Bloomington Board of Realtors commits more than $400,000 to expansion of New Hope for Families
Local realtors recognized with plaque for support of Growing New Hope capital campaign
New Hope for Families unveiled a plaque in honor of the Bloomington Board of Realtors (BBOR) during a private reception inside the recently-constructed New Hope for Families shelter in Bloomington, Indiana on Tuesday, August 2.
Members of Bloomington Board of Realtors and New Hope for Families assemble outside the new location of New Hope for Families. Photo by Jane Daniels.
After brief remarks from New Hope Executive Director Emily Pike and BBOR members Chris Cockerham and Gigi Larmour-Goldin, the group of local realtors toured the newly-named BBOR Family Shelter Suite and toasted the success of their collective efforts.
“Our agency found a powerful partner in the Bloomington Board of Realtors,” said Pike. “The generous support of local realtors has played a critical role in our ongoing capital campaign. Thanks to an active effort led by Chris Cockerham and Gigi Larmour-Goldin, BBOR members have given or committed over $400,000 to help us realize our dream to relocate and expand our services.”
“I’ve been involved with New Hope for several years,” said Cockerham. “Housing stability is a fundamental prerequisite for the quality of life and economic health of any community. From my very first interactions with New Hope, I have been deeply impressed with their staff, leadership and commitment to provide a lasting benefit for their clients.”
“New Hope is a natural fit for realtors,” added Larmour-Goldin. “I am proud to participate in this project and grateful to be joined by so many of my colleagues. The same caring professionals who help Bloomingtonians every day to realize their dreams of home ownership have taken a firm stand in support of children and families experiencing homelessness.”
“It is fitting that we name one of our shelter suites in honor of BBOR,” Pike commented. “The role of local realtors in the success of our project cannot be overstated. We want our clients and visitors to be aware of the impact of the BBOR and its members.”
Cockerham and Larmour-Goldin also serve as active members of the Growing New Hope Capital Campaign Cabinet.
Growing New Hope
Local volunteers established New Hope for Families in 2011 on property owned at the time by Bloomington Hospital. New Hope immediately became the community’s only emergency shelter specifically serving families experiencing homelessness. In 2015, New Hope added an early childhood care and education program to enable parents to get back to work and prepare children for later success in school and in life.
After the hospital announced plans to relocate, New Hope’s board of directors made a decision to move and expand in order to provide uninterrupted services for clients and continue meeting the growing needs of our community.
“New Hope’s relocation and expansion was funded through our ongoing $5.75M Growing New Hope capital campaign,” explained Andy Allard, president of the New Hope for Families board of directors. “The hardworking volunteers on the steering committee and cabinet are to be commended for their outstanding work.”
Leadership for Growing New Hope has been provided by a board-appointed Capital Campaign Steering Committee, established in 2019, and more recently by a Capital Campaign Cabinet. In addition to Cockerham and Larmour-Goldin, the Capital Campaign Cabinet includes chair Dan Peterson along with members Don Adams, Jon Barada, John Hurlow, Mark Kruzan, Darby McCarty, Liz McCrae, Sylvia McNair, Regina Moore, and Sue Shindell.
About New Hope for Families
Now in its new location at 1140 South Morton Street, New Hope is the only place in Monroe County where families with children can find emergency shelter together. Executive Director Emily Pike explained, “This mission is important to our community because we believe families are stronger together and no family should have to separate to receive vital services.”
In addition to emergency shelter and case management services, New Hope offers high quality childcare and early learning programs.
“Access to affordable child care enables parents to get back to work. Access to high quality early learning programs such as ours helps prepare kids to succeed in school and in life,” explained Pike.
Research has shown that access to high quality early education is key to making a positive, long-term impact on children and the communities where they live. This increase in early childhood care and education programs addresses our community’s unmet need for these services.