HOPE Shelters

What HOPE Shelters does

HOPE Shelters is a Pontiac, Michigan-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1998 that operates a two-facility homelessness services model in Oakland County. Its 62-bed Adult Shelter is a year-round, low-barrier emergency shelter serving individuals regardless of background or sobriety status, while its 15-bed HOPE Recuperative Care Center (opened 2015) is a specialized medical respite shelter that accepts hospital discharge patients who need a safe place to recover from acute illness or injury. The organization supplements shelter with Service Navigation case management, onsite healthcare through Oakland Integrated Health Network, mental health screening and 91% connection rates via Oakland Community Health Network, permanent housing placement through the Alliance for Housing Continuum of Care, and veterans-specific services via the Oakland County Veterans By-Name Task Force.

The organization is funded by a mix of individual donations (Harness Giving platform), government grants (Oakland County ARPA, MSHDA, HUD), hospital partnerships (St. Joseph Mercy Oakland, McLaren Oakland, Henry Ford West Bloomfield), private foundation grants, and naming rights. It has 14 employees, an active advocacy function targeting source-of-income discrimination reform in the Michigan legislature, and is executing an $18M Rebuilding HOPE capital campaign to construct a new private-room facility designed by Stante and managed by Sachse Construction, with planned 25% baseline and 50% seasonal capacity expansion, integrated onsite healthcare, and a Volunteer Training Program to extend Service Navigators countywide. Elizabeth Kelly, co-founder, retired from operations in January and was succeeded by Brian Wright as Director.

Name

HOPE Shelters

Legal name

HOPE Shelters

Website

https://hopeshelters.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

HOPE Shelters is a Pontiac, Michigan nonprofit operating a 62-bed low-barrier adult shelter and a 15-bed Recuperative Care Center, serving individuals experiencing homelessness in Oakland County with case management, healthcare, mental health, and housing assistance.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homeless Shelter and Social Services

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)

Keywords

• Emergency shelter services
• Homeless services
• Recuperative care
• Medical respite
• Case management

Headquarters

HQ city

Pontiac

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: HOPE accepts online donations through its website via the Harness Giving platform. The organization encourages one-time and recurring donations from individual supporters.
2. Federal ARPA Funding: $7M in Federal ARPA funding via Oakland County designated for the Rebuilding HOPE capital campaign to construct a new dignified shelter facility.
3. New Market Tax Credits: $3M in New Market Tax Credits as part of the funding stack for the new shelter building project.
4. Naming Rights: $4M in various naming rights for rooms and spaces in the new facility, sold to corporate or major donors.
5. Private Foundation Grants: $4M from private donors and foundations as part of the comprehensive funding strategy for the new shelter construction.
6. Government Contracts and Partnerships: Partnerships with Oakland County, Michigan State Housing Development Authority, and federal agencies including HUD for housing assistance programs and shelter operations.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

HOPE Shelters provides free, low-barrier emergency shelter and specialized recuperative/medical respite care to individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Oakland County, Michigan. Its core services are the 62-bed Adult Shelter and the 15-bed HOPE Recuperative Care Center, supplemented by Service Navigation (case management), integrated healthcare and mental health services, housing assistance, and veterans programs delivered through a network of hospital and community partners.

