It is impossible for Hope House Director Pam Alexander to give a numerical estimate on how many homeless people are in Union County, but she does know that there are “many, many” of them.
With winter in full swing and temperatures regularly plummeting, now is a dire time to be out of a stable housing situation. Nevertheless, Hope House is there to lend aid where able. The good news is that the community can step in and provide some help, too.
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“Do we have (a homeless population)? Yes, we do,” Alexander confirmed, finding that many survive by camping, and she herself has handed out tents for limited protection from the elements. This isn’t tenable in the long term for entire families, and that’s something Alexander wants the community to understand.
She wants to fight the stigma that all homeless people are in their situation by their own doing, clarifying that she sees many families who have lost their homes for various reasons, including at least one who was evicted because their landlord wanted to turn the property into a vacation rental.
There are also homeless and impoverished elderly who are unable to work due to health issues. Other people may be fleeing from abusive situations or have made costly financial or real estate mistakes. In the meantime, some live out of their car while still driving to work every day.
This is where the Hope House comes in. They provide a variety of services for folks who may be struggling, ranging from networking to finding the best options for food and housing or financial aid to help keep those resources available.
Looking at a breakdown of 2025’s client assistance totals, 43% of expenses went toward housing, such as paying for rent or hotel stays. Utility costs accounted for 29%, automotive for 13%, propane 11%, medical 2%, and other bills adding up to the final 2%. This amounted to a total of $80,462 – $11,924 more than Hope House expended to assist people in 2024.
“This little company that we thought was just going to rubber stamp a few bills has now turned into this huge thing, and I can’t keep up with it anymore,” Alexander admitted, warning that the homeless and impoverished population will likely grow.
Unfortunately, there are not many resources in terms of remedying the situation. The closest homeless shelter is in Murphy, North Carolina, and when it comes to keeping warm without a reliable vehicle, the options are slim.
The only warming station Alexander knows about is one offered by McConnell Baptist Church in Hiawassee, and in the case of the Jan. 24 and Jan. 31 winter storms, Vogel State Park opened a warming station as well.
Hope House staff do what they can by giving out hand warmers and encouraging their clients to not give up. Sometimes, that means dishing out some tough love, like pointing out that jobs are available – one just mustn’t be picky. In the same session, they’ll gladly pray over people to support them and encourage them to find a home church.
For generous residents who want to support the efforts of Hope House, the organization takes single donations of cash and items like toiletries or cleaning supplies. One of the best ways to help as a community, though, is to participate in the annual Super Chef Showdown fundraiser, hosted at the First United Methodist Church on March 14 this year.
New in 2026, Alexander plans to test out VIP seating and wants to give guests a “TV show experience” with front-row seats to special techniques of this year’s chef lineup, how the judges come to their decisions and, of course, samples of a variety of homemade dishes.
With an entry fee of $15, anyone can try a bite of everything, and the VIP experience is just $25. Kids ages 6 to 10 can get in for $5, and children 5 and under have free admission.
What Alexander hopes to see is a fundraising outcome that’s bigger and better than ever, heralding further growth and opportunity for Hope House’s largest fundraiser.
To play a more active role in furthering the reach of the Hope House, consider volunteering. Male and female volunteers are welcome, but there is a need for men, because men struggling with hardship would prefer to speak about it with other men.
That said, there are some things to keep in mind. First, remember that the Hope House is an ecumenical, faith-based organization. The schedule consists of three hours a day for two days a week, on Mondays and Thursdays.
Those interested in signing up as volunteers can call 706-781-3090, email uchopehousedirector@gmail.com or visit https://hopehouse-unioncounty.com/ to learn more.
