Home Start Hope gets household items to women making fresh starts

Natalia Rodríguez Medina, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
·2 min read

Whether you're getting all your things in order or purchasing new furniture, moving into a new space can be a costly task.

And for women who are transitioning from a hard place in life, whether it's homelessness or domestic violence, situating themselves in a new home with no resources is a massive challenge, especially if they have kids.

This is why for the last 12 years, Home Start Hope has worked alongside caseworkers and helper organizations like Willow Domestic Violence Center and Tempro Emergency Shelter to provide women and children with the home goods needed to make their new space livable.

From pots and pans to plates and even décor, the nonprofit supports women and children who are transitioning from homelessness by providing essential household items for free.

"(The goal) is to ultimately give them stability and hope to have a better life. There is such ownership in knowing 'I have the things I need,'" said Kristin Mathis, founder and CEO of Home Start Hope.

Home Start Hope in Irondequoit provides women and children in need with household essentials.
Home Start Hope in Irondequoit provides women and children in need with household essentials.

Mathis said that the organization focuses on helping women who have escaped homelessness, domestic violence or addiction and have moved on from shelters or transitional housing.

"They are people who have been through a hard time, and nobody thinks about what happens after they leave, and the fact that they have nothing, they're just leaving," said Mathis.

Mathis said that at their location Irondequoit, there is a storefront filled with items women might need. Women and their families have to be referred by social workers or case workers from one of their community partners.

Home Start Hope's goal this year is to get more community partners that would help with referrals of women and children who are in need of their services.

They already partner with Bethany House, Catholic Charities Family and Community Services, the Coldwater Women & Children Residential Home, Family Promise of Greater Rochester, Tempro, YWCA Rochester & Monroe County, and Willow Domestic Violence Center.

"We have been around 12 years, and it's grown organically, but we need to get out name out there," said Kristin Mathis, founder of Home Start Hope.

A chance to help women in need of a fresh start

On Sunday, May 1, Home Start Hope will host an inaugural Tablescapes luncheon that will serve as a fundraiser for obtaining essential household items for local women and families.

The event takes place at the Locust Hill Country Club and tickets are available.

For more information on the luncheon, and to learn how you can contribute to Home Start Hope, visit homestarthope.org/events/tablescapes-2022.

Natalia Rodríguez Medina is a bilingual reporter covering the Puerto Rican and Latino population for the Democrat and Chronicle in partnership with Report for America. Follow her on Twitter at @nataliarodmed or email her at nrodriguezmedina@gannett.com. You can support her work with a tax-deductible donation to Report for America.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Webster nonprofit Home Start Hope to host Tablescapes fundraiser