The Rev. Greg Hoover, rector of St. John’s, Harrison, writes for EpiscopalArkansas about the parish’s ministry to the homeless:
Next to St. John’s Episcopal Church in Harrison, Ark., stand several buildings that were once a thriving dayschool that closed due to changing demographics in the community. The buildings sat unused for years, structurally sound but no longer serving the needs of the Harrison area.
But then, another need arose within the community. Homelessness, especially impacting mothers and their children, has become more and more evident. And from that need the idea of what was to become Hope Cottages was born.
Hope Cottages is a project to provide transitional housing for homeless mothers and their minor children. The mission of Hope Cottages is to provide a safe and nurturing home environment for homeless mothers and their children for a 90-day period, while assisting them to rebuild their lives in a loving, compassionate, and caring way.