Product overview

HOPE Shelters operates a dual-service homeless shelter model consisting of an Adult Shelter (low-barrier emergency shelter) and a Recuperative Care Center (specialty medical recovery shelter). The organization supplements shelter with Service Navigation, Healthcare Services, Mental Health Services, Housing Assistance, Veterans Programs, and Advocacy initiatives. These services are integrated through trauma-informed case management delivered in partnership with Oakland County healthcare and social service providers. The Rebuilding HOPE Campaign represents a capital expansion project to build a new facility with private accommodations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Adult Shelter Low-barrier emergency shelter providing safe, judgment-free accommodations for individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Oakland County, regardless of background or sobriety issues. Includes meals, basic necessities, and access to case management; 62 permanent beds with capacity expansions during extreme weather.
• HOPE Recuperative Care Center (HOPE RCC) Specialty 15-bed shelter providing medical respite for homeless individuals discharged from inpatient medical or psychiatric hospitals. Offers emergency shelter, meals, Service Navigation, daily nursing visits, and medical oversight for recovery from acute illness, injury, surgery, or cancer treatment.
• Service Navigation Comprehensive case management helping guests navigate the human service system to resolve homelessness, including obtaining identification documents, accessing mental health and healthcare services, and securing permanent housing through partner agencies.
• Healthcare Services Onsite healthcare for shelter guests including a weekly clinic operated by Oakland Integrated Health Network (OHIN) nurse practitioner, public-health-nurse pre-screenings via Oakland County Health Division, transportation assistance to appointments, and prescription delivery through a partner pharmacy.
• Mental Health Services Onsite mental health screening and connection to services through partnerships with Oakland Community Health Network (OCHN), Easter Seals, and Community Network Services (CNS), connecting 91% of HOPE guests with integral mental health services.
• Housing Assistance Case management and advocacy to help guests secure permanent housing through membership in the Alliance for Housing (Oakland County's Continuum of Care) and relationships with homeless housing providers, including addressing underuse of MSHDA housing vouchers.
• Veterans Programs Advocacy and housing assistance for veterans experiencing homelessness through the Oakland County Veterans By-Name Task Force, including specialized support for Vietnam veterans using dedicated grant funding.
• Advocacy Programs Public advocacy initiatives addressing source-of-income discrimination, affordable housing funding, and policy changes at state and local levels, including collaboration with the Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness, Senator Rosemary Bayer, and Representative Brenda Carter.
• Rebuilding HOPE Campaign Capital campaign to build a new HOPE shelter facility with private accommodations (bedroom, bathroom, HVAC), integrated healthcare, personalized case management, full commercial kitchen, expanded 25% capacity, and a 50% extreme-weather seasonal capacity plan. Designed by Stante with Sachse Construction Management.

Quantifiable outcome

• HOPE has served individuals for over 20 years with consistent recognition for service quality
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

