ANGELS OF HOPE, INC.

                    
 A non-profit Organization
EIN: 45-2374445

Angels of Hope, Inc. has been formed to assist homeless families within the central western portion of Virginia.
    Where would you sleep tonight, if you have lost your job, your home, everything?
    Would you live in your car?  What if, you don't own a car?
    Would you have a illegal tent hidden in the mountains or on someones property to live in?
    What are you going to do in adverse weather conditions?
    Would you sleep on a park bench, wash with soap and paper towels from a public restroom?
    How would you eat?  How would you cook food, if you were lucky enough to have a few bucks to buy something to eat?
    How would you look for work?  You have no phone, no computer, no clean clothes or clothes to ware for a job interview, no place to take a shower, no gas for the car, if you are lucky enough to have a car.
    If you had children, how could you take care of them?  Who would watch them while you had a job interview?   How would you send your children to school?  You have no address, no phone, no money, no clothing for them to attend school, no food...no nothing!
    
    You apply at social services and other assisting services for help.  The homeless shelters are completely full and have a waiting list, which is the case at this time.  Social Services takes your children away and puts them into foster care, often separating siblings from each other, as well as from their parent(s).  Many have elected to live in the above mentions adversities instead of separating their families.  We want to prevent this from happening, by assisting families get back on their feet and by keeping families together, as they belong together.
    
    How devestating is that going to be on a child for life? Just imagine how you would feel if you were a child and going through such a crisis.  You lost your parents and in many cases your siblings and have to live with complete strangers.  You are alone, all alone, frightened, scard, feeling as if the world you have always known just ended for good.  Will the promises, "it will only be a couple weeks, months," be broken to be united with your family again? Do you remember how long a week, not to mention a month was when you were young?  It seemed like forever...remember?

    Just imagine how the parents would feel...what their stress level must be.  How can they ever get back on their own feet, much less get their children back and be a family again?  Would their stress show up and affect a prospective job interview?  More than likely it would.  Having a shelter with their family members all together would help releave that stress.

    Not all homeless are druggies, alcoholics, worthless, no good people, as some think.  They didn't mean to loose their jobs, their homes, their families that they once knew.  It just happened and was beyond their control, in many cases.   Veterans have return from war/service for our freedom, for our country, with no place to go or any jobs to fulfill their needs, are also homeless here in Virginia and across the country.

    Just for a few moments, direct your thoughts to answer the above questions.  What would you do?  How would it feel?  You think, well, that's not my problem or responsibility.  Really?  It affects everyone wheather we realize it or not.  A snowball effect happens to the world, affecting each of us.  Lives are changed forever, for the better or for the worse.  It all depends on how we help and deal with the situation we are faced with.  We can make a difference, one life at a time and change the world into a better place for all of us to live.
 
    Angels of Hope, Inc., has formed the non-profit organization to help as many as possible in the Page County area.  There is NOT a homeless shelter in Page County and the current count of homeless families and people as of 06/08/11 is over 400!  Yes, 400!  This is in rural America!  This information was compiled by current active shelters and abuse centers in the counties of Shenandoah/Clarke/Frederick/Page and Warren, in the central western part of Virginia.
  
    The home we have found to make into a homeless shelter is just outside the city limits of Luray, VA.  It has 8 bedroom, 5 baths , 5,650 square feet and is on 6.34 acres.  It was formerly an elderly care/nursing home and can easily be converted into a wonderful shelter for the homeless, accommodating four people and/or a family per bedroom.  It has been vacant for years and is bank owned.  The rehab work needed is reasonable and "doable", putting people back to work in a county with near 15% unemployment.  The extra land gives us room to grow in the future.

    Not only will they have a nice, clean, warm/cool place for their families to stay together, they will have a place to cook their meals, grow a garden, have fun with the kids in the play area, transportation to schools, job interviews, and medical.  They will also be directed by assisting them to learn how to control their spending, setting up a strickly controlled saving account, so they will have money to move into permanent housing after a few months.  The average is 8-9 months.  They will have access to computers for job availability.  We have connection for scholarships to further their education.  We will be teaching them how to be independant, not living off of the "system".  The residents of Angels of Hope, Inc., will not have a free ride.  They will be assigned responsibilities to comply with on a weekly basis.  Everyone will have chores to do to keep our facality in top condition at all times.  They must be actively looking for employment and/or employed looking for a better paying job to qualify to live at Angels of Hope, Inc.. Residents must meet with the staff on a weekly basis for progress reports on job searches. Their money matters will be discussed and they will need to show receipts for each item they purchased during the week and proof of a deposit in the saving account and the account balance.  Direction on better spending/saving will be discussed, if needed.

    Angels of Hope, Inc. will have a strick, no exception policy concerning alcohol and drugs.  Prescription drugs will be kept in a locked safe in the individuals room and registered with the staff as to what the drug is and why it is being taken.

    Our goal is to raise $650,000.  $295,000 is needed to purchase the home and land, $200,000 for improvements/repairs and furnishings.  The kitchen has been gutted and needs all new cabinets and appliances, roof replacement, floor repair and new flooring throughout, just to mention a couple things.  All new electricity wiring and a fire sprinkler system, and heat pumps had been installed/replaced just a few years ago.   Then of course, there are utilities, insurance, transportation costs, reasonable salaries of staff members, food, clothing, necessities, and a cushion for the unexpected expenses to keep the shelter running strong.

    As Angel of Hope, Inc. progresses with our goals, we will be updating and adding information and pictures to this website.

    Your generous donation in any amount of money, will be greatly appreciated by all involved, who are working hard to make a difference in the lives of the homeless, less fortant people in Page county, VA.   The homeless will have a place to live, recover from their life crisis, remain as a family unit and be forever grateful for your donation.
Life is choices...what will your choice be today?  Please remember the homeless when you go to bed tonight. Count your blessing and be thankful for your family. 

Thank you for your donation to Angels of Hope, Inc.
Mail checks to Angel of Hope, Inc.
                         1695 Mill Lane
                         Elkton, VA 22827

Donations through PayPal coming soon!
If you have any questions, please fill out and submit the form below.  Once again, thank you, very much.