What we do… The work of The HOPE Centre is much more than charity. With your help, we provide a full continuum of services and supports to individuals and families who are struggling with poverty related issues. We are committed to building and strengthening the Welland community by attending to the basic needs of our marginalized citizens (who often lack a personal support network), and by advocating change in existing social structures which contribute to poverty, homelessness, and compromised health.

Going about it… Our programs are designed to create positive opportunities which help people help themselves. Hope is an individual’s virtue, and personal empowerment is the dynamic that fuels all The HOPE Centre’s activities. Our approach to delivering one-on-one services plus our involvement in community development and advocacy work are guided by some core beliefs. Among them are: 1. Self-determination 2. Uniqueness of Individuals 3. Diversity of Communities 4. Dignity 5. Respect 6. Citizen Rights and Responsibilities

The tortoise won… Moving at a pace best suited for (each individual), our clients are able to acquire skills that may be applied to a specific goal or life in general. For example, the opportunity to socialize and to learn to better communicate during drop-in hours is open for everyone. Some clients are exploring returning to work while others consider upgrading their schooling. At The HOPE Centre they may register (free of charge) in a Literacy and Basic Skills class that can prepare them with necessary tasks such as writing a resume, filling out a job application, or completing an entry level exam.

Who’s who… The majority of volunteers who help keep our ‘HOPE’ up and running are current or past clients who have benefited from what they have learned and participated in here. We believe this speaks volumes about The HOPE Centre as a community resource and their contributions positively reinforce our feeling of family. Not all clients can involve themselves in structured programs, yet they have found a place here where they can begin to get emotionally, mentally, and spiritually grounded. The process of self-empowerment has already begun for them – they CHOSE to enter our doors.

There is always a need for caring volunteers to work for the diverse programs that The HOPE Centre offers. She says the work here "is very rewarding, especially since people at The HOPE Centre are able to provide help at the grassroots level ."

This grass roots approach to community development has been the cornerstone of The HOPE Centre's success in reaching out and serving the citizens of Welland and its surrounding surrounding area.

The HOPE Centre was formed in 1974 (originally known as Welland Community Resource and Action Centre - WCRAC) by a group of concerned citizens and organizations who recognized that there were a number of people who were falling through the cracks of the social welfare system. Originally housed at All Peoples United Church, The HOPE Centre was entirely run by dedicated volunteers and offered food assistance, childcare, and advocacy.

Women's Place

Niagara Regional Youth Homes

Community Legal Services

All Peoples Day Nursery

Niagara Peninsula Homes

Canal View Homes

McLaughlin Community House and Tenants Association

The HOPE Centre also works closely with other agencies such as:

The United Way - Out of the Cold

Niagara South Social Safety Network

*The HOPE House (Open Doors Emergency Shelter)

Welland Alive/Millennium Health Communities Committee