‘A place of connection’: First-Plymouth Church opens new Hope House in Lincoln

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — On the corner of South 21st and E streets stands Lincoln’s newest safe space: Hope House.

Rev. Juan-Carlos Huertas at First-Plymouth Church says they recently took a “Year of Hope” to study what the community needs and decided to open the Hope House.

“We’re creating a space where our neighbors within this track can find a hub, a place of connection,” he said.

Guests will have access to many different resources, including shelter, job support, counseling groups and much more.

First-Plymouth Church partnered with local organizations to make it all possible.

Huertas said they have already gotten a positive response about this project.

“I think that there is a good energy and a good vibe anytime you’re doing good in the world,” he said. “And I think right now, there’s so much bad news happening, so it’s good to be engaged in some ways of good news. Though we’re in a soft launch kind of place, we look forward to how our neighbors continue to get to know us and there’s no telling what other steps might happen in our lives together.”

As far as the future goes, Huertas said they have big plans and are excited to see what more can come out of the Hope House.

“I can imagine that micro loan program developing,” he said. “And I can imagine that mutual aid fund growing as neighbors put money in it and we help one another out. I can imagine learning from our neighbors what other needs there are, or what gifts they have and what gifts can be utilized here at the Hope House, so I can imagine this continuing to evolve.”