HOTEL HOPE MLK GRAND OPENING AND RIBBON CUTTING
On Thursday, September 27, Hotel Hope MLK celebrated its grand opening with a celebratory ribbon-cutting ceremony and program.
This opening comes after the purchase of a 24-room motel, the Crescent Palms, located at 3923 Martin Luther King Blvd earlier this summer. The motel will immediately expand Hotel Hope’s ability to fulfill its mission, providing women with children in need of housing, a safe and loving environment while providing case management and other supportive services to ensure individuals become self-sufficient.
“The purchase of the motel is a true blessing,” said Sister Mary Lou Specha, Executive Director of Hotel Hope, “Seeing children and their families play in the courtyard fills us all with such joy. This opportunity comes to us and will increase our capacity to serve homeless families by 70%. We will also elevate the quality of service we provide to our guests by offering them a private space in which to begin the healing process.”
The ceremony began with the ribbon cutting followed by brief words by Board of Director President Dr. Jack Andonie, several members of the clergy and Hotel Hope family, Sr. Marilyn Breen, PBVM, Phyllis M. Taylor, a primary benefactor, and Mayor LaToya Cantrell.
“I have watched this organization since the beginning,” said Cantrell, “and organizations like Hotel Hope show the people of this community that we are here to support them and grow this neighborhood.”
Hotel Hope MLK currently houses six families at Hotel Hope MLK and hope to increase their capacity by adding five additional rooms each quarter.
About Hotel Hope
Hotel Hope is a nonprofit, interfaith organization providing emergency housing to women with children in a safe and loving atmosphere and related supportive services until the family becomes self-sufficient.
In 2009, people of faith convened around an issue facing countless families in the New Orleans community — homelessness. The growing number of people experiencing homelessness increased to 70 percent after Hurricane Katrina. The number of places used to house families in crisis was few compared to the need. After hours of meeting with already existing providers, conducting research around the need and endless hours of consultation, we formed the Hotel Hope nonprofit corporation.
Our vision is clear. Our motivation is the passion for the mission. Our core values of Love, Compassion and Empowerment affirm our response to the needs of homeless women with children. Your support in terms of your time, talent or treasure, will provide much-needed assistance to homeless women with children in our community.
For more information, visit www.hotelhope.org
Mary Lou Specha, PBVM
Executive Director
(504)715-9798
