HopeHouse

 

January 1, 1983
Hope House opens first shelter in Independence. It is able to shelter 15 women and children. The Hope House 24 hour hotline is established: 816-461-HOPE.

1985
In just one year of operation, Hope House is able to provide safe shelter for 570 women and 240 children. Approximately 949 hotline calls were received that first year.

1987
Hope House moves to larger 4 bedroom/2 bath shelter donated by RLDS Church. The new facility is able to shelter 30 women and children.

1987
Hope House expands services by opening outreach offices in Blue Springs and Independence to offer support groups and individual counseling.

1989
The judicial system in the Greater Kansas City metro area implements legislative changes in the Adult Abuse Act. The city now prosecutes abusers, so the victim cannot drop charges. This helps ensure the safety of the victim and sends a clear message to the abuser that domestic violence is against the law and will not be tolerated.

Hope House hires first full-time court advocate to aid victims in court.

1991
Hope House expands Court Advocacy Program to six municipal courts and two associate circuit courts, including state criminal court.

Hope House expands services to include Life Skills Program and Substance Abuse/Addictions Program.

1993
Hope House raises $2.3 million to build new facility in Independence.

1994
Hope House begins construction of new 8.2 acre campus in Independence.

1995
In June, the new Hope House campus opens. It is designed to provide therapeutic programming and crisis shelter for battered women and children. The new campus includes a 10,000 square foot living center, a children's therapeutic center, an adult therapeutic center, a building for prevention education and administrative offices.

For the first time, Hope House is able to offer licensed daycare, allowing women to drop off their children while they receive therapy.

1996
Hope House expands outreach services in Lee's Summit by hiring a full-time staff member to facilitate support groups and act as a court advocate to victims.

1999
Concerned citizens of Lee's Summit approach Hope House to operate an additional facility in Lee's Summit.

2000
Hope House hires a full-time attorney to represent clients in civil court appearances.

Hope House kicks off a capital campaign for construction of a new shelter in Lee's Summit and raises $2.7 million of the $4 million goal.

2001
Hope House launches its Civil Legal Program.

2002
In May, the new Lee's Summit Hope House campus opens with a 52 bed shelter, early childhood center, therapeutic/training space and administrative offices. Within 10 minutes of announcing the official opening Hope House receives our first call for assistance and shelter. All other facilities in the area were full and without the expansion of this new shelter, the woman and her children would not have been able to find safe refuge.

Hope House expands services to include a metro-wide hospital-based Advocacy program in collaboration with other domestic violence shelters in the Kansas City area.

Hope House expands services to include the "Guardian Program", a visitation program that offers a safe option for parent/child visitation in families experiencing domestic violence.

2003
Hope House and the Independence Police Department implements a new "callout system". Repeat domestic violence offenders and cases where there is a high potential for lethality are flagged in the police computer system. If a call comes from a home that is flagged, the on-call detective and the on-call advocate will be dispatched to the home. The advocate assists the victim with filing an emergency ex-parte, safety planning and other resources, including Hope House services.

Hope House begins offering Substance Abuse counseling to women who are incarcerated and have domestic violence and substance abuse issues. The goal is to reduce the number of women leaving incarceration that feel as if their only option is to return to an abusive situation.

Hope House hires a Court Advocate for Blue Springs. 

2005
Hope House hires a second full-time attorney to represent clients in civil court appearances as the case load continues to increase.

Hope House begins a Capital Campaign for the Independence Campus. A new, larger therapy building will be constructed, and renovations will be made to the existing 4 buildings. Fundraising will be completed early 2010 and construction will be completed in the fall of 2010.

2006
Hope House starts the Extended Stay program to assist women who are no longer in need of emergency shelter, but continue to face barriers in obtaining permanent housing.

2007
The Human Trafficking Program is created to empower victims of human trafficking to secure a safe and self-sufficient future by giving victims individualized case management plans and improving their overall social, emotional and occupational functioning. 

2009
Hope House is chosen to participate in a pilot project called Lethality Assessment Program (LAP). The LAP provides a research based tool that can be used by police officers to assess the level of danger a victim may be in if she remains in her current situation.

Hope House's Human Trafficking Program grant period ended on December 31. Throughout the course of the grant period, Hope House partnered with the Independence Police Department (IPD). IPD made the decision not to renew their human trafficking grant. Without a local law enforcement partner, Hope House was unable to obtain an extension or renewal of the human trafficking funds.