HOPE 34 february 2026 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South florida edition February is the month of hearts, flowers, cards and kind words. Valentine’s Day reminds us to say “I love you” more often. Scripture, however, gently challenges us to go further. In 1 John 3:18 we are reminded, “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” Love according to the Gospel is meant to be lived, not just spoken. Maria’s story Maria’s story is a powerful example of what that kind of love looks like in real life. Shortly after Christmas 2024, when many families were still enjoying holiday leftovers and decorations, Maria, a young mother of two, received devastating news. Due to circumstances completely outside of her control, she was given just one week’s notice that she would lose her housing. Overnight, stability gave way to uncertainty. Maria was working and doing her best to provide for her children yet suddenly had nowhere safe for them to sleep. Situational homelessness does not always look like what we imagine. It can happen quietly and quickly, even to families who are doing everything they can to hold it together. For Maria, the fear was not just about losing a roof. It was about how to keep her children safe, warm and hopeful. Love in action That is when love moved from words to action. Maria was referred to HOPE South Florida, which immediately stepped in and placed her and her children in a transitional home through The HOPE Way program, a privately funded housing initiative. In that moment, love looked like open doors, a prepared room and people saying, “You are not alone.” It looked like stability when everything else felt fragile. After support from The HOPE Way, Maria and her children moved into a safe apartment in Coral Springs. For the first time in weeks, she could exhale. With rental assistance and case management support, Maria gained the stability she needed to focus on her future instead of simply surviving day to day. Maria was already trained to be a Registered Behavioral Technician (RBT) when she entered the program, earning $22 per hour. While she was grateful to be working in a meaningful field, her income was not sufficient to independently sustain housing in today’s challenging rental market. HOPE did not just provide shelter. It provided a pathway. With stability and consistent support, Maria was able to focus on professional growth and better employment opportunities. Today, Maria holds a new position earning $28 per hour, representing a 27 percent increase in her hourly wage. Even more encouraging, due to a recent promotion, she will soon be earning $30 per hour, a total 36 percent increase from where she started just months earlier. Maria has maintained full-time employment, increased her income and renewed her confidence in her ability to provide for her family. She has successfully regained self-sufficiency. More importantly, her children gained something priceless: safety, routine and the reassurance that love can be trusted. Put it into practice As Valentine’s Day approaches, Maria’s story reminds us that love is more than a card or a sentiment. Love is showing up when it is inconvenient. Love responds quickly when families are vulnerable. Love is creating systems of care that restore dignity and build independence. The Apostle John did not write those words by accident. Loving in deed and in truth requires intention. It asks something of us. It asks us to notice, to respond, and to act This February, as hearts and flowers fill store shelves, consider how you might live out love in tangible ways. Support organizations that serve families in crisis. Volunteer your time. Advocate for compassionate solutions to family homelessness. Pray not only for those in need, but also for the courage to be part of the answer. Because the love that changes lives is not just spoken. It is practiced. Celebrating 30 years of impact, HOPE South Florida exists to be a HOPE-filled community—keeping families together, offering compassionate care, and guiding them toward holistic life change. Under the leadership of President Joseph D. Kenner, we remain committed to ending family homelessness in Broward County by building communities that empower families to become resilient and independent. For more information visit HOPESouthFlorida.org - Joseph D. Kenner - President, HOPE South Florida Love That Shows Up
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