House of Hope will start from 1 February in Rotterdam-Lombardijen. It is the fourth location for House of Hope. Many single-parent families and many one-person households live in this green neighbourhood. Relatively many people live on benefits. There are concerns about whether young people in the neighbourhood have sufficient prospects. Churches in the neighbourhood, the municipality and the welfare organisation are positive that House of Hope is coming to Lombardijen. Annemarie Saat, Lombardijen location quartermaster: "We are more than welcome, because the urgency is felt that informal care is needed. And that's what we as House of Hope specialise in."
The neighbourhood in
House of Hope holds social consultations where people are helped with their finances, filling in forms, etc. Furthermore, group activities are organised and House of Hope goes into the neighbourhood to find people who need help, so-called outreach work. It organises this help from the Johanneskerk, where House of Hope will take up residence.
Support from Church at South
The cooperation municipality Rotterdam-South stands in this neighbourhood. Annemarie explains that this church is closely involved in the start-up and implementation of House of Hope Lombardijen's work. "They support the social consultation hours with volunteers, participate in outreach activities in the neighbourhood and support in prayer. Together with the joint deaconesses of Rotterdam-IJsselmonde, they financed Christmas packages. We were able to distribute 100 packages in the neighbourhood around the holidays. Those packages were made by the young people in the congregation."
Prayer answered
The team is grateful to be able to start in Lombardijen. "We have had this neighbourhood on our hearts for years because we see a lot of need. Our prayers have been answered that we can now have a presence here."
House of Hope will start with two day parts. As soon as the financial situation allows, this will expand.
