A simple house in Rockford, Michigan became the beginning of something much bigger. Homes Giving Hope is creating a place where adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities can experience independence, friendship, and community—together. What started with faith and a willingness to act is now growing into a network of homes where residents support one another and build lives of dignity and belonging. Sara Boven shares the story behind the mission, the challenges along the way, and the community that continues to grow.

Links:

Homes Giving Hope Website: https://homesgivinghope.org

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And he was on the highway coming home.

2

He was in a traffic jam, speaking

of like the traffic jams on the

3

highway we were like, I should

make a major life change right now.

4

But, he really felt like he encountered

God in a special way on that trip

5

and felt like God was nudging him to

take a leap of faith and purchase the

6

house and start Homes Giving Hope.

7

When he came and told me that, I

told him I thought he was absolutely

8

crazy the way we were doing that.

9

Cliff DuVernois: Hello everyone and

welcome back to Total Michigan, where

10

we share the stories of the dreamers and

doers whose heart and grit are making

11

a difference in their communities.

12

I am your host, Cliff DuVernois.

13

For most people, independence begins

with a simple but powerful first step.

14

Leaving home and learning how

to build a life on your own.

15

But for adults with intellectual

and developmental disabilities, that

16

first step isn't always so clear.

17

Too often the options are limited.

18

Stay home.

19

Or step into a world that may

not always be safe or supportive.

20

In Rockford, Michigan, a small

group of believers felt called

21

to create another way, one built

on independence and community.

22

How does something so small

become something so life-changing?

23

How does a single house become the

start of a growing and loving community?

24

Sara Boven, Executive Director of

Homes Giving Hope is going to share

25

with us exactly how they do that.

26

Sara Boven: Homes Giving Hope is a

nonprofit, and we offer independent

27

living opportunities for adults

with intellectual and developmental

28

disabilities where they can move out on

their own experience independent living,

29

which is a little bit of light support.

30

Cliff DuVernois: So I'm already

full of questions, but we'll get

31

to those in just a few minutes.

32

Okay.

33

Why don't you tell us where are

you from, where did you grow up?

34

Sara Boven: I am from,

the Grand Rapids area.

35

Grew up in Kentwood.

36

Was a teacher for 12 years,

moved to Rockford with my

37

husband about 12 or 13 years ago.

38

We live, in the area.

39

We have three kids and we just

absolutely love this community.

40

Cliff DuVernois: And I understand why,

because Rockford is becoming one of my

41

more popular places to go to in Michigan.

42

Sara Boven: Mm-hmm.

43

Cliff DuVernois: So Why

were you in teaching?

44

Sara Boven: I believe that I was

born wanting to educate and teach.

45

I remember being five and setting up

dolls and pretending like they were in

46

my classroom and I was teaching them.

47

I'm kind of, my husband and children

like to tell me that I'm bossy.

48

I just like to, I like to, shepherd

different groups of people.

49

So I feel like that just felt like

the most natural step for me and, um.

50

With teaching, I feel like I

learned so much about myself and

51

people that I'm passionate about.

52

I care about people.

53

Cliff DuVernois: So you mentioned

that, that you married your

54

husband and you moved to Rockford.

55

So the obvious question that

I gotta ask is, why Rockford?

56

I mean, yes, this place is absolutely

gorgeous, but why Rockford?

57

Sara Boven: Not as intentional

as you might think, actually.

58

So when we were living on the west

side of Grand Rapids, and actually

59

to be honest with you, my whole life

story kind of ties together like this.

60

My husband is just a, you know what,

this is a really kind of crazy idea and

61

let's just do it and see what happens.

62

So, um, we always nice, we always

wanted to live on a lake and,

63

um, we would vacation with my

parents to the lake all the time.

64

And, we ended up just, we were.

65

Looking for a house, kind of the

next place we were gonna live.

66

And we found this house for sale on a lake

that had an awesome lower level so that

67

my parents could move with us and we would

have the opportunity to live on a lake.

68

And so we were all compelled to

buy on a lake and move to Rockford.

69

And that's why, I mean, it's just a

really nice, when you start looking

70

at the school system, you look at

the community and what it has to

71

offer is really what drew us here.

72

Cliff DuVernois: So let's talk about.

73

the idea or the genesis, so to

speak, of Holmes giving hope.

74

Where did this idea come from?

75

what problem were you looking at

that said, you know, we should

76

start thinking about this?

77

Sara Boven: I think that that

really is where, when you look

78

at your life and where God takes

you through each phase, I think.

79

Most appropriately.

80

Definitely teaching fifth graders

was the start of my career.

