HOTEL HOPE PURCHASES CRESCENT PALMS MOTEL

The 24-room motel will provide immediate housing for homeless women with children

New Orleans, LA (August 15, 2018)– Hotel Hope, a nonprofit, interfaith organization that provides emergency housing for homeless women with children, announced today the purchase of a 24-room motel, the Crescent Palms, located at 3923 Martin Luther King Blvd. Hotel Hope on MLK will provide 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 this new location comes nearly five years after the signing of a long-term lease agreement with Blessed Trinity Parish for the former St. Mathias convent located on South Broad. Renovations to the 6,500 sq. ft. building stalled due to arbitration with FEMA over the scope of renovations.

The purchase of the motel immediately expands Hotel Hopes ability to fulfill its mission, and Sister Mary Lou Specha, Executive Director notes, “Even if FEMA approved the claim today it could take up to two years before we could open our doors to the convent.  The thought of turning away all these women and children living on the streets for another two years breaks my heart, so when God presented us with this opportunity I knew it was meant to be.”

The purchase of the $1.4M motel came after a generous donation from Phyllis M. Taylor. This is the second donation from Mrs. Taylor reconfirming her commitment to helping the homeless women and children of New Orleans.

“Over the years I have been focused on providing education but how can you educate children who have no homes,” said, Phyllis M. Taylor. “Hotel Hope will provide needed housing for mothers and their children that are now on the streets, but want, and are willing to work toward, a better answer for their day to day existence and that of their children.”

There is a need for emergency housing for families in New Orleans. The staff, volunteers, and Board of Directors for Hotel Hope are determined to increase their capacity to help families in crisis.

According to Sister Mary Lou, “Crescent Palms Motel will not only increase our capacity to serve homeless families by over 70%, it will further elevate the quality of service we provide to our guests by offering them a private space in which to begin the healing process.”

Hotel Hope on MLK will open five rooms in phase one and continue to increase their capacity by five additional rooms each quarter. Hotel Hope on MLK will officially open its doors in September 2018.

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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