The Ladies of Hope Ministries (The LOHM)

Hope House, A Co-Living space of the Ladies of Hope Ministries. We empower women and girls by providing a safe housing space, a supportive community of women, mentorship and guidance for formerly incarcerated women and girls to create a life after prison. Our goal is for each woman and girl to create an independent, successful and happy life where they can thrive and become whole.

Our Story A Journey of Hope,
Awareness, and Change

The Ladies of Hope Ministries (The LOHM)
The Ladies of Hope Ministries (The LOHM)

We Know

Formerly incarcerated people are nearly 10x more likely to be homeless than the general public. Formerly incarcerated women 35% more likely to be homeless than men.

The Hope House was founded in 2017. While incarcerated at Danbury Federal Prison in 2013, Topeka K. Sam and Vanee Sykes imagined a home for women coming home from prison. When they returned home, they created the Hope House to offer women housing for up to one year as they readjust to seeing their families, being in their communities, healing themselves, and seeking employment, entrepreneurship, and educational opportunities.

Our Story A Journey of Hope, Awareness, and Change

The Ladies of Hope Ministries (The LOHM)
The Ladies of Hope Ministries (The LOHM)

We Know

Formerly incarcerated people are nearly 10x more likely to be homeless than the general public. Formerly incarcerated women 35% more likely to be homeless than men.

The Hope House was founded in 2017. While incarcerated at Danbury Federal Prison in 2013, Topeka K. Sam and Vanee Sykes imagined a home for women coming home from prison. When they returned home, they created the Hope House to offer women housing for up to one year as they readjust to seeing their families, being in their communities, healing themselves, and seeking employment, entrepreneurship, and educational opportunities.

A Closer Look

The Ladies of Hope Ministries (The LOHM)

After the year, we transition our residents into permanent housing while retaining their connection to Hope House for support and ongoing personal development.

Hope House includes live-in support in a homelike setting with light-filled bedrooms, a large gathering area, and a communal kitchen. We collaborate with community-based organizations, business leaders, health service providers, and other institutions that will benefit the women of Hope House.

A Closer Look

The Ladies of Hope Ministries (The LOHM)

After the year, we transition our residents into permanent housing while retaining their connection to Hope House for support and ongoing personal development.

Hope House includes live-in support in a homelike setting with light-filled bedrooms, a large gathering area, and a communal kitchen. We collaborate with community-based organizations, business leaders, health service providers, and other institutions that will benefit the women of Hope House.

We advocate and work with women at every step to reentry.

Since Hope House launched in 2017, we have a 100 percent reentry success rate. No women have returned to prison. In the last twelve months, our work has had a dramatic impact in the lives of the women we serve and their communities.
(Learn more about our programs and impact, names have been changed for privacy).

  • The Ladies of Hope Ministries (The LOHM)

    Hope Scale

    The Hope House human development scale - The Hope Scale - to ensure a consistent yet tailored experience for our residents.

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  • The Ladies of Hope Ministries (The LOHM)

    Entrepreneurship

    Business thinking is at the core of everything we do at The Ladies of Hope...

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  • The Ladies of Hope Ministries (The LOHM)

    Family Reunification

    Dee, who recently came to Hope House, is in the process of reuniting with her children and her biological mother...

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  • The Ladies of Hope Ministries (The LOHM)

    Edification

    Karen completed an immigration paralegal course with high honors,..

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  • The Ladies of Hope Ministries (The LOHM)

    Health and Wellness

    In early 2019, Ainsley was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease...

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  • The Ladies of Hope Ministries (The LOHM)

    Housing Stability

    Tabitha has three small children ages 10, 9, and 6...

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Business thinking is at the core of everything we do at The Ladies of Hope. One of our residents, Dee, is in the process of creating her own T-shirt line called Wear How You Feel that designs and sells T-shirts with positive affirmations.

Dee, who recently came to Hope House, is in the process of reuniting with her children and her biological mother. She is planning to spend the holidays with her family for the first time since her incarceration. Another resident, Ginia is currently repairing her relationship with her adult children and, through that process, has spoken with her elderly mother and siblings and was with them at Christmas for the first time in more than ten years. Finally, Ainsley is the mother of five children who currently live more than 700 miles away in South Carolina. While at Hope House in the Bronx, Ainsley has improved communications with family members who are caring for her children and has received permission and traveled to visit her children.

Karen completed an immigration paralegal course with high honors, is now certified in Microsoft Office, and received a full scholarship through Five Pillars Yoga to be trained and certified to teach yoga. Tabitha completed her registered nurse certification. Georgia, who is now 61 years old, has enrolled in Continuing Adult Education to obtain her GED. Ainsley has secured full-time employment through The LOHM’s program—and was recently offered a supervisor’s role—with Caviar, the all-in-one food ordering technology company that connects diners with local and independent restaurants.

In early 2019, Ainsley was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease. Through our in-house staff, Ainsley was able to address her health issues, is now on a managed care plan, and has regular preventive care appointments. In conjunction with The LOHM’s Angel Food program, Ainsley is receiving free fresh fruits and vegetables, has stabilized her diet, and has not had Crohn’s flare-ups in the last six months. Another of our residents, Joan, was diagnosed with lung cancer and had sub-lobar resection to remove the cancer. Joan’s surgery was successful and she is doing well. She has regular appointments with her primary physician and follow up appointments with her oncologist. Finally, Georgia returned home from prison with a confirmed diagnosis of congestive heart failure—and is also in need of a hip replacement. Georgia has regular appointments with her cardiologist and has been scrupulously following her medication plan. Georgia is now planning to have hip replacement surgery within the next three months and will receive aftercare therapy at Hope House in the Bronx.

Tabitha has three small children ages 10, 9, and 6. Through one of Hope House’s strategic landlord partnerships, Tabitha moved into her first apartment with her children in August 2019. Shawna, who came home in late 2018, has found stable housing and was able to move to New Jersey to be near her family. CeeCee has been reunited with her young children and has now secured permanent housing in Atlanta.

Hope House Addresses Core Needs

WE BELIEVE

That by offering a variety of programs designed to allow women to rebuild their lives from the inside out. The model we’ve created was developed with human services professionals and women and girls who are currently or formerly incarcerated to address core needs.

Hope House Addresses Core Needs

WE BELIEVE

That by offering a variety of programs designed to allow women to rebuild their lives from the inside out. The model we’ve created was developed with human services professionals and women and girls who are currently or formerly incarcerated to address core needs.

The Ladies of Hope Ministries (The LOHM)

Hope House Application For Residency

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The Ladies of Hope Ministries (The LOHM)

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The Ladies of Hope Ministries (The LOHM)

Message us!

[email protected]
(646) 820-0011

The LOHM is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit EIN 83-2249413

  • To Learn More about being a Champion and Donating to The LOHM, Please contact Kenya Welch, [email protected]
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