81

But as I went through my career and my

family started to grow, I was looking

82

to not be committed to work full-time.

83

So I stepped into a part-time role

as, a learning support staff, and I

84

was working in a classroom with, um.

85

Individuals who, you know, would be

pulled out just because they needed

86

support of the general education

classroom for whatever variety of reasons.

87

And it was this group of people

that my heart started to, attach

88

to because, oftentimes I just felt

like they had so much to offer.

89

I was very drawn to spending

extra time with them.

90

But I, I felt like just what they had

to offer, simply because they might have

91

needed a little extra help in an area,

made them overlooked for opportunities

92

sometime when they were very capable of

experiencing those same opportunities.

93

So I was working in a classroom

providing that, that support part-time.

94

And then after I had my third

child, I was, I decided that

95

driving to Byron Center from.

96

Rockford no longer interested me.

97

Right.

98

I think I spent two hours on the highway

in a snowstorm one time, and I'm like,

99

I feel like I'm not doing this anymore.

100

Um, so then I was home for

about a year with my youngest.

101

And during that time, I was approached by

one of my friends who lived in the area

102

and there was something, a, a program

in the area called the the ACE Project.

103

And the ACE project is

something that was developed.

104

In Northern Kent County, and it was a

service in all seven Northern Kent County

105

school districts that was providing

opportunities for seniors who were

106

in high school who were getting their

diploma, to but would, but had an IEP.

107

So had some kind of, barrier to

employment or moving forward or

108

moving, whatever it might be.

109

So I was paired up with those

individuals as a mentor and guide

110

to help them kind of discover what

careers they might be interested in.

111

Cliff DuVernois: Oh wow.

112

Sara Boven: And then get them placed,

help them find jobs in the community.

113

So that they would have something

when they graduated, that could

114

still be forward moving for them.

115

Cliff DuVernois: Sure.

116

Sara Boven: It's often, in the

population that we serve, it's often,

117

a situation where the, their peers are

going to college and moving out and

118

there aren't opportunities in the same

way for the residents that we serve.

119

So, the employment piece was something

that I was helping with, but when I

120

was like knee deep into that, I was

realizing that that is just a small piece.

121

That housing really seemed to

be the bigger, under-resourced,

122

area that needed support.

123

Cliff DuVernois: Let me take a moment

and introduce you to one of the

124

women who lives at Homes giving Hope.

125

Kirsten: My name is Kirsten and I've

been living here for five years.

126

I mean, almost six years,

and I really love it.

127

My mom.

128

I am an old support coordinator

that told me about this place.

129

I like the views.

130

I like walking downtown.

131

I like the bridge.

132

I like to dance.

133

I like the residents here.

134

Megan, We like to walk downtown together

135

We go out to eat every Friday night.

136

Cliff DuVernois: When was this that

you were just starting to think that

137

putting these puzzle pieces together?

138

Sara Boven: 2018.

139

and my husband's a realtor and

like I said, you know, we moved to

140

Rockford and we're like, let's try it.

141

So I would say to him, if you ever

found a house that was like a really

142

great spot that you thought we

could just buy and like rent out the

143

rooms, so that we had options for.

144

The population that I was specifically

serving at that time, we should do it.

145

We should try it.

146

And so, would drop that.

147

And then, we were, he had the,

the house, the very first house

148

that we purchased, um, in 2019.

149

He had that listed and, The sale ended

up falling through kind of last minute,

150

and he was on the highway coming home.

151

He was in a traffic jam, speaking of

like the traffic jams on the highway.

152

We were like, I should make a

major life change right now.

153

But, um, he really felt like he

encountered God in a special way on that

154

trip and felt like God was nudging him

to take a leap of faith and purchase

155

the house and start Homes Giving Hope.

156

And when he came and told me that, I

told him I thought he was absolutely

157

crazy the way we were doing that.

158

We just kind of chuckled and then

I just, I, God kept working in

159

my heart on, you know, the idea

and what that would look like.

160

And then, um.

161

Like within the next week I

was like, you know, I feel like

162

this could be an open door.

163

I don't really, like, we knew

nothing about starting a nonprofit

164

or what that would look like.

165

but we really just felt like

God was leading us there.

166

And then we had, you know, our

third there, three co-founders is

167

Kay Wood and she was my bible study

leader and I knew that she was very

168

passionate about education Serving

individuals who needed extra support.

169

And, um, so I saw her at the gym and

I was just kind of telling her about

170

the opportunity and I was saying,

Hey, you know, you never would believe

171

what just happened in Brian's idea.

172

And, and she was like, Sara, I've

been praying for this opportunity.

