Beltrami Electric Cooperative has selected Hope House as the winner of the local 2020 Touchstone Energy® Community Award from a pool of excellent and worthy nominations, according to Beltrami Electric's marketing/communications specialist, Angela Lyseng.
Beltrami Electric sought candidates for the annual Touchstone Energy® Community Award, which recognizes organizations for outstanding contributions to the local community. The recognition comes with a $500 cash award and an engraved Touchstone Energy® Community Award plaque signifying the organization’s commitment to community.
Hope House is a non-profit organization that helps people with long-term or serious mental illness regain their lives. As a drop-in center, Hope House provides diagnostic assessments, Adult Rehabilitation Mental Health Services (ARMHS), one-to-one assistance, skills training, social support, family support, medication management, employment specialists and outreach.
Established in 1980, Hope House has served nearly 1,000 people with long-term mental illness, most of whom no longer need the services because they are doing well in the community. Prior to Hope House, most clients were hospitalized, now ninety to ninety five percent remain hospital-free, ninety eight percent have stable housing, and eighty to eighty five percent have no problems with drugs or alcohol.
“We are honored to receive Beltrami Electric’s 2020 Touchstone Energy Community Award,” said Robin Wold, Hope House director. “To be selected reminds us that our daily work is having a noticeable impact for people with mental illness within our community. We are humbled to be included with the great past and future organizations who have and will receive this award. Thank you, Beltrami Electric board, staff and members!”
The efforts of Hope House have seen a ripple effect, providing stability not only for their 100-150 clients each year, but reaching extended family and friends, as well as our community. Hope House has inspired clients to work who did not think they could work. Clients have demonstrated leadership through serving on the Beltrami County Local Advisory Council, Hope House Board, Region II Mental Health Initiative, and have prepared information to talk with legislators.
Their mission is to provide community support services to individuals with serious and persistent mental illness, so they can live in the community in the least restrictive setting, function at their best level, and reduce the need for involuntary hospitalization. For members wishing to learn more about Hope House, visit their website at www.hopehousebemidji.org or find them on Facebook at Hope House Bemidji.
The Hope House application will be submitted for consideration to the statewide Minnesota Touchstone Energy® Community Award committee. The statewide award recipient will be selected from numerous local award winners throughout Minnesota and the overall winner will receive $1,000 toward a community cause of choice.
Due to the financial strain of the pandemic, all applicants received a donation from Beltrami Electric Cooperative.