Hope House operates and advocates on the belief that poverty, food insecurity, inequality, health and community are all interconnected. We offer services and programs that challenge the stigmas surrounding poverty and allow our clients to maintain their dignity and choice, while simultaneously providing them with tactile skills developed in a community environment; it is not about a hand-out but rather offering people a hand-up, creating long-term skills that facilitate self-sufficiency. HOPE House provides front-line services and support in the form of a choice-based, points-based Food Market, HOPE Stylin’ Haircuts and Clothing Bureau (points-based), our community Edu-Kitchen, HOPE-in-Motion, a Back-to-School Backpack Program, a daily Café, Christmas hampers and more to any Guelph resident (including children) living in poverty. We have also formed close partnerships with community members to offer services beyond our mandate in partnership with like-minded groups. This includes the Run and Read Program (Start2Finish), the Cadence Program (Upper Grand District School Board), Five Star Relationship Counseling, The John Howard Society, AA, Celebrate Recovery and many more.