In an open letter dated March 6, Challenge House Movement Executive Director Michelle Wilson stated a mission and purpose of “rebuilding inner-city neighborhoods and their residents,” and asked the Christian County Fiscal Court and Hopkinsville City Council to “assist in addressing the growing homeless population in Hopkinsville.”
The full mission, she added, is “to build relationships that maximize the potential” of neighborhoods, and to disciple neighbors “into a rewarding life with Jesus Christ.”
Accompanying Wilson’s call to action came a penned letter to both bodies, stating the following:
— That Challenge House, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) with a mission of inner-city ministry within seven neighborhoods of Hopkinsville;
— That their ministry works daily within Hopkinsville’s “under-resourced, at-risk” neighborhoods, to assist citizens with resources to work “toward a more rewarding life with Jesus Christ, and in turn a better life for themselves;”
— That their purpose is a “hands-up, not a hand-out,” and that they encourage education as a vehicle to overcoming “generational poverty” in Hopkinsville’s inner-city;
— That, while working within these inner-city neighborhoods, the organization “duly recognizes” the increasing numbers of homeless within the Christian County community, and thus issued this Position Statement with hopes of creating more partnership with the City and the County, as well as other organizations;
— And that the growth of the number of homeless in Hopkinsville “appears to be growing in comparison with larger, major cities around the country.”
In the event of creating a committee, Karen Shields, Challenge House board chair, wrote that their organization would be “most interested” in appointing a representative to serve on such a committee.
All questions should be directed to Shields or Wilson by phone, respectively: (270) 839-0426 and (270) 839-0726.
