Hope Street Ministry

What Hope Street Ministry does

Hope Street Ministry is a Wisconsin-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, founded around 1999 and led by CEO Ashley Thomas, operating from Milwaukee's 53206 zip code where it has maintained a continuous presence for over 23 years. The organization is branded as 'The Greenhouse for People' and delivers two integrated programs: Homes at Hope Street, a sober-living residential membership program serving 40–50 single adults ($450/month) and families ($550/month) with furnished housing, utilities, programming, and an 11pm curfew; and Shechem at Hope Street, a 12,990-square-foot community center opened in August 2022 that provides a gymnasium, classrooms, event space, grab-and-go café, resource center, and rooftop patio to approximately 1,900 community members via tiered monthly memberships ($1–$40) and $500/year organizational memberships. The organization is governed by a board of directors and is funded primarily through donations from 900+ donor partners, ~70 monthly recurring donors, foundations, corporate supporters, planned giving, and a 2.5-year Sustain Campaign targeting $6.3M (July 2025–December 2027) to clear the Shechem building loan and fund operations.

The underlying technology stack is minimal and non-proprietary: a Wix-hosted website (hopestreetministry.org), an Airtable volunteer interest form, a checkoutstores.com e-commerce storefront for branded merchandise, and standard retail distribution for the CEO-authored Well Moments book series through Orange Hat Publishing, Amazon, and Target. The organization's distribution model is exclusively on-site at its two adjacent Milwaukee locations, supplemented by community-led outreach channels (newsletter, Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube), recurring events (Golf Fundraiser, Women's Luncheon, Dinner Tour, Wednesday Prayer), the Greenhouse Leadership Society youth program, and an active volunteer program.

Revenue is generated across seven streams: residential membership fees (subscription), Shechem community-center memberships (subscription), donations and charitable gifts (the dominant stream), merchandise sales, in-kind donations, planned giving and estate gifts, and book and workbook sales. Customer segments include residential members (men, women, and children in recovery or transition), community-center members, individual donors, and a broad base of institutional supporters including Greater Milwaukee Foundation, WHEDA, Bader Philanthropies, Bradley Foundation, Old National Bank, National Christian Foundation, Green Bay Packer Foundation, Potawatomi Hearts of Canal Street, Pick Charitable Trust, and United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County.

Name

Hope Street Ministry

Legal name

Hope Street Ministry, Inc.

Website

https://hopestreetministry.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hope Street Ministry is a Milwaukee-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating Homes at Hope Street, a sober-living residential program for 40–50 residents, and Shechem at Hope Street, a 12,990-square-foot community center serving ~1,900 community members in the 53206 zip code.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Faith-Based Social Services

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Community Housing Services (62422), Religious Organizations (8131), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities (6232)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL), Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD), Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO)

Keywords

• Faith-based residential housing
• Community center services
• Homeless recovery programs
• Youth leadership development
• Nonprofit community outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

