The history of Hope House

FINDLAY — The idea for Hope House was born while the building that houses the transitional shelter — located behind St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church on West Main Cross Street - was still home to the sisters who served the Catholic parish. That included the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati from 1894 to 1988, and the Sisters of the Precious Blood from 1970-1990. But by the late 1980s, there were fewer and fewer residents. The last was Sister Karen Elliott, a Sister of the Precious Blood. Elliott, who was living by herself at the nunnery, has said she would see people sleeping in doorways or coming to the doorway for food or a blanket. She also saw an unmet need involving homeless women with children, recalling moms ringing the doorbell at 11 p.m. with no place to stay. And she decided that rattling around in the nunnery all by herself was not the most efficient use of the space. Elliott started talking to parishioners and Father Marty Nassr, who was the pastor at St. Michael's at the time. She said she was moving out of the convent because it was too big and asked if they could start a homeless shelter there. She put together a proposal. Nassr sent it on to the bishop, who approved the request. Elliott then contacted all of the Christian churches in Hancock County at the time, inviting them to a meeting. About 30 people showed up and recognized an immediate need to help women and children with housing. And they asked how they could help. Elliott further rallied community members and business leaders to support the project. She partnered with a local attorney and the Community Action Commission to figure out how to turn the convent into a shelter. Although she's credited with starting the organization, Elliott said in an earlier newspaper article that the idea came from God, and the people of Findlay made it happen. Citizens came together with in-kind donations and monetary donations, and offered sweat equity. The agency obtained nonprofit status and opened Nov. 19, 1990. "It's exciting to say that Sister Karen is still a big supporter of ours," said Laurie Poland, Hope House's development director. "She prays for us. She loves on us and really is thrilled with the success that we have had in changing women's lives in our community."