Compassion was in full bloom at an inaugural Women of Hope Breakfast hosted by the Hope for Families Center at the Vero Beach Garden Club. The event introduced a new community advocacy group whose mission is to end family homelessness by addressing the root causes that keep families in crisis.
“Today, we are launching a movement; one that’s built on hope, on courage, and the belief that when women come together with a purpose, change can happen,” said Marty Mercado, Hope for Families Center executive director.
She noted that the intent is to empower women leaders to drive policy change and raise public awareness while emphasizing that “we are stronger together.”
Mercado shared the story of her grandmother, who was raised in an orphanage, and who instilled in her the simple mantra: “Do the work.”
Those three words, she said, helped see her through her own life’s milestones, from being accepted into the Joffrey Ballet School to the birth of her son.
That simple message also echoed in her mind as she navigated the $6 million building project for the new Hope for Families facility. Dubbed by its supporters as “the miracle on 4th,” the facility is set to open in January and will enable HFC to double the number of people it can serve.
“Now we have the building, we have the space, we have the people in place to assist these families, and we need the community to help us do the work,” said Mercado, anticipating its completion.
The Women of Hope initiative will focus on four central pillars to support the mission of HFC to move families from homelessness to self-sufficiency.
These pillars are Affordable Housing (increasing units through advocating for fair zoning and policy change), Living Wages and Education, Health and Mental Health (including trauma-informed support), and Children and Families (maintaining the whole family unit).
Mercado said that HFC served 216 individuals, including 120 children, in the last fiscal year, noting that more than 600 children are defined as homeless in the county overall.
“They don’t have resources like the women sitting in this room to help them get to the next step,” she said.
Lindsey Kross, HFC development director, highlighted that education is a cornerstone of the Women of Hope efforts, citing statistics that show women with a high school diploma are twice as likely to find stable employment, and those with a college degree are 70 percent less likely to experience poverty.
She announced that a new Education Fund, made possible by a generous donation from Pat Pierce, will support women and families at HFC interested in obtaining their GEDs or pursuing higher education, by covering tuition, tutoring, books, and childcare. These are all factors that can prevent single mothers from seeking education.
“When you invest in women’s education, you invest in the future of the community,” Kross added.
Mercado stressed that women are uniquely positioned to lead this movement due to their nurturing nature and strength. A six-meeting series focused on areas of need is being planned with a start date TBD in January.
“This is the beginning of something powerful. And I know we can make change led by women who care deeply and act boldly,” she added.
For more information, visit HopeForFamiliesCenter.org.
Photos by Joshua Kodis
