Hope Ministries – Recovery


Providing a World of Opportunity and Hope
At Hope Ministries, we believe in a holistic approach to helping homeless men, women and children. That’s why in addition to providing the basic necessities of life – food, clothing and shelter – we also provide a long-term residential, life-recovery program. Our goal is to address the root causes of homelessness, chronic poverty, addiction and other life struggles and help our recovery residents become productive members of society. Our free long-term program for men lasts one year. Our program for women and children lasts up to two years. Yes, this is a significant investment of time and care on our part – but it also requires a commitment to change, personal responsibility and accountability from our individuals and families in recovery. In other words, the road to life-recovery isn’t an easy one. But we know with time, dedication and most of all, God’s love and guidance, it is possible for once-homeless and hurting men, women and children to find long-lasting Hope.
Emergency Shelter All men and women who enter our recovery program start out as emergency shelter guests. They come to us off the street or through referrals from drug and alcohol treatment programs, social service agencies and hospitals, as well as county jails, parole officers and prisons. Men start out at our Bethel Mission emergency shelter, which has been serving homeless men in Des Moines since 1915. From the time they enter our doors, all emergency shelter guests are assigned to one of our on-site case managers. Together, they develop an individualized care plan, including agreed upon goals. Similarly, single women and mothers with children who are interested in entering our long-term life recovery program begin at our Hope Family Center emergency shelter. And like our men’s ministry, all women and children are assigned a case manager who develops a personalized care plan.
First Phase Guests at both our Bethel Mission and Hope Family Center facilities who are ready to make a commitment to long-term change and accountability start out by participating in the first phase of our recovery program. The first phase for men lasts one month; for women and children, two to three months. This is a time of structured transition– and it’s also an evaluation period, meant to test the resolve of residents. Each student has a personalized care plan involving reading assignments, class participation, Bible study, work therapy and addiction counseling. Recovery residents are held to a high standard and agree to intentional accountability. Men in the first phase of recovery at our Bethel Mission facility move into a separate dorm, which provides more privacy, a separate shower and bathroom facility, private study room and remodeled classroom. When residents are ready to move on to the next phase of their recovery, we celebrate with a “send-off” ceremony. After the ceremony, men transfer to our Door of Faith long-term recovery center. Women and children continue to stay at Hope Family Center, but they move from the emergency shelter to one of our long-term recovery houses.
Life Recovery Areas of Emphasis Our Journey of Hope program has six main areas of emphasis. We work with residents in all of these areas through individualized case management and program classes, but also through off-site programs, churches and mentoring groups. Spiritual Life: At Hope Ministries, we believe true life change begins with a heart transformation. Residents in recovery need to know God loves them and has a plan for them. While we do not require our residents to be Christians, we let them know from the day they enter our doors, they will hear us talk about Jesus Christ. While in our program, residents will take a number of Christ-centered program classes, such as Experiencing God, Christianity 101 and The Purpose-Driven Life. They will also participate in devotions and/or chapel services. And they are required to find a church home. Recovery: Men, women and children who come to us may be struggling with a variety of issues – drug or alcohol addiction, abuse, chronic poverty or homelessness, pornography or gambling addiction, or other difficult life circumstances. We help them on the road to recovery through meeting with case managers, both on-site and off-site support groups and program classes. Life Skills: We work with residents on the life skills they need to be productive members of society, excellent employees and often, good parents. Classes include practical and tangible things like financial management, parenting, computer basics, etc., as well as personal life skills such as anger management, problem-solving, conflict management, healthy boundaries, etc. Education: We believe education is an important piece of the recovery process. That’s why in addition to our program classes, our case managers work with residents to receive their G.E.D. while in our long-term recovery program. Some residents even enroll in college courses. Health & Wellness: As our recovery residents work toward spiritual, emotional and mental health in our program, we also work on their physical health. We teach program classes on nutrition and health and wellness. We also have outside groups, such as local college nursing students who teach residents about health and nutrition. And we help our residents access medical care if needed. Community Involvement: We believe in the healing power of Christian community. We want to make sure our residents not only build strong support systems outside our doors, but also that they have a sense of community responsibility. That’s why we are intentional about providing on-site work therapy for residents, requiring church participation and providing opportunities for residents to give back to the community. For instance, our men’s ministry has participated in Meals from the Heartland, packaging meals which are sent around the world, and other off-site work projects. As men and women progress in the Journey of Hope program, our case managers also work with them on employment – creating resumes, completing applications and preparing for interviews. And as they approach graduation, our aftercare staff provide guidance as they find a job, a place to live and an ongoing support system.
S&S: Service and Skills While in our program, men participate in S&S – Service and Skills. The intent of S&S is to create structure and responsibility to help men become productive, desirable and excellent employees in the real work environment. This is accomplished by fulfilling assignments that require the heart of a servant (service) and learning appropriate habits and lifestyles (skills). Men are given a “work therapy” assignment within Hope Ministries. Assignments range from 20-25 hours a week and include a sustenance allowance. These assignments work hand-in-hand with individualized care plans and are great work experience for resumes. Our goal is to teach men: punctuality, professionalism, excellence, responsibility, team work, conflict resolution, leadership, reliability, creativity and self initiative.
H.E.A.R.T. While there are many similarities in our recovery programming for men and women, women and children are able to stay with us for up to two years. (Whereas our men’s programming lasts one year.) Because we are working with families, the recovery process can require a lengthier time investment. Often, these women and children are DHS-involved, coming out of an abusive environment or in desperate need of a safe and stable environment. For children, especially, our family center may be the first taste of security they’ve ever had. While in our long-term program, single women and mothers with children work through five phases of recovery: healing, equipping, accountability, responsibility and transition –which is why we use the acronym H.E.A.R.T.
Hope Aftercare Once men, women and children graduate from our recovery program, they are invited to continue to receive services and stay connected to Hope Ministries through our Hope Aftercare Program. Our goals in Hope Aftercare are to maintain accountability, promote camaraderie, reduce dependency, foster continued spiritual growth and provide resources that promote independent living. For men, aftercare lasts up to one year. Our aftercare case manager makes a point to visit them in their home, hold regular gatherings and support them as they transition to independent living. During that year and beyond, graduates also continue to stay connected with us through our Fraternity of Hope alumni program – which includes regular meetings, retreats and gatherings. For women and children, aftercare lasts up to five years. After living at Hope Family Center for up to 24 months, life outside our doors can be a big adjustment. Through our aftercare program, our case managers continue to meet with graduates. Graduates are involved in ongoing classes and counseling, and are also invited to Hope Family Center outings and activities. Learn more about Hope Aftercare here.