BHT creating 'Avenues for Hope'

Susan was 18 when she was taken in by Bonner Homeless Transitions.  

Her family had tried to force her into an arranged marriage to an abusive man, and she had no where to go.

BHT gave her safety.

The woman, whose name was changed by BHT to protect her identity and for safety reasons, had little schooling, no driver’s license, and only a few possessions. With the help of Bonner Homeless Transitions, she filed for a divorce and Social Security, went shopping for a phone and clothes, and earned a driver’s license.

Within two months of living at a BHT facility and with the group’s help, Susan had a job and was taking classes en route to earning her GED with plans to attend college.

Susan is just one of the many people helped by BHT.

Since 1994, Bonner Homeless Transitions has been serving the greater Sandpoint area, providing single women and families with safe places until permanent housing can be found. BHT focuses on teaching its occupants the skills that they will need once permanent housing is available. The nonprofit focuses mainly on budgeting, parenting, and other life skills with its program manager.

Bonner Homeless Transitions mainly works off of grants and donations from the local community.

Those grants and donations help people, such as a woman who came into the shelter with her two children on the run from her abusive husband. Bonner Homeless Transitions staff and volunteers helped her purchase clothing, a phone, and file for divorce. With the help of grants, the family was able to buy clothes, groceries, and other necessities.  The children were enrolled in school, and the woman was able to find a job. 

Until four years ago, Bonner Homeless Transitions was funded with a Supportive Housing Grant through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. When HUD stopped funding transitional programs in the United States, BHT changed to fundraising, local community donations, and foundational grants. Since the shutdown of the grant, Bonner Homeless has somewhat relied on the Avenues for Hope Housing Challenge every December. 

The Avenues for Hope Housing Challenge is an annual fundraising event that helps out with transitional housing non-profits all over Idaho. Beginning in 2011, the challenge has been presented every year by the Home Partnership Foundation. This year, the challenge runs Dec. 12-31. The Avenues for Hope Housing Challenge is a statewide initiative to raise money to help end homelessness. 

Throughout the challenge, Avenues for Hope holds smaller challenges that allow the participants to earn extra prizes toward their end goal. Some of these challenges include “Surpass the Past,” a move to try and get organizations to raise more money than they did last year; “early bird,” which is awarded to each organization that receives at least 12 donations between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m. (MST) on Tuesday, Dec. 12; and more. 

To get a gift to count toward your organization, a person must donate $25 or more online or in person, but all gifts are appreciated, no matter the value. All the money donated to BHT stays in Bonner County to fund its programs.

To donate to Bonner Homeless Transitions through the Avenues for Hope Challenge, go to avenuesforhope.org. The challenge opens up at 7 a.m. on Dec. 12.