The city came together to celebrate the opening of Hope Village on Nov.14. Thirteen newly built homes were filled with families and individuals who have long faced economic hardship and homelessness, a step forward in addressing Baltimore’s homelessness crisis.
Nestled at the corner of Holbrook and East Hoffman Streets in the Oliver neighborhood of Baltimore, are 13 tiny, vibrant, and compact homes. The newly built single-family homes each measure 400 square feet. Today, these homes offer local Baltimore families the chance to experience shelter and stability as Hope Village gives them a brighter future.
The residents of Hope Village are filled with anticipation as they eagerly await the opportunity to move into their new homes. Among them is Kayla Bailey, a single mother of three who has faced years of hardship in her struggle to find stable, secure housing.
“I’ve been waiting for a very long time for them to even start building the houses, to see what they’re going to look like. Then, I’ve had a lot going on as a single mother of three. This is just a different opportunity and a completely new experience for us,” Bailey said.
Bailey joined dozens of other residents who had waited years for a dream to become reality. These families struggled with economics and having a home to sleep in every night. This all changed when the ribbon to enter Hope Village was cut. Smiles and joy were abundant as the families raced to their new homes.
This all started eight years ago as a nonprofit project. Pam and Christian Wilson, the executive officers at Heart’s Place Services, envisioned building houses for those struggling. They then made their vision a reality when they purchased vacant properties and transformed them into something incredible.
“And what you are seeing here today, with this wonderful ribbon and properties behind us, would not have been possible if it weren’t for the vision and the persistence of Pam and Chris Wilson,” Alice Kennedy said, Baltimore’s housing commissioner.
Kennedy said what started as a “heartfelt” idea quickly became a reality when the Wilsons gained support and help from so many, especially with the help of Mark, Stacy, and Jay Sapperstein. The Sapperstein’s, through their commercial real estate development company, built the 13 homes that now serve as the foundation of Hope Village.
“What is so amazing about Hope Village, and what is so amazing about the new Hope owners that live here, is that this proof of concept in action, this isn’t talk, this is do,” Bill Ferguson said, Maryland state senator who had the opportunity to help this project come to life.
The Wilsons said they never imagined their vision would grow into what it is today. What started purely as a passion project evolved into a lifeline for families in need. Living in Baltimore, the Wilsons were aware of the growing homelessness crisis in the city, and they acted.
“We were homeless for a while. That’s when I came into finding this program and then it definitely helped because it’s finally time for me to move into a house with my kids,” Bailey said.
For Bailey and the other residents, this moment marked the end of years of waiting, the end of their struggles with finding consistent shelter, and the beginning of a newfound sense of security. They could now walk through their doors, knowing their homes were not just a roof over their heads, they were the foundation for their families’ futures.
“This has finally helped me to have stable and safer housing for me and my kids and I couldn’t be more excited,” Bailey said.
