If you attended the Aspenfest Parade a few weeks ago and outlasted the rain, you were introduced to Hope Harbor via their red high heel and clipper ship float. You may be wondering what this Hope Harbor is all about. Well, here’s the scoop!
The dream began at Angus Church of the Nazarene when members of the church were challenged to think of what they “might be able to do to make a real difference in Lincoln County,” detailed Sandy Pape, member of the Angus Church congregation and 25-year employee with Cal Farley’s Christ-centered childcare agency.
Director of the project, Rick Hutchison, who is also the Pastor of the Angus Church of the Nazarene, explained how the concept of Hope Harbor came about: “Our church began to look at the needs in the community and praying about what God was challenging us to do. There were about a dozen folks that really had a heart to see something like this happen.”
“Overwhelmingly, there was a realization that many of us believed there was a real need for a way to help women and children who were victims of domestic violence,” Pape continued. “We knew The Nest was in place and was doing a wonderful job of helping these ladies and children in the crisis of the moment; but, we were aware that the help provided by the Nest was short-term. Many folks wondered if there wasn’t something that could be done to help them for the long haul, something that could give them a chance to really get back on their feet, maybe get an education and change the trajectory of their lives.”
Hope Harbor will serve as transitional housing for both women and their children who are coming out of abusive situations as well as young men and women who have aged out of the foster care system. “Our church has seen many of these young people have to return to terrible situations and they don’t know how to access the help that might be available to them,” Pape said of those aging out of the foster care system. The program will provide an environment and solid foundation for a successful productive life, by emphasizing education, work skills, personal and social skills, and tools to help residents live on their own. “We want to be able to provide them a refuge, a place of safety and opportunity to have the help they need in connecting with the resources available to them so they can complete their educations and become productive citizens.”
John Rivas, the Hope Harbor Board Chair and Executive Director of New Mexico Methodist Foundation, has been an integral part of Saranam, a two-year housing and education program for homeless families in Albuquerque, New Mexico. “Evidence shows the overwhelming number of youth aging out of foster care and victims of domestic violence will end up in the environment from which they came if they do not possess the tools to break the cycle of violence and poverty,” Rivas expressed. “That is the strongest argument for Hope Harbor.”
Hutchison indicates Hope Harbor will be different from The Nest in that, “it will be a 2-3 year program, providing the ‘next step’ with more time and help to gaining the skills to stand on their own.” As far as a time frame, “we hope to have a pilot program set up within the next 9-12 months,” Hutchison said.
Hope Harbor is currently seeking possible site locations in Ruidoso where families or individuals could be housed, such as apartment-style housing, separate houses, or a facility that could be renovated. The program will also need volunteers to become mentors for residents. Hope Harbor, a 501(c3) tax-exempt and nonprofit organization, will be a Christ-centered, Christian-based program, and as such will not seek state or federal funding. The program is, however, accepting monetary donations to fund the project.
To learn more about Hope Harbor visit their website at www.HopeHarborNM.org or contact Director Rick Hutchison at PO Box 1296, Ruidoso, NM 88355, (575) 937-4929 or rickhutchison1957@gmail.com