{"id":20878,"date":"2014-03-08T14:23:31","date_gmt":"2014-03-08T19:23:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/?p=20878"},"modified":"2014-07-08T14:26:54","modified_gmt":"2014-07-08T18:26:54","slug":"bridge-of-hope-serves-single-mothers-and-their-children","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/2014\/bridge-of-hope-serves-single-mothers-and-their-children\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cBridge of Hope\u201d serves single mothers and their children"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ann Yoder, class of 1961<\/strong>, has tapped her real-estate career experience to locate housing for the single mothers and their children assisted by Bridge of Hope Harrisonburg-Rockingham.<\/p>\n

For those families, \u201chousing comes first,\u201d said Yoder, one of several alumni who have served on the program\u2019s board. \u201cThen, the heart of the program is surrounding a single mother who is at risk of being homeless with a support group of mentors.\u201d<\/p>\n

To Kathryn Fairfield \u201970<\/strong>, her Bridge of Hope board service and fundraising mean applying her faith to helping children: \u201cI\u2019m a lawyer and mediator, and my career has really given me a heart for the children.\u201d She\u2019s seen the difference a home and stable family income make toward a child\u2019s future.<\/p>\n

The program provides a single mother at risk of becoming homeless with a \u201cmentoring group\u201d for up to two years, along with assistance from two part-time program directors, both social workers, said Stephanie Resto \u201989<\/strong>, who is one of the two.<\/p>\n

She and her colleague assist with housing, job placement, money management and parenting skills. A mentor\u2019s job, Resto said, is to be a friend to the single mother. Currently there are seven staff-trained, cross-generational mentoring groups from various local churches. Mentors and moms gather monthly for a Bridge of Hope night that may be \u201cjust fun\u201d or include guest presentations on such topics as cooking or car care. Mentors themselves benefit, said Yoder, who feels a congregation \u201cought to be a lot more outside of the walls of the church.\u201d<\/p>\n

Anna Wyse \u201995<\/strong>, a public health nurse and recent board member, sees the program\u2019s strength as building relationships: \u201cThat\u2019s the beauty of it. It\u2019s not a quick fix. It really changes lives and it\u2019s not a band-aid approach.\u201d<\/p>\n

A 2013 \u201cpoint-in-time\u201d survey found 94 adults and 39 children homeless in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County, Fairfield said. Across the United States homelessness affects over a million children \u2013 one in 50. Bridge of Hope helps one family at a time.<\/p>\n

Initiated in Pennsylvania\u2019s Lancaster and Chester counties in 1989, the program became national in 2002, with Harrisonburg-Rockingham becoming affiliated in 2008-09.<\/p>\n

Since its first family in 2010, it has mentored seven more mothers \u2013 four currently, three \u201cgraduates\u201d and one woman who withdrew but has done well, Resto said.<\/p>\n

Some families are homeless when they enroll. Some have fled from abuse. Mothers may apply online (see bridgeofhopeinc.org<\/a>) or be referred by social service agencies or churches.<\/p>\n

Resto\u2019s social work major-classmates included Edith Yoder \u201988<\/strong>, director of Bridge of Hope National, and Resto\u2019s cousin Anne Kaufman Weaver \u201988<\/strong>, who has served on the national board. \u201cI became excited about the process and wanted to get involved,\u201d Resto said.<\/p>\n

In the 1990s, she\u2019d been director of a residential home for single mothers. By placing families in independent housing initially, Resto feels Bridge of Hope eases their transition.<\/p>\n

The program receives no government funds. Fairfield said local contributors include about 20 churches, plus United Way, private grants, and a popular yearly \u201cfashion show\u201d fundraiser featuring attractive thrift-store couture.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Chris Edwards<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ann Yoder, class of 1961, has tapped her real-estate career experience to locate housing for the single mothers and their children assisted by Bridge of Hope Harrisonburg-Rockingham. 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