From Shelter to Solution: Renita’s Impact.
20 years is a long time to dedicate to anything — but 20 years with a job is almost unheard of. Home of Hope Director of Development, Renita Pollard, has a different story.
After working for a similar agency in Chattanooga, Renita was looking for a job that gave her the same sense of purpose in her new home Georgia — and she found it at Home of Hope.
“I had just moved from Tennessee, and I was looking for a job. I came across Home of Hope and really connected with their mission. I filled out an application, and I got the job! I’ve been here ever since, and I absolutely love my job,” said Renita.
“I started when we were Gwinnett Children’s Shelter. We had a different model and only served children who were in the DFCS in Georgia. We’d take care of the kids while their parents were working toward reunification, or they were waiting to be adopted.”
While Renita adored her role, things at Gwinnett Children’s Shelter were forced to shift.
“The government regulations started to change, and we realized that our structure wasn’t working anymore. We needed to change, and that’s when Home of Hope came to be,” said Renita.
Change can be unnerving, but for Renita it meant doing more of what she loved. She now not only supported kids but their moms, too, who were struggling with homelessness.
“Our services were changing from only caring for kids to supporting adults, too. We were expanding in a lot of ways, but the heart of what we did stayed the same,” said Renita.
“We needed a name that covered all of what we did and who we were becoming. Maureen and the board landed on Home of Hope at Gwinnett Children’s Shelter, and that was perfect. That’s what we are — a home filled with hope.”
By caring for the whole family, Home of Hope promotes long-term solutions to homelessness for two generations at one time. The program emphasizes quality over quantity.
“We started out small, of course, with serving just a few families, and now we have 21 rooms for homeless moms and their kids,” Renita said.
“I think what sets Home of Hope apart is that we are not a bandaid. We don’t just fix the problem; we focus on what’s causing the problem. We want to know how these moms got to where they are and how to address the root of it.
“Other shelters offer an immediate fix — and that is needed at times. But, we provide long-term solutions to empower our families to maintain a life outside of homelessness. Our program has the resources — like our life skills classes — to make a lasting difference for these moms and their kids,” said Renita.
Home of Hope’s program is rooted in accountability. The moms need to want to change their lives, and Home of Hope gives them the tools they need to believe they actually can.
“If you commit to the program, it will work for you,” Renita said, “It’s hard, but it is so worth it.
“One of our grads recently stopped by just for a visit, and she was doing so good. She’s kept up with her budgeting and is meeting her financial and life goals. We’re so proud of and happy for her!”
Even after twenty years, Renita and Home of Hope are still evolving.
“I’ve definitely got a vision. I’d love to see a Home of Hope ‘Village’ with additional services for our families like a health clinic, mental health facilities, gym and after school programming for the kids. I want to have the Home of Hope ‘Villas’ and offer transitional housing,” said Renita. “Our goal is that every mom leaves Home of Hope as a homeowner, and I know it can happen — I have hope.”