Bridge of Hope

Lancaster & Chester Counties

Ending and preventing homelessness – one church and one family at a time with the help of trained mentoring groups within congregations.

The plight of homeless women and children touched the lives of Linda Witmer and Sandy Lewis. Linda, a public health nurse and Sandy, the director of a shelter for homeless women and children, met while working in Chester County, Pennsylvania.

These women faced the limitations of social service programs in trying to meet the on-going needs of the homeless. Emergency shelters were not able to provide extended supportive services beyond the normal shelter stay of 30-60 days. Severe depression and hopelessness resulted from the entrapment of the shelter with limited days to search for solutions to complex problems. Most of the children they saw were adversely affected by these unstable living situations. This most vulnerable segment of society, women and children, represented the fastest growing population of the homeless.

Following many hours of discussion between these two women, ideas began to form. Upon the recommendation of Pastor Andy Leatherman, their ideas were presented to the Sandy Hill Mennonite Church, Coatesville, PA, as a test for continued direction. The congregation responded with overwhelming support and affirmation to the invitation to become a part of the solution to homelessness.

A public meeting was held on March 2, 1987, with 37 persons from a variety of churches in attendance. Three homeless women openly shared their stories. Sandy and Linda explained their dream for addressing these tragedies. At the conclusion of this meeting many persons volunteered their active support of this dream.

In May 1987, a Steering Committee consisting of 10 volunteers began monthly meetings. As the Steering Committee began to define a Christ-like answer to the urgent crisis of homelessness it seemed only natural that many churches would respond to this need. Bridge of Hope would serve as the connection between a church and a homeless family. The essence of the 12 to 18 month program focused on providing a supportive, caring, Christian environment, which would allow homeless women and children to gain stability and direction for their lives.

Bridge of Hope was incorporated in October 1987, and received it's I.R.S. tax-exempt nonprofit status thereafter. An office was established in September 1988. Larry Zook, a student in the Masters of Business Administration program at Eastern College, St. David's, PA, served a four-month internship as the start-up facilitator for Bridge of Hope. That September the first official Board of Directors was formed. With the continued goal for Bridge of Hope to extend across denominational boundaries, this board included persons from Catholic, Episcopal, Presbyterian, Mennonite, and Brethren churches.

In December 1989 the first woman and her child were matched with a mentoring group from a church. With much faith and vision, Bridge of Hope became a very real solution to homelessness for women and children.

In 2002, Bridge of Hope became Bridge of Hope Lancaster and Chester Counties, to differentiate itself from Bridge of Hope National, which was launched as a separate organization to continue to spread the vision of churches uniting together to end and prevent homelessness for single mothers and their children.