Our Mission is to provide affordable, supportive housing and the wrap-around services needed to empower individuals coming out of chronic homelessness.
Need for Change
Approximately 20% of Durant residents live below the poverty line, and recent local surveys estimate that about 200 people are chronically homeless, including 83 students identified for the ’25–’26 school year. Many live in tents, cars, abandoned structures, or other temporary accommodations. Over a quarter are older than 55, and more than 70% have lived in Durant all or much of their lives.
With no shelters and almost no affordable housing in Durant, people without a stable address or transportation struggle to find or keep work. Being homeless means no restrooms, water, or sanitation, constant risk of theft or harassment, and the daily stress of survival. Without intervention towards stability, the downward spiral deepens and further strains local health and public safety systems.
“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and
sisters of mine, you did for me.”
Matthew 25:40
Our Approach
The House of Hope strategy is built on a simple truth: Having a safe, stable place to live dramatically improves the ability of homeless persons to rebuild their lives. Our model provides immediate, low‑barrier housing and then surrounds residents with the support they need to move forward.
Once housed, people are far better able to address health needs, pursue work, reconnect with community, and make long‑term progress. This proven approach reduces homelessness and lowers public costs as homeless persons are no longer cycling through hospitals and jails. It treats housing as the foundation for change—not the reward.
“My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes,
in undisturbed places of rest.”
Isaiah 32:18
How It Works
This is a hand up, not a handout. Residents will be chosen through a fair, nondiscriminatory screening process with a focus on creating a safe, respectful, and supportive community. They will be responsible for paying rent, following all laws, and complying with the Good Neighbor Agreement. With that foundation in place, residents will be wrapped in the supportive services they need to regain physical and mental health, rebuild social and life skills, pursue or maintain employment, and move toward long‑term independence as part of a caring community.
