Article by Noah Grant. Photo by Noah Grant.
When the temperature drops below zero, being outside for any period can be unbearable. Some, however, have no other option. Place of Hope Ministries, founded in 1997, has been helping those experiencing homelessness.
Located in downtown St. Cloud and led by Geary and Carol Jean Smith, who serve as pastors, Place of Hope offers an open door for those with nowhere to call home. Their facilities include a temporary shelter, full-time apartments where residents pay rent, and they also offer short-term overflow shelters where visitors can sleep on mats for the night.
While the Smiths are able to provide for others now, it wasn’t always the case for the couple. Carol Jean and Geary have been homeless twice, along with their children.
“We experienced what that was like to have to pack up all our stuff and have nowhere to go,” said Carol Jean.
They know exactly how much it means to have the basic necessities taken care of, and that’s what they seek to provide for everyone who comes knocking at Place of Hope.
In addition to shelter, visitors also receive a hot meal cooked by the staff. Soap, conditioner, deodorant, and clothing items can also be provided.
“Safety, shelter, food: the basic needs of life,” said Carol Jean. “When you get those, you can start to think about the rest of your life. Once people feel safe and warm, they can move forward.”
For the visitors of Place of Hope, the ultimate goal is to help them find permanent housing. An on-site apartment complex was built in 2007 for full-time residents. While this is paid housing, Place of Hope works to help people find subsidies they qualify for to assist in cutting costs.
“That’s really our hope is for them to live their best life as much as they can,” said Carol Jean.
The resources that Place of Hope provides for and helps hundreds of people do just that, to rebuild their lives and get back on their feet. For more information, you can visit placeofhopeministries.com
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