32 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Oakland County Health DivisioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic Health nurses pre-screen prospective guests while they are still at the hospital. They also help current shelter guests schedule and arrange transportation to doctors' appointments, and help guests understand and participate in their healthcare.
• Oakland Community Health Network (OCHN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrough the relationship with OCHN, HOPE guests are screened onsite for eligibility for mental health programs. 91% of HOPE guests are connected with integral mental health services, compared to much lower rates at other shelters.
• Oakland Integrated Health Network (OHIN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOHIN holds a clinic onsite at HOPE once a week to provide care to guests through a nurse practitioner. Services include blood tests, prescriptions, and general care. A local partner pharmacy delivers needed medicine to the shelter.
• St. Joseph Mercy Oakland HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe hospital partnered with HOPE after Elizabeth Kelly showed that homeless patients cost hospitals millions in uncompensated care. The hospital refers patients to the Recuperative Care Center as a better alternative to discharging to the streets.
• McLaren Oakland HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHospital partnership for referring homeless patients to appropriate shelter and recuperative care services upon discharge.
• Henry Ford West Bloomfield HospitalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHospital partnership for healthcare collaboration and patient referrals for homeless individuals needing shelter and care services.
• Alliance for Housing (Continuum of Care)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHOPE is a member of Oakland County's Continuum of Care (CoC). Through the CoC, HOPE works in concert with housing providers to help guests access permanent housing programs.
• U.S. Department of Veterans AffairscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHOPE is a proud member of the Oakland County Veterans By-Name Task Force and works with VA resources to provide housing assistance to veterans experiencing homelessness.
• Lighthouse of Oakland CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for homeless services coordination including transportation of homeless individuals to warming centers during extreme weather events.
• Easter SealscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health service provider partnership through OCHN network, providing services to HOPE guests who need mental health support.
• Community Network Services (CNS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health service provider partnership through OCHN network providing mental health services to shelter guests.
• Oakland County GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding partner providing $7M in Federal ARPA funding via Oakland County for the Rebuilding HOPE capital campaign. Also partners on homeless housing initiatives and the Veterans By-Name Task Force.
• Gary Burnstein Community Health ClinicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity health clinic partnership providing healthcare services to homeless individuals in Oakland County.
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of MichiganminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partnership supporting HOPE's mission to provide care to homeless individuals.
• Honor Community HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare provider partnership offering mobile unit services at HOPE vigils and community events.
• Community Housing NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHomeless housing provider partnership working within the Alliance for Housing Continuum of Care to help guests secure permanent housing.
• The Salvation Army - Eastern Michigan DivisionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial services partnership in the Oakland County homeless services network. The Salvation Army opened its Detroit Medical Respite center after visiting HOPE's model.
• Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState housing authority providing housing vouchers. HOPE advocates to address the issue that three out of every five housing vouchers distributed in Oakland County go back unused.
• U.S. Dept of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal housing agency overseeing the Point in Time Count of homeless individuals. HOPE participates in the annual count and manages HUD funding for housing programs.
• Common GroundminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial services agency partnership in the Oakland County homeless services network.
• South Oakland ShelterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerShelter partnership in the South Oakland area collaborative for homeless services.
• Baldwin CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPontiac-based community services organization partnership for addressing poverty and homelessness in the local community.
• The Jewish FundminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation partnership supporting HOPE's work in the community.
• Oakland-Livingston Human Service Agency (OLHSA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHuman services agency partnership serving Oakland and Livingston counties.
• Oakland University William Beaumont School of MedicineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedical education partnership supporting healthcare training and services for underserved populations.
• Catholic Community Response Team (CCRT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaith-based community response partnership for social services coordination.
• MolinaCaresminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare organization partnership supporting care coordination for vulnerable populations.
• Lowe's - Bloomfield HillsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner providing donations and support for HOPE's operations.
• Stante (Architecture)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArchitectural design firm that designed the new Rebuilding HOPE facility to address the needs of guests with private accommodations, bathrooms, and HVAC for each room.
• Sachse (Construction Management)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction management firm contracted to control costs and time for the Rebuilding HOPE new facility project.
• Humble DesignminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign organization that supplied furnishings for guests moving into permanent housing, such as Shane's apartment after completing the HOPE program.
• Eagle Scout Dominic Jolley of Troup 139minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth volunteer who donated cleaning kits to HOPE guests moving into their own apartments, including Wayne who received a cleaning kit for his new place.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Lighthouse of Oakland County: Direct peer partner providing emergency shelter, warming center, and homelessness services in Oakland County. Coordinates transportation of homeless individuals to warming centers during extreme weather - overlapping with HOPE's core service population.
• Community Housing Network: Listed partner within Oakland County's Alliance for Housing Continuum of Care. Provides supportive housing and homelessness services in the same county, helping guests secure permanent housing through closely aligned programs.
• Baldwin Center: Pontiac-based community services organization listed as an HOPE partner. Addresses poverty and homelessness in the same local community with overlapping service populations and referral pathways.
• South Oakland Shelter: Direct regional peer listed as an HOPE partner. Operates shelter and homeless services in the South Oakland area of Oakland County, Michigan, serving overlapping populations of individuals experiencing homelessness.
• Common Ground (Oakland County): Listed partner in the Oakland County homeless services network. Provides coordinated social services and housing assistance to individuals experiencing homelessness in the same regional service area.

Broad incumbents

• Salvation Army Eastern Michigan: Broader incumbent shelter operator that explicitly modeled its Detroit Medical Respite center after visiting HOPE's Recuperative Care Center. Operates across Michigan with a much wider service portfolio but has adopted HOPE's medical respite model directly.
• Cass Community Social Services: Detroit-based nonprofit providing shelter, housing, and social services to individuals experiencing homelessness, poverty, and disability. Comparable model combining emergency shelter with supportive services and housing development.
• Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries: Major Detroit-area homeless shelter and recovery services provider. Operates emergency shelter, transitional housing, and substance abuse recovery programs serving a similar population, with overlapping referral and Continuum of Care relationships.

Others

• National Health Care for the Homeless Council: National advocacy and grantee organization supporting medical respite and homeless health services providers. Relevant as the sector umbrella validating and disseminating HOPE's medical respite model rather than as a direct operator.

Emerging players

• Neighborhood Services Organization (Detroit): Detroit-based social services organization that also replicated HOPE's medical respite model. Operates emergency shelter and recuperative care services in nearby Detroit with overlapping model and target population.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hopeshelters

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

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 Shelters