Milwaukee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Residential Membership Fees: Monthly membership fees charged to residents living at the Homes at Hope Street residential program. Single Adult membership is $450/month; Family membership is $550/month. These fees cover housing, utilities, programming access, and furnished rooms.
2. Community Center Membership (Shechem): Shechem at Hope Street community center generates membership fees from individual and organizational members. Individual tiers range from $1-$10/month (Cultivate), $20/month (Growth), to $40/month (Flourish). Organizational memberships are $500/year for up to 10 staff members plus $75/year per additional staff member.
3. Donations and Charitable Gifts: The organization relies heavily on donations from individuals, foundations, and corporations. The Sustain Campaign is a 2.5-year campaign (July 2025 – December 2027) targeting over $6.3 million to cover operations, clear the Shechem building loan, and fund rehabilitation. An average of 70 monthly donors and over 900 donor partners support the organization. In-kind donations of goods, gift cards, and furniture are also received.
4. Merchandise Sales: Hope Street sells branded merchandise including hats, hoodies, long-sleeve t-shirts, and short-sleeve t-shirts. 100% of proceeds go directly to Hope Street programming.
5. In-Kind Donations: The organization accepts in-kind donations including household items (cleaning supplies, pots, pans, dish sets, twin sheets, comforters), furniture (coordinated via local partner), gift cards (Walmart, Target, Amazon, Meijer, Hobby Lobby, Michael's), and Steinhafels gift cards for room essentials.
6. Planned Giving and Estate Gifts: The organization offers planned giving options including gifts through wills or trusts, beneficiary designations on retirement plans or life insurance, Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) from IRAs for individuals 70½ or older (up to $108,000/year), gifts of appreciated stock, Donor Advised Fund grants, and United Way designation (FEIN: 05-0627081).
7. Book and Workbook Sales: Hope Street Ministry publishes and sells books written by CEO Ashley Thomas, including 'Well Moments: Stories Inside a Greenhouse for People' ($15.99 chapter book, $14.99 workbook printed, $10 digital PDF), and 'Well Moments For Kids' ($19.99 soft/hard cover). These are sold through Orange Hat Publishing, Amazon, and Target.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Hope Street Ministry operates a faith-based, integrated community support ecosystem in Milwaukee's 53206 zip code, providing furnished sober-living residential housing through Homes at Hope Street ($450/month single, $550/month family) and access to a 12,990-square-foot community center, Shechem at Hope Street, with tiered memberships ($1-$40/month individual, $500/year organizational). Members receive holistic programming rooted in Christian community that addresses housing instability, addiction recovery, spiritual formation, and access to recreational and educational spaces.

Product overview

Hope Street Ministry operates as a non-profit organization providing housing, community, and spiritual development programs in Milwaukee's 53206 zip code. Their core offerings consist of Homes at Hope Street (a residential membership program with $450-$550 monthly fees including furnished housing and utilities) and Shechem at Hope Street (a 12,990 sq ft community center with gymnasium, cafe, classrooms, and event space). Additional products include published books ('Well Moments' series by CEO Ashley Thomas) and merchandise. The organization runs various support funds (Acorn Fund, Baby Acorn Fund) and youth programs (Greenhouse Leadership Society). A current Sustain Campaign aims to raise $6.38 million by end of 2027. All merchandise proceeds support Hope Street programming.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Homes at Hope Street: Housing program providing fully furnished rooms, utilities, and access to programming for single adults ($450/month) and families ($550/month) with curfew at 11pm and sober-living requirements.
• Shechem at Hope Street
• Greenhouse Leadership Society
• Well Moments
• Sustain Campaign

