Darlene Woods is looking for community partners for House of Hope Ministries, a local nonprofit she owns and operates that provides housing and support for homeless people, including veterans. She needs community partners to expand the services offered at the Community Hope Center, 724 SW 14th St., Redmond. She is also perpetually seeking volunteers.

“I’ve been in Redmond for 40 years,” said Woods, who is on call 24/7 and aided at House of Hope by her husband and a few volunteers. “I just feel like we can do something here. And I want to offer assistance to those who are going through their toughest of times.”

While not every person House of Hope helps is without hope, Woods said that having an open door is a beacon of hope for those in the community experiencing hard times. She is looking for potential grants and community partners to enable the nonprofit to provide a 24/7 drop-in community center. Woods said additional plans, contingent on grant monies and community partnerships, include constructing another building at the Community Hope Center’s location that would provide a 19-bed drop-in housing center.

“A community that works together is a better community,” Woods said.

The Community Hope Center is open Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 4:30 p.m., in correlation with Lavender Thrift & Gift at the same location, whose proceeds go toward House of Hope operations. Various classes and services are also held weekly, including a free dinner for veterans and their families every third Friday of the month at 6 p.m. Reservations are requested but not required, Woods said, and the center plans to serve about 25 people each dinner.

House of Hope Ministries opened in 2003 and has housed more than 1,500 people, according to its website. Its six houses in Bend and Redmond can house 35 people at full capacity for reduced rental rates on a monthly basis. House of Hope is an alcohol- and drug-free environment.

Woods said the number of people House of Hope helps every year continues to increase, and about 50 people come in every week looking for support. She said her passion to provide a beacon of hope came from a calling from God. She holds informal religious services on Sundays for those interested, but noted that religion isn’t a requirement for those interested in visiting House of Hope — it’s only what drives Woods in her work. She also said the support and mentorship offered isn’t from professional medical providers, and House of Hope isn’t meant as a replacement to treatment.

“We’re not here to fix people; we’re here to assist them,” Woods said. “We all do better if we’re supported, and we’re here to support those who need it.”

— Reporter, 541-548-2185, cbrown@redmondspokesman.com