Hope House

Mission Statement

To provide a safe emergency shelter for individuals/families experiencing a housing crisis and to connect them with supportive services that promote and enhance self-sufficiency and stability.

The Giles County Shelter, Inc. (aka "The Hope House") seeks to serve individuals and families who live in dwellings unfit for human habitation, including those who have lost a home due to a fire or natural disaster, those who have become stranded on their way through the county, and those who have been recently evicted from their homes.

 The Hope House has sheltered 279 people for a total of 4,121 days over the last nine years.

While the length of stay is limited to two weeks, the Shelter makes every attempt to work with families and individuals facing extenuating circumstances.  A lengthier stay may be allowed at the discretion of the Shelter Coordinator.  At intake, guests sign an agreement to abide by Shelter guidelines and to actively work towards finding more permanent housing.  Our guests are also offered assistance in connecting with other available services.

The Hope House makes every effort to offer its guests all the comforts of home including electricity, water, heat, and trash removal.  Units are fully-furnished with sheets, towels, kitchen appliances, cookware, utensils, cleaning supplies, and toiletry items.

A Rich Heritage

The Giles County Shelter was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in 1990 and began operating in a small mobile home in Pearisburg.  Later, the Shelter was moved to a house on Curve Road.  As demand grew, it was determined that a single-unit dwelling was unable to meet the needs of the growing homeless  population in the county.  

The new duplex opened at its current location in May 2008. The smaller unit is available for a single person, a couple, or a parent and child.  The second unit is designed to meet the needs of larger families.  Both units fully comply with the requirements set forth in the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Every day we hear stories from our Giles County neighbors that tell of the suffering, confusion, desperation, and fear that accompanies the loss of shelter.  We have witnessed the healing that comes to these folks when they are given the respite that the Hope House can provide.

—Lynn Hill, former Board Member