173

She was retired.

174

And she said, I have been

praying to God that I would have

175

an opportunity to replicate.

176

Specifically, she had been out to

Benjamin's Hope and had been at

177

a, a worship service with, some

of her past students at school.

178

And she said it was just so special.

179

And I just kept thinking, God,

could you use me in the same way?

180

And the three of us made,

sat down for a meeting.

181

I literally, like the week

after, it happened very

182

quickly, like within a month.

183

And there was just.

184

complete unity and vision and what we

saw and what we recognized as the need.

185

So we just started.

186

I mean, we literally just started.

187

And we knew people that had said

along the way, we need this.

188

I would help, a lot of educators.

189

So I feel like our board has been

heavily supported out of the gate by

190

educators, friends, people who have,

children with some kind of a disability

191

and, it just started that way.

192

Cliff DuVernois: They have the

people and they have a plan.

193

All they need to do is take

a leap of faith, be willing

194

to step into the unknown.

195

After the break, Sara Boven, executive

Director of Homes Giving Hope,

196

shares the early challenges they

faced, turning that first house into

197

something much bigger and how sometimes

when faith is part of the journey,

198

obstacles can become opportunities.

199

This is Total Michigan.

200

My name is Cliff DuVernois, and

we will see you after the break.

201

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202

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203

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204

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210

Welcome back to Total Michigan.

211

I'm your host, Cliff DuVernois.

212

Today we're talking with Sara

Boven, Executive Director of Homes

213

Giving Hope in Rockford, Michigan.

214

When starting something new, especially

something that's never been done

215

before, things never go as planned.

216

Sara, her husband Brian, and

their co-founder Kay, quickly

217

discovered that obstacles can appear

in the most unexpected places.

218

But when God lays a mission on your

heart, we can often find that these

219

obstacles become opportunities.

220

Here's Sara to share that journey with us.

221

Sara Boven: Well, we have four

houses now, and every single house

222

we open, we learn new things.

223

I think with our very first house, the

biggest challenge we had was with, the

224

city ordinances that were in place.

225

And we could have never even predicted

that that would've been an issue.

226

We have learned so much about how to

navigate that and also the importance of

227

community buy-in and community support.

228

So we really do our research differently

now to just make sure that, we are

229

joining communities and neighborhoods

that share a passion for including

230

everybody in their neighborhood and

not just certain groups of people.

231

Cliff DuVernois: Because I can imagine

that as you're going through this.

232

If you don't have it lined up from the

community, you're just, Hey, we're gonna

233

start renting out rooms or whatever it is.

234

A lot of people could get really

upset about that really fast,

235

wondering, you know, what's going on?

236

Why'd they buy this house?

237

Are you Airbnb in it?

238

All these other things.

239

Sara Boven: Mm-hmm.

240

Yes, that definitely.

241

And then the other really sad a

reality of, um, and I think we're

242

moving away from this mindset.

243

But there is a group of people that

still, I feel like, view a disability

244

as something that would detract or, or,

subtract from the value of a neighborhood.

245

Mm-hmm.

246

And that, that is, that's a

really sad thing that, We had

247

to kind of experience on our own

248

Cliff DuVernois: right.

249

Sara Boven: But then there's

a whole bunch of people who

250

definitely do not feel like that.

251

And just kind of finding

the sweet spot there.

252

Cliff DuVernois: As you're going through

this, was there any moments that you

253

experienced that you thought to yourself,

holy cow, that was absolutely a God thing?

254

Sara Boven: Every single moment.

255

Cliff DuVernois: Beautiful.

256

Sara Boven: Every single move.

257

Because when we started and we sat

down at that table, we talked about

258

what our vision was and what we wanted

the next five years to look like.

259

It really resembles this,

but it's very different.

260

I feel like we've tried to be very

intentional about watching other

261

organizations and what is working well for

them and what doesn't work well for them.

262

One thing that we are passionate about

is being unified and our decisions and,

263

prayer and as a board, making sure that

every single move that we make feels like

264

it's an open door, that it's an invitation

from God and that we're walking into that.

265

And then it's very clear like with

after we had our first house with

266

our second move, that opportunity,

we have wonderful landlords.

267

So it was completely different

the first house we bought.

268

On the second house, we have wonderful

landlords who have supported us.

269

And we just moved very

seamlessly into that.

270

There was a development that we were

hoping to enter into and at kind of

271

the ninth hour and the last minute that

just very quickly became not an option.

272

Oh, okay.

273

Um, and.

274

So it was disappointing.

275

And we put a ton of time and energy and

it was really hard, but at the same time.

