Fact Sheet
Bridge of Hope Lancaster & Chester Counties Fact Sheet
Purpose
Ending and preventing homelessness, one church and one family at a time.
Founded
Bridge of Hope Lancaster and Chester Counties, founded in 1988, is a non-profit organization governed by a local board of directors of 16 people.
Mission
Bridge of Hope LCC’s mission is to end and prevent homelessness for women and children with the help of trained mentoring teams within congregations. Single mothers achieve permanent housing and financial self‑sufficiency through employment and attain stability and enhanced self‑esteem through ongoing mentoring friendships. Our goal is to exemplify Christ’s love and to promote physical, emotional, social, and spiritual wholeness.
Geographic Area Served
Bridge of Hope LCC serves homeless and at-risk mothers, as well as church-based mentoring groups, in Lancaster & Chester Counties, PA.
Families Served
In 2010/11 we served 39 homeless mothers and their 80 children (Bridge of Hope LCC’s goal for 2011/12 is to serve 38 to 42 homeless families). Of the 39 women, 64% had experienced domestic violence or abusive relationships. Bridge of Hope’s Alumnae Program served 121 alumnae. Over the past 23 years, the lives of 262 women and 592 children have been touched through this program.
Volunteer & Staff Investment
280 volunteer mentors from local churches in Chester and Lancaster Counties surrounded these Bridge of Hope LCC families with love and support.
621 other volunteers, 8 full-time staff, and 7 part-time staff helped make Bridge of Hope LCC’s ministry possible this year. This is a staff to volunteer ratio of 1:78. The total volunteer hours of 5,618 are valued at $321,382.
Program Effectiveness
The effectiveness of Bridge of Hope LCC, over the past three years, has averaged a success rate of 81% in helping homeless and at-risk single mothers attain financial stability through employment.
Executive Director: Francesca J. Crane
Annual Budget: $831,968 for Fiscal Year 2011/12
Bridge of Hope LCC is supported through donations from individuals, businesses, foundations, churches, and community organizations. (Bridge of Hope LCC receives no government funds.)
Bridge of Hope LCC maintains an 80/20 ratio of program expenses to administration and fundraising.
View Bridge of Hope Lancaster & Chester Counties’ Fiscal Year 2010-11 Annual Report.
Affiliations
- Chester County Community Foundation
- Exton Region Chamber of Commerce
- Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce
- The Lancaster Chamber of Commerce & Industry
- Leave a Legacy
- Mennonite Foundation, an affiliate of Everence
- Rotary Club of Coatesville
- Western Chester County Chamber of Commerce
- Women’s Referral Network


