Established in 2006, Acres of Hope provides a safe family environment and a healthy living program for women with children striving for a new way of life. This faith-based renewal center’s balanced approach through a two-year program sets the foundation of change and breaks the cycle of homelessness.

“We provide a comprehensive program for mothers with children coming out of homelessness,” says Marnel Sexton, executive director. “Participants stay with us for up to two years and participate in a program where they improve physically, emotionally, socially, economically and spiritually to benefit themselves and their children.”

Acres of Hope’s campus in Auburn provides nine cottages, each large enough for a mother and up to three children, for program participants. Four more cottages are designated for women in the stage of transitioning back to improved lives in the outer world.

“Most of the women we serve have suffered abusive pasts and have battled substance abuse in addition to finding themselves without a home,” Sexton says. “We require them to be clean and sober for 90 days to begin, so we’re typically not the first program they may be part of, but our goal is to be the last program they need.”

“Participants stay with us for up to two years and participate in a program where they improve physically, emotionally, socially, economically and spiritually to benefit themselves and their children.” — Marnel Sexton Executive Director

The highly structured program provides counseling, case manager assistance, parenting and life skills classes, access to recovery groups on campus or in the community, and job internship opportunities. The women also earn their GED or work to earn college credits and become debt-free during their stay. “We want them to be able to stand on their own two feet and be successful when they leave us,” Sexton says.

Acres of Hope invites the community to shop at Renew, their thrift store in Roseville that funds 40 percent of their work. “We also welcome community members to volunteer at our store or on our campus to help us fulfill our mission of helping women and their children escape homelessness,” concludes Sexton.

Please consider supporting Acres of Hope at www.acresofhopeonline.org/