276

With where we are right now, we're like,

that is so clearly God continuing to

277

guide us in the path that we are on now.

278

So I feel like every single home

opportunity that we had was,

279

came to us at the right time.

280

We were able to step into the space.

281

and then we've also.

282

I think, which has been really important,

just asked people for suggestions and

283

recommendations and, we've had consultants

come and help us navigate decisions.

284

something that makes us unique as a

nonprofit, and particularly in the work

285

that we're doing is that, the founders.

286

the board members, we do have a

board member of, somebody with a

287

disability, but nobody has a child

living here with a disability.

288

And most of the, all of the other

289

nonprofits, opportunities were started

by family members who were just kind of

290

desperate for something for their sons or

daughters because there wasn't an option.

291

I guess the need for homes giving hope.

292

Part of it is that we had a group

of people who could either stay at

293

home and live with their mom and

dad, which a lot of times is very

294

comfortable, but is very isolating.

295

we had a group of people who if

they did move out on their own and

296

they could have, there is a level of

vulnerability there that makes them.

297

Susceptible to being taken

advantage of very easily.

298

you learn more from other people than you

do your own parents through experience.

299

Cliff DuVernois: Sure.

300

Sara Boven: so.

301

There's, there was just so many

opportunities that, that could have, be

302

had by this, that wasn't, and I think I

Veered into a different direction with

303

that question, but it just made me, wanna

touch base on the fact that really I

304

think the vulnerability is the thing that

we're working best to build skill sets

305

and our residents so they can recognize

areas that they need to build their own,

306

safety measures up to protect against,

307

Cliff DuVernois: you know, when you were

sharing that, I was thinking back to, so

308

I have a brother that's had special needs.

309

Then he would come back and visit us and

my mom would still treat him like he was

310

five years old and do everything for him.

311

And on those days where like her and

my dad would leave and go somewhere

312

and I would be in charge of him,

I wouldn't do anything because

313

I knew he could do that himself.

314

'cause he was perfectly capable

of being in independent that way.

315

I bring that up because I can

envision perhaps a lot of people

316

coming here that are growing up

in a home environment and it's not

317

that their parents still love them.

318

They love them very much.

319

But here they get an opportunity to,

like you said, number one, they're

320

surrounded by a community that

understands them better than most.

321

But the second thing is, is they're

learning these independent life skills to

322

start to like move their lives forward.

323

Is that kind of like

what you're seeing here?

324

Is this kind of like

part of your vision yet?

325

Sara Boven: Definitely.

326

Definitely.

327

And I think, the other really important

piece to know is that we consider,

328

partnerships with families to be a huge.

329

So, you know, when we have

residents coming on, we're just,

330

we're realizing how we can partner

with families and residents.

331

One thing that we did not fully

understand, when we started Homes Giving

332

Hope, it was, you know, a service, a

mission designed for our residents.

333

But what we've realized is that it is

also a service and a mission for their

334

parents because they, these parents.

335

If you have a son or daughter

born that needs advocacy in a

336

way that a neurotypical child

does not need you fight for them.

337

Their whole life to make sure they

have opportunity, to make sure they're

338

valued, to make sure they, have

friendships and have opportunities.

339

And they, you know, you're a parent.

340

You don't stop fighting for your child.

341

So we've noticed that parents are

able to step into a role with their

342

sons and daughters where they can

assume more of a normal adult.

343

Beautiful child relationship, yes,

they can get together for coffee

344

and get together for lunch and they

can not have to feel like they're

345

nagging or, telling them what to do

or, taking ownership for their sons

346

or daughters, um, responsibilities.

347

And so I think that's one thing that has

been a gift to us to just get the thank

348

yous and the hugs from parents, because

they really do appreciate that as well.

349

Cliff DuVernois: And it must be beautiful

for them to be able to see their children

350

flourishing in an environment like this.

351

Sara Boven: Mm-hmm.

352

Mm-hmm.

353

Because, we had a gala and one of the,

a dad spoke and he said, you know,

354

what do you want for your children?

355

Anyone want for their child?

356

And I think it's that you want

them to be loved and you want

357

them to find joy and happiness.

358

So I think that is definitely

what we offer here.

359

Cliff DuVernois: I'd like to take another

moment and introduce you to another

360

woman, thriving at Homes Giving Hope.

361

Evie: Um, I'm Evie,

362

, I came here when I was 18, so I was

the youngest resident, and I had

363

just graduated high school and I was

kind of in that weird, like, limbo

364

phase of like not, not knowing like

what was happening after high school.

