HOPE graduate, Larry Johnson, at work.

The HOPE Program was created in 1984 to offer impoverished New Yorkers a different type of program: one that offered a way out of poverty. At the time, most programs for the homeless provided emergency assistance only. HOPE was different: rather than offering a handout, HOPE provided a hand-up by equipping participants with the skills they needed to find, keep, and advance in jobs.

HOPE was born in a church basement in New York City. The first class consisted of eight highly motivated men who lived in a shelter. All eight completed the classroom training and went on to find employment. Two months later, all eight had lost their jobs! Not surprisingly, this first class played an important role in shaping the HOPE program of today. What became clear was that in order for individuals to escape chronic unemployment, the issues underlying their poverty must be addressed. Motivation and work readiness training were simply not enough. This concept has become the basis of HOPE’s work.

Over the years, HOPE has studied its clients’ profiles and employment barriers and has used its findings to create an effective program that addresses all the social, familial, and psychological causes of their unemployment and homelessness. HOPE is unique in that it has both a direct services and a research component, which enables it to continuously evaluate its services and adjust its model to meet the changing needs of its clients.

Since inception, HOPE has helped thousands of poor New Yorkers enter the workforce. Our job placement and one-year retention rates are among the best in the nation. Despite histories of homelessness, substance abuse, incarceration, and domestic violence, most who enter our doors find, keep, and advance in their jobs.