On May 21, New Hope Housing graduated twenty-five men and women from its Out of Poverty program, a 14-week life skills class offered for residents in New Hope Housing’s homeless services programs.

Out of Poverty helps individuals who have experienced poverty to accept the past, envision a new future, and begin to build a plan for achieving it. The program uses a group process, and participants share personal experiences as they move through the program. As part of the graduation at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, several participants presented poems and personal statements about their experience.

One participant commented, in thanking the people in his group, “I know that after a loss in my life, I made some bad decisions. This class has changed my life and how I think. It has made a big difference.”

New Hope Housing’s Executive Director, Pamela Michell remarked, “Out of Poverty can be transformational for many. It can have a powerful and lasting impact on participants as well as on the staff and volunteers who facilitate the group discussions. At New Hope Housing we believe Out of Poverty is a fundamental part of our underlying philosophy, helping people confront past poverties as they work to build new prosperities into their lives.” That impact was joyfully expressed by the graduates as they spoke of their new hopes and directions for the future resulting from their Out of Poverty experience.

For information on New Hope Housing and how to support its Out of Poverty program, visit www.newhopehousing.org