Products and services

• Homes at Hope Street (Residential Membership Program) A residential membership program providing housing and community for broken men, women, and children at 2522 W. Capitol Drive, Milwaukee, WI 53206. Monthly membership is $450 for single adults and $550 for families and includes a fully furnished room, heat/electricity, programming access, 11pm curfew, and random drug/alcohol testing in a sober-living environment. Families are not charged a membership fee for children living at Hope Street.
• Shechem at Hope Street (Community Center Membership) A 12,990-square-foot community center at 2510 W. Capitol Drive, Milwaukee, WI 53206 opened in August 2022, featuring a gymnasium, classrooms, conference/event space, grab-and-go cafe and concession area, resource center, and rooftop patio. Memberships are tiered for individuals (Cultivate $1-$10/month, Growth $20/month, Flourish $40/month) and organizations ($500/year covering up to 10 staff members plus $75/year per additional staff member). Space rentals are also available.
• Well Moments Chapter Book A chapter book authored by Hope Street CEO Ashley Thomas, available in softcover for $15.99, that extends the organization's mission through storytelling drawn from the Hope Street community. Distributed through Orange Hat Publishing, Amazon, and Target.
• Well Moments Workbook Experience An educational workbook companion to the Well Moments chapter book, available as a printed copy for $14.99 or as a digital PDF for $10, sold via Orange Hat Publishing and directly via email.
• Well Moments For Kids A colorful illustrated children's book by CEO Ashley Thomas with illustrations by Hannah Carpenter, sharing the Hope Street story through a children's lens. Available in softcover ($19.99) and hardcover editions through Orange Hat Publishing, Amazon, and Target.
• Hope Street Merchandise Branded apparel and merchandise including hats, hoodies, long-sleeve t-shirts, and short-sleeve t-shirts, sold through Hope Street's own e-commerce storefront at hope-street-apparel.checkoutstores.com. 100% of proceeds go directly to Hope Street programming.
• Greenhouse Leadership Society A 10-week leadership development program for high school students meeting weekly at Shechem (Thursdays 6-7:30pm, September-November). Students build relationships, discover strengths, and work on collaborative fundraising projects benefiting Hope Street's Sustain Campaign while earning volunteer hours.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,800 men, women and children served across residential and community center programs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IFF (Integrated Financing Facility)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022IFF, an organization that champions nonprofits across the Midwest to shape more equitable and vibrant communities through community-centered lending, development, and real estate solutions, highlighted Hope Street on their website as a case study in community-driven nonprofit transformation. IFF's work in real estate development and lending supported the Shechem at Hope Street project, which transformed a blighted, condemned city-owned property into a 12,990-square-foot community center beacon.
• SteinhafelsminorOthersSteinhafels is referenced on the In-Kind Donations page as a retailer from which gift cards can be purchased to help Hope Street replace bedframes and other room essentials. Gift cards can be sent directly to [email protected].
• Orange Hat PublishingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOrange Hat Publishing is the publishing partner for Hope Street's authored books ('Well Moments' and 'Well Moments For Kids'). Books are available for purchase through the Orange Hat Publishing website.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee: Large faith-affiliated social services organization serving the greater Milwaukee area with housing, family services, and community programs. Comparable in faith-rooted community services footprint but operates a much broader portfolio than Hope Street.
• Salvation Army of Milwaukee County: National faith-based nonprofit with a major Milwaukee presence providing emergency shelter, transitional housing, food programs, and community services. Comparable in faith-based social services and residential programming, though significantly larger and broader.
• Matthew 25 Ministries: Faith-based humanitarian aid and community development nonprofit operating food, housing, and disaster relief programs. Comparable faith-rooted community service orientation though with a different primary focus on material aid.
• Teen Challenge USA: National faith-based residential addiction recovery and discipleship organization operating across the U.S. Directly comparable to Hope Street's sober-living, faith-based residential model for adults, though at much larger national scale.

Direct peers

• Hebron House of Hospitality: Faith-based nonprofit in Waukesha, Wisconsin providing shelter, meals, housing, and supportive services to families and individuals experiencing homelessness. Closely mirrors Hope Street's integrated housing-plus-community-services model with a Christian mission.
• Milwaukee Rescue Mission: Faith-based nonprofit in Milwaukee providing emergency shelter, meals, and recovery services to men, women, and children experiencing homelessness. Directly comparable to Hope Street in faith-based residential and rehousing services within the same city.
• Hope Center Ministries: Faith-based residential recovery organization in Kentucky offering long-term, biblically-based programs for men and women with addiction and life-control issues. Closely comparable in faith-based residential programming, sober-living environment, and long-stay model.
• Porchlight: Madison-based nonprofit providing emergency shelter, housing, and employment services to people experiencing homelessness in Wisconsin. Comparable in offering residential housing and community-based support services, though less explicitly faith-driven.

Others

• Impact 2-1-1 (Milwaukee): Regional nonprofit operating the 2-1-1 helpline and coordinating community resources in Greater Milwaukee. Comparable as a faith- and community-rooted nonprofit ecosystem player in the same service region, though its model is referral coordination rather than direct service delivery.

Emerging players

• Habitat for Humanity of Milwaukee: Faith-affiliated nonprofit building affordable housing and supporting homeownership in Milwaukee. Compares to Hope Street on faith-rooted housing mission in the same city, but focuses on affordable home construction rather than transitional residential community.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/HopeStreet_GFP
• Facebookfacebook.com/HopeStreetMinistry
• Instagraminstagram.com/greenhouseforpeople
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hope-street-ministry

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Street Ministry