Harbor of Hope was founded in 1998 by a coalition of community leaders, social workers, and faith-based organizations who recognized that homelessness in Springfield required a coordinated, comprehensive response. What began as a 50-bed emergency shelter has grown into the region's largest provider of homeless services.

Our Mission

To end homelessness in our community by providing shelter, support services, and pathways to permanent housing with dignity and respect for every individual.

Our Approach

We believe that homelessness is not a character flaw; it is a systemic challenge that requires systemic solutions. Our Housing First model prioritizes getting people into stable housing quickly, then wrapping them with the support services they need to stay housed. This approach is backed by decades of research and has proven to be the most effective way to end homelessness.

Our Values

• Dignity - Every person deserves to be treated with respect regardless of circumstance.
• Equity - We address the root causes of homelessness and work to dismantle systemic barriers.
• Collaboration - We partner with government agencies, nonprofits, employers, and community members.
• Accountability - We measure outcomes and continuously improve our programs based on data.