The Beacon’s article “Buildings Give Life” (September 21, 2021) describes the SA Hope Center’s capital campaign to renovate its Westside campus. The nonprofit provides a range of services — from childcare assistance to case management, mentoring, counseling, financial literacy and parenting classes — serving 2,620 households with 35,856 services in 2020 and already 18,750 services in the first half of 2021. Many of the center’s portables are 40 years old, with cracked floors, rotting siding, outdated air conditioners and no restrooms; the organization plans to raise $4.5 million to replace them.
A $1 million gift from honorary chair Harvey E. Najim launched the campaign, funding a new Welcome Center with dignified intake, climate‑controlled storage and more staff space. Plans also include a program and education building with flexible classrooms for events like health and job fairs, which will increase capacity for workforce training and financial literacy classes by 400 %, boost case‑management capacity by nearly 200 % and serve 750 additional households annually. The new campus will feature drop‑in childcare (“Kids Club”), covered breezeways, rainwater cisterns and a community garden. CEO Megan Legacy emphasizes the need to address trauma and provide onsite family and play therapy; the article shares success stories like Peter, a network engineer who became homeless during the pandemic and regained stability through the center’s assistance.

Source: https://www.sabeacon.com/stories/buildings-give-life.html