Housing Options Provided for the Elderly (HOPE) began at a conference in St. Louis in 1985. A presentation on Senior Housing included a discussion about the lack of any specific service in St. Louis that focused on this issue. A committee was formed and developed the idea further.
In 1987, a not-for-profit corporation was formed. HOPE hired its first director, Lyne Rajani, and we were off and running. The early years focused on developing an information line, home sharing, advocacy efforts, and counseling for the fledgling reverse mortgage (HECM) program being developed by HUD. The original mission remains today: “Helping older adults live with dignity and independence in the housing most appropriate to their circumstances.”
HOPE’s current executive director, Buz Zeman, began in 1993. The focus of HOPE soon became in-home visits to implement the HOPE mission. Grants were received from the St. Louis Area Agency on Aging (SLAAA) for case management and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for reverse mortgage counseling.
Directed by an extremely committed Board, HOPE continues its mission to seniors and caregivers. HOPE is extremely proud of the quality of our services and our low administrative costs.
HOPE 