Tents to Rents: Frequently Asked Questions
Thank you for your interest in the 8th year of our Tents to Rents fundraiser! With your help we can move people into stable housing with funds raised during our Tents to Rents campaign.
What is the goal of the Tents to Rents campaign?
- To raise funds to provide a safe camping community for people experiencing homelessness until more permanent accommodations can be found.
- To help our community learn about the impact of Camp Hope.
How is the funding raised during Tents to Rents utilized?
- To operate Camp Hope, including purchasing tents, tarps, rope, batteries, utilities, and insurance.
- To cover some of the expenses for people moving from the Camp Hope tent city to permanent housing.
Why doesn't the federal government cover these costs?
- HUD will not pay for anything other than traditional housing structures.
- HUD will not cover any expenses for tent cities, homeless shelters or other transitional housing.
What is the impact of Camp Hope on our community of homeless people?
- Over the past year, there were 16,790 nights that someone did not sleep on the streets but rather in the safety of Camp Hope.
- Many additional people don't stay at Camp Hope but receive services and support through the Community of Hope programs.
When someone moves into Camp Hope, what services do they receive?
- In the Camp, residents are provided showers, toilets, safe water to drink and a tent. Many campers arrive with little more than the clothes on their back, so they are able to get clean clothing from the donations received at Community of Hope.
- Case workers help them find stable housing and qualify for social services that they may be eligible for, such veteran's or disability benefits.
- Campers receive medical and psychological health services and can participate in addiction services including AA and NA meetings.
- Campers are able to get two meals per day at the soup kitchen on the Community of Hope campus and can do laundry once per week.
- People can receive mail at Camp Hope, which is important to qualify for social security and other benefits that require a mailing address.
- Campers can participate in the Mano Y Mano day labor program, which involves working to clear litter and clean up city parks, and earn cash for their expenses.
Are there rules for people living at Camp Hope?
- Everyone staying at the camp has to take turns maintaining camp safety and security.
- Everyone must participate in weekly community meetings and weekly camp cleanup sessions.
- No weapons or violence are allowed in Camp Hope.
- Drugs and alcohol are prohibited at the Camp.
What are the dates for Tents to Rents?
- The campaign this year runs from August 14th through September 22nd.
What do partners do in the Tents to Rents campaign?
- Our partners work with us to create their "bio" page, where their friends can donate on their behalf. As they raise more money, on the chart on the Tents-to-Rents home page the tent icon switches to a house icon to show their progress.
- Each week our partners receive a message from us about one of the members of Camp Hope and repost that message on their Facebook page, Instagram, Twitter, email or other social media.
- Each weekly message is a profile of a Camp Hope resident with a photo and a link to the home page for Tents to Rents.
I want to do more. How can I help?
- The Community of Hope always welcomes donations of clothing and shoes for campers.
- When people are moved into housing, we need to help them with basic furnishings. If you have tables, chairs, kitchen items you aren't using, we can recycle them to someone moving into housing. Camping equipment is always useful.
- One of our community churches prepares a potluck dinner one night per month, and members of the congregation join campers for a meal and fellowship. Maybe your church or club would be interested in doing the same?
- Be an influencer for good. We know there is a stigma associated with homelessness, help change the narrative and educate your friends and neighbors about the causes of homelessness the stories that our campers share about their circumstances.