In 2021, HOPE’s Client Choice Food Pantry opened Mr. Eddie’s Kitchen, a test kitchen offering live demonstrations of healthy and safe food preparations. Clients enjoy tasting new foods and expanding their choices through knowledge.

To find out more about what makes HOPE tick, dive into the website and learn about our professional development training and retention services for employers or navigate over to The Way to Work website at www.thewaytoworkla.com and learn more.

Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to learn more about HOPE. Everyone needs a purpose and everyone needs HOPE!

Yours faithfully,

Janet Simmons
President, CEO