House of Hope getting new look

CEDAR RAPIDS - Kim Wallace, a longtime House of Hope volunteer, has taken the helm at the faith-based interdenominational ministry.

The organization, which is in its 14th year, focuses on empowering, encouraging and equipping women and their families to live well. House of Hope offers financial, nutrition and fitness classes, as well as yoga and massage.

Wallace became executive director in May, and is overseeing the remodeling of the Victorian home that houses the ministry.

House of Hope began as a residential housing program. Wallace said women would live in the house for six to 12 months and go through a set program.

'After about two or three years of that program, we had women from the community approach us and say, ‘I want to take some of those classes,'” she said. 'We realized the ministry needed to evolve to the needs of the women that were coming to our community.”

Over the past year, staff at House of Hope realized the residential housing element no longer lined up with their goals, Wallace said.

Now, women no longer will have to stay for an extended period of time.

'The guest stay feature opens the house up to more women, to be able to come in and stay for a night, stay for a weekend, get their group, come in for a retreat,” she said.

The breakfast nook now leads out to a sanctuary garden, which was completed in the summer. Plans are in place to remodel the kitchen to make space for cooking or nutritional classes. They also want to transform the dining area into a coffee shop environment, Wallace said. In the garage, or coach house, exploratory art classes will be offered as part of an arts ministry.

House of Hope will continue supporting women of multiple backgrounds, Wallace said.

'We have young moms; we have professional women; we have pastors; we have doctors,” she said. 'It's just been incredible the diverse group of women we see coming, needing help through different seasons of their life.”