Hope Ministries

What Hope Ministries does

Hope Ministries (legal name: Rescue, Inc., EIN 35-1038532) is a 501(c)(3) Christian nonprofit founded in 1954 as Hope Rescue Mission in South Bend, Indiana, and rebranded in the 2000s following its relocation to the former Ries Furniture Store on Lafayette Boulevard. It operates a holistic, Christ-centered transitional housing and recovery program for men, women, and children experiencing homelessness in St. Joseph County, with a current residential capacity of 69 individuals (18 families, 35 single men, 16 single women) and an average stay of 12-18 months, supported by 96 employees and a 10-member Board of Directors led by Executive Director David Vanderveen.

The organization's product portfolio is delivered as one integrated journey rather than discrete services: Transitional Housing (up to 24 months), Food & Meals (three daily meals for residents plus free lunch and dinner served 365 days per year to the community, totaling 115,000+ meals annually), Counseling & Support (pastoral care, professional counseling, and recovery groups), Education & Job Readiness (delivered through referral partners Goodwill/Excel Center and WorkOne), Hope4Kids (on-site daycare through youth programming), and the Help With Love referral helpline connecting St. Joseph County residents with utility, rent, and skilled volunteer resources. Underlying "technology" is the Grace Model — a ministry framework built on Grace (unconditionally loving relationships), Truth (Scripture-based accountability), and Time (transformation in God's timing) — with no software, API, or AI components.

Revenue is generated entirely through voluntary donations across five streams: individual monetary gifts, vehicle donations (donated or sold for funds), planned giving and legacy gifts (stock transfers, estate planning, real estate, annuities), in-kind donations, and church/business partnerships including recurring gifts, volunteer groups, and corporate engagement. All resident and community services are free; Hope Ministries holds no venture capital, private equity, or institutional ownership and is governed independently by its Board of Directors.

Name

Hope Ministries

Legal name

Rescue, Inc.

Website

https://hopesb.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1954

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Hope Ministries is a 70-year-old Christian nonprofit in South Bend, Indiana that provides free transitional housing, daily meals, counseling, education, and children's programming to men, women, and families experiencing homelessness in St. Joseph County.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homeless Services and Transitional Housing

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221), Community Housing Services (62422), Child and Youth Services (62411), Community Food Services (624210)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB), Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD)

Keywords

• Transitional housing services
• Homeless shelter programs
• Faith-based social services
• Community meals program
• Addiction recovery support

Headquarters

HQ city

South Bend

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Monetary Donations: One-time or recurring financial gifts from individuals supporting housing, meals, counseling, education, and children's programs. Donors can give online through donor portal or by mail.
2. Vehicle Donations: Donated vehicles are either given directly to residents in need of transportation or sold to generate funds for programs. Vehicles must be in good working condition.
3. Planned Giving and Legacy Gifts: Stock transfers through Community Foundation, estate planning inclusions, real estate gifts, annuities, and retirement asset donations. Legal name: Rescue, Inc., EIN: 35-1038532.
4. In-Kind Donations: Amazon Wishlist items, food supplies, clothing, bedding, and household goods dropped off at facility or shipped. Tax receipts provided for donations.
5. Church and Business Partnerships: Recurring or campaign-based financial gifts, volunteer groups, in-kind donations, and professional expertise from partnering churches and businesses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Hope Ministries provides free, holistic Christ-centered transitional housing, daily meals, counseling, recovery support, education/job-readiness, and children's programming to men, women, and families experiencing homelessness in South Bend, Indiana. Residents can stay up to 24 months and receive housing, three meals per day, pastoral counseling, GED preparation, job readiness, and on-site childcare as part of one integrated program. The organization is funded entirely by donations and volunteer support and serves the broader community through free daily meals and the Help With Love referral helpline.

