Synopsis
Based on a true story. When a widow with mental illness attempts suicide, she survives only to find herself homeless and unable to reconnect with her son. After a year of living in a shelter with no hope of overcoming her situation, she has a chance encounter that changes her life.
A Letter from the real Hope
Imagine what it would be like to wake up one day and not have any of your essentials, your family or your home. Then imagine what it feels like to be terrified of being in public. Now combine those things. That’s where I was when I became homeless.
I thought my world couldn’t get harder until I went to my first shelter. I knew that I would not make it long there. When someone told me that I should talk to Sharon, I didn’t think I had the nerve to go the appointment. I went because I was afraid of what might happen if I stayed where I was.
What I found when I came to Room in the Inn, was acceptance without pity. I found love without judgement. Room in the Inn provided exactly what I needed to keep me from falling back into the deep hole of no return. I was connected to a doctor that heard what I had to say. Sharon pushed me to keep moving forward. Waiting for housing was hard but that is the case for everyone that’s waiting.
When Homeward Bound moved me into my apartment I was afraid. Afraid of the unknown that I would find when faced with the challenge of living my life again. I kept hearing Sharon say – this journey is about leaving here and going home. Because of Room in the Inn, I can face my fears.
After watching part of my story, I hope that you will be moved to open your hearts. When Sharon asked if I would tell my story, I agreed because I knew that it was an opportunity for me to give back to Homeward Bound for all the care that I received at the AHOPE Day Center, with Room in the Inn and through case management while in my apartment.
If you are here today and you haven’t been to AHOPE – you should go. If you’re afraid, like I was, then go when the building is closed. I’m sure they will show you around. You need to see what they do for people who are homeless, and they don’t judge you.
If you’ve never been to Room in the Inn – talk to Sharon about how you can visit the ladies at a church. The volunteers there are wonderful. Don’t be afraid to volunteer with the ladies.
During my time in Room in the Inn, I learned to trust again. On Easter Sunday I spent the day with my son. It’s a slow journey for us but we’re taking one step at a time. That would never have happened without Homeward Bound.
Much Love,
Hope
Temporary bed from a real homeless shelter in Western North Carolina.
Director's Statement
This film is the inspiring true story of a single mother from Western North Carolina who perseveres through mental illness and emotional hardships to overcome homelessness. I strive to strengthen the voice of women in front of the camera and behind it. Two of our three producers are women and seven female crew members were hired for this production.
The movie “Hope” came about when Homeward Bound, a non-profit that helps put homeless people into permanent housing, approached me to make a short film to help raise awareness about their organization and the issue of homelessness. I’ve worked with Homeward Bound for a number of years. My relationship with the organization and our track record of success in the past made this larger, more ambitious project much easier to tackle. Over the years I’ve had some great collaborations with film professionals in Asheville, like Greg Hudgins the incredibly talented DP for “Hope.” Greg and I also worked together to produce a PSA for Homeward Bound focusing on veteran homelessness. We were both so touched by the homeless people we encountered on that project, we wanted to do more to help. So when I approached him about working on this new short film for Homeward Bound, he needed no convincing.
I hope that audiences will be as moved as I was when this true story was shared with me. There are homeless, hungry children living in the United States today. There are women who have had to make impossible choices where their best chance of escaping domestic abuse, is living on the street. There are veterans who have been forgotten and left to fend for themselves. There are so many Americans suffering from mental illness that are simply lacking a support system in their lives and end up without a home. I hope that audiences will take comfort in knowing that there are organizations like Homeward Bound who are working to tackle this problem head on. I hope that they will be inspired into action and that their negative notions and judgements around homelessness will shift toward empathy and understanding.
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Katie
This film was made possible by Homeward Bound of WNC, a non-profit committed to ending homelessness. Find out more about the good work they do at homewardboundwnc.org
Production still from "Hope" the inspiring short film and true story of a single mother from Western North Carolina who perseveres through mental illness and emotional hardships to overcome homelessness.
Production still from "Hope" the inspiring short film and true story of a single mother from Western North Carolina who perseveres through mental illness and emotional hardships to overcome homelessness.
Behind the scenes on the set of "Hope" the inspiring short film and true story of a single mother from Western North Carolina who perseveres through mental illness and emotional hardships to overcome homelessness.
Production still from "Hope" the inspiring short film and true story of a single mother from Western North Carolina who perseveres through mental illness and emotional hardships to overcome homelessness.