The Hope Center at Pullen was incorporated in July 2008 and approved as a 501(c)(3) tax exempt nonprofit in January 2009. Our facility opened with a dedication on February 1, 2009. Since starting on a journey of hope, many people have pulled together to take on a daunting task: to provide guidance, friendship and vital life skills to local people who because of poverty struggle everyday.

We're making strides. We average as high as 40 visits a month at our JobLink Access Point program. Further, of the 25 participants in the Job Readiness Program through June 2010:

• 13 have secured jobs & two of these 13 have moved into apartments
• 6 have entered the Jubilee Jobs Program at StepUP Ministry
• 2 have begun GED studies
• 3 have entered treatment programs at The Healing Place of Wake County

Investing Resources for Six to Twelve Months

On average, a chronically homeless person costs the Raleigh community $5,500/month. This includes 23 nights in a shelter, police and emergency transport, medical care and professional crisis assessment.

At an expense of roughly $3,800 per participant, our Job Readiness Program annually offers six to twelve months of compassionate and practical support for 10 chronically homeless adults. This includes personal care items, groceries, pre-paid cell phones, city bus passes, meals and some therapy as well as salary to fund a program manager with the project management skills, networking resources, and sensitivity to collaborate with program participants and train volunteers.

Critical Operations Support In Place

Pullen Memorial Baptist Church provides the 1634 square-foot space — including utilities, custodial services and liability insurance — free-of-charge. This support is ongoing and substantial. Consequently, The Hope Center is able to focus its fundraising on staffing and program needs.

Program and Staffing Support from Donors

Donors are key partners in efforts to build support systems for people needing care and resources to succeed. We appreciate all gifts and work diligently to use financial resources wisely. The following organizations and grantors have given The Hope Center programs a tremendous boost.

• Alliance of Baptists Mission Offering (2009 & 2010)
• American Airlines Kids Are Something Special Endowment of the Triangle Community Foundation – a grant that sent students in the Wiley Tutoring & Enrichment Program to summer day camp for a week
• The Hope Center at Pullen February Fundraising Gala guests
• Pullen Memorial Baptist Church members and friends
• Pullen Missions & Outreach Council
• Pullen Mission Women
• The City of Raleigh, Community Development Department - a Community Enhancement Program grant that greatly helped expand the Job Readiness Program and the Wiley Tutoring & Enrichment Program
• The City of Raleigh, Human Services Agency - a grant that greatly helped provide resources for the Job Readiness Program
• Performing Hope guests
• IBM – the local employer provided desktops, laptops and $5,000

If you would like to discuss a major gift, a matching gift challenge or an endowment to The Hope Center at Pullen, please contact Pat Hielscher, Office Manager, at phielscher@hopecenteratpullen.org or Anne Sayers, Board of Directors President, at anne299@earthlink.net.