Thanks to a donation from Clearview residents Christopher Hoffmann and Joan Eakin, My Friend’s House has opened House of Hope, a six-bedroom second-stage home for women and children escaping family violence.

“This is truly a transformational moment for My Friend’s House and for the women and children we serve,” said My Friend’s House executive director Samantha Jones.

“This remarkable gift has allowed us to turn a long-held vision into reality. House of Hope will help families move beyond crisis and into the next stage of their journey, providing the space, stability, and support needed for healing and growth.”

Emergency shelter is often the first step in a family’s journey after experiencing violence. While immediate safety is critical, rebuilding a life takes time, support, and access to stable housing. House of Hope was created to help bridge that gap.

The home will provide women and children with safe accommodation for up to 12 months while they work toward permanent housing and greater independence. During their stay, residents will receive individualized plans of support and access to outreach- based resources, including life-skills development, employment readiness programming, financial literacy education, parenting support, and therapeutic counselling.

While House of Hope expands My Friend’s House’s continuum of support, the organization will continue to operate its existing 12-bed emergency shelter, providing immediate safety for women and children fleeing violence.

This investment comes at a critical time. During the past year alone, My Friend’s House answered 7,011 crisis calls and was forced to turn away 558 women seeking emergency shelter due to capacity limitations.

By creating additional second-stage housing opportunities, House of Hope will help increase movement through the shelter system, creating more space within the emergency shelter for women and children seeking immediate safety while providing families with the time and support needed to successfully transition toward independence.

“Every day, we see the incredible resilience of women and children working to rebuild their lives after violence,” said Jones. “What they often need most is time, stability, and support. House of Hope provides exactly that. It gives families the opportunity to move beyond crisis and begin creating the future they deserve.”

Officials say the donation made by Hoffman and Eakin demonstrates what can happen when philanthropy is paired with vision, adding “Their investment has transformed an idea into a tangible solution for women and children in our community, and it is their hope that others will be inspired to consider how they, too, can help create lasting change. For My Friend’s House, House of Hope marks the beginning of a new chapter. For the women and children who will walk through its doors, it offers the opportunity to begin their next one.”

Contributed photo: My Friend’s House executive director Samantha Jones (from left) with donors Joan Eakin and Chris Hoffmann, and Ciara O’Connell, My Friend’s House senior development manager.