Product overview

Hope Ministries operates as a unified nonprofit ministry offering a comprehensive portfolio of social service programs centered on transitional housing and Christ-centered care. The core programs include Transitional Housing (providing up to 24 months of accommodation), Food & Meals (serving three meals daily to residents plus free community meals), Counseling & Support (pastoral and professional mental health services), Education & Job Readiness (connecting residents with community partners), Hope4Kids (children's programming from infant daycare to youth mentorship), and Help With Love (a sister program providing utility and rent assistance referrals). These programs work together as part of one holistic journey designed to help men, women, and families heal, transform, and thrive. The organization is further supported by volunteer programs, prayer partnerships, vehicle donation programs, and church/business partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Transitional Housing Free, safe, stable housing for families and individuals experiencing homelessness for up to 24 months, with three daily meals, counseling, education, and children's programming as part of a holistic Christ-centered care program. Capacity is 69 residents at one time (18 families, 35 single men, 16 single women).
• Food & Meals Three daily meals for residential program participants plus free lunch (11:45am–12:30pm) and dinner (6:45pm–7:30pm) served to anyone in the community 365 days a year at 423 S. Lafayette Blvd, South Bend, IN. Approximately 269 free meals are served daily to the broader community.
• Counseling & Support Christ-centered pastoral care, professional counseling, and recovery groups woven into daily life for residents, addressing trauma, addiction, broken relationships, and emotional healing as part of the holistic transformation journey.
• Education & Job Readiness Program connecting Hope Ministries residents with community partners including Goodwill (Excel Center) and WorkOne for GED preparation, tutoring, vocational training, trade certifications, job readiness training, resume building, interview prep, and job search assistance.
• Hope4Kids Children's programming for residents' children including on-site daycare for infants and toddlers, preschool support, school-age support, and youth engagement activities coordinated by a Youth Services Coordinator.
• Help With Love A sister referral program connecting St. Joseph County residents with church and community resources for utility assistance, rent assistance, skilled volunteer services (repairs, legal advice, financial counseling, transportation), and personalized service plans. Helpline: 574-252-2953, with a return call within 4 business days.
• Vehicle Donations Program Program accepting donated vehicles in good working condition; vehicles are either given directly to residents in need of transportation or sold to generate funds for Hope Ministries' programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95,000+ meals served annually
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• St. Mark Missionary ChurchcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLong-standing church partnership where congregation members serve meals, deliver food and canned goods, and engage with residents at Camp Hope. Provides volunteer service opportunities and mutual benefit for both organizations.
• Goodwill (Excel Center)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferral partner providing GED preparation, tutoring, job readiness training, resume building, interview prep, and job search assistance. Connects Hope residents with education and employment resources.
• WorkOnecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal employment agency partner connecting Hope residents with job readiness training, vocational opportunities, trade certifications, and technical training programs.
• Help With LovecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA program of Hope Ministries that serves as a referral agency connecting St. Joseph County residents with church and community resources including utility assistance, rent help, and skilled volunteer services. Helpline: 574-252-2953.
• Boys & Girls ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSummer programming partner for school-age children of Hope residents, providing enrichment activities during summer months.
• Local Healthcare ProvidersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHope connects residents with local healthcare providers for medical care access. Part of supportive services provided to transitional housing residents.
• Church Partnerships (General)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerChurches support Hope through prayer, volunteer groups, meal service, special offerings, and financial gifts. Partnership opportunities include financial support, in-kind donations, corporate engagement, and church-specific volunteer projects.
• Business Partnerships (General)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate engagement opportunities include employee volunteer days, matching gifts, sponsorships, workplace drives, and professional expertise donations. Businesses provide financial support and volunteer resources.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Los Angeles Mission: Faith-based transitional housing and recovery ministry serving Skid Row with meals, shelter, counseling, and workforce programs. Comparable scope, Christ-centered programming, and free community meals model.
• Denver Rescue Mission: Faith-based nonprofit in Denver providing transitional housing, meals, addiction recovery, and education/job readiness programs under a holistic Christian model — directly comparable in service mix and ministry approach to Hope Ministries.
• San Diego Rescue Mission: Faith-based nonprofit operating transitional housing, meals, recovery, and workforce programs in San Diego. Directly comparable in scope, faith-based programming, and resident population served.
• Center for the Homeless: South Bend-based nonprofit providing emergency shelter, transitional housing, and supportive services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Closest direct peer given identical geography and overlapping programs (housing, meals, case management).
• Union Rescue Mission: Long-running faith-based transitional housing and recovery mission in downtown Los Angeles offering meals, shelter, education, and addiction recovery — closely aligned holistic ministry model.
• City Mission (Cleveland): Faith-based Cleveland nonprofit offering transitional housing, meals, recovery, and education programs. Directly comparable mid-sized faith-based rescue mission serving an urban Midwestern community similar in profile to South Bend.

Broad incumbents

• Catholic Charities USA: Large national faith-affiliated network providing housing, meals, counseling, refugee services, and family support. Overlaps with Hope's holistic social services model but operates across many service lines and geographies.
• The Salvation Army USA: National faith-based social services organization operating shelter, transitional housing, meals, addiction recovery, and workforce programs across the U.S. Overlaps with Hope's core programs but at vastly greater scale and geographic breadth.

Others

• Boys & Girls Club of America: National youth development nonprofit providing after-school and summer programming. Existing Hope partner for children's enrichment; comparable in youth services delivery but not in housing or adult programs.
• Goodwill Industries International: National nonprofit providing job training, education (GED), and employment placement. Already a strategic referral partner for Hope's residents; comparable in employment-readiness programming though not in housing or meals.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/HopeMinistriesSB
• Instagraminstagram.com/thehopesb
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hope-ministries-of-south-bend-in

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hope Ministries