365

My parents kind of were like looking into

it and they were like, we don't know where

366

like God is leading, Evie in our family in

this next phase of life after high school.

367

So we kind of were kind of praying about

it and looking into it and my mom kind of,

368

signed me up 'cause there is a wait list.

369

And then they're like, okay, like you,

your personality kind of fits with

370

the girls here and how about we have

you add to the house, I kind of like

371

to say it was kind of quickly moving.

372

It means everything.

373

not living in my parents basement

and not, relying on them as much.

374

I just feel there is more independence.

375

And then I like just living with people

that like aren't the same ages as me.

376

I just feel like that's a good,

solid community to, to have.

377

Cliff DuVernois: Now, you said

before that you have four houses.

378

Yeah.

379

Be fruitful and multiply.

380

so the house that we're doing this

interview in right now is women.

381

I think you have a house or do you have

two houses for men, two houses for women?

382

How does that work?

383

Sara Boven: Yeah.

384

We have two, um, female

houses, so there's.

385

eight females that live at, female

residents with two female RAs.

386

So that's 10 women.

387

And then we have, 10 men, and we have,

well, 12 men, so 10 residents, and

388

then two male, oh, three male RAs.

389

So yeah, one of our homes is a

duplex, and that's a male home too.

390

Cliff DuVernois: It must be

nice to see all these people.

391

Like I said, and I kind of hit on

this a little bit before, but just the

392

coming together and being in a group

that understands them like so well.

393

Uh, some of the feedback I got before

even coming here was like, how people are

394

genuinely excited to come to these homes.

395

They hear about them and they're like,

oh, this would be a great step for me.

396

And, and we were talking before

about how there's like a waiting

397

list to be able to get in here.

398

So clearly what you're

doing is resonating mm-hmm.

399

With people.

400

Sara Boven: Mm-hmm.

401

Mm-hmm.

402

Because it offers choice, like you

or I get, you know, we can choose how

403

we, where we live, who we live with,

what we wanna do, and so we're just

404

Homes Giving Hope is not for everyone.

405

But for those that it is, it's a.

406

It's a great spot and it's a,

it's a choice, it's an option.

407

Um, and some of our residents just

are here because they just wanna

408

live with people and love being by

people and hanging out with people.

409

And some are here because they just

wanna, experience moving outta their

410

parents' house, but have hopes to have,

you know, maybe an apartment of their own.

411

So it's really just like we're trying to

help support, the individuals that we're

412

serving to make choices, the same choices

that you and I have, for their future.

413

Cliff DuVernois: What we were talking

about before about waiting list,

414

this also assumes then that people

come here, stay, and then they leave.

415

Is this, because they've gotten to

a point now where they can kind of

416

go off and function on their own,

they can go get their own apartment.

417

Is there some kind of like after

living here program that happens?

418

How does that work?

419

How does graduating from here?

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Sara Boven: Yeah.

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Well, we're only five years old,

so we started, we're almost six

422

years old, so I think that that's

something we're developing right now.

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Cliff DuVernois: Oh, okay.

424

Sara Boven: Nobody has to leave.

425

some people just.

426

Want to only because they want their

own apartment and to take care of

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everything, you know, by themselves and

they're just kind of ready for that.

428

some wanna stay just

because they're having fun.

429

There's not really a

reason to go anywhere.

430

Um, I think that the next phase, so we

really do feel like we wrapped up this

431

first phase of our nonprofit this year.

432

Um, and we're entering another phase,

which we're really hoping kind of targets.

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That maybe next step, of opportunity

for individuals who are just ready for

434

maybe even another layer of independence

where, you know, and this is all kind

435

of just dreaming of maybe, you know,

no ra living with them and they're, and

436

they're kind of living on their own.

437

And really just taking time

to listen to the residents.

438

And that's one thing

that we're trying to do.

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Like what do you want?

440

What do you see for your future?

441

How could we support you in getting there?

442

So right now we're just like, have a year

of gathering data, asking, taking surveys.

443

We are doing, finishing

up a feasibility study.

444

and then we're gonna start a

capital campaign to raise money.

445

We have some property in downtown

Rockford that we're hoping to develop.

446

and so we're just kind of trying to figure

out what the best use of that will be.

447

Cliff DuVernois: This is awesome.

448

I got so many questions I want to ask, but

we're gonna, we're burning low on time.

449

Let me ask you this question here.

450

When somebody comes in To, you know,

they filled out an application.

451

You give them a call and you

say, we have a spot for you,

452

and they wanna start moving in.

453

What does that process look like?

454

What do what can people

expect when they move in here?

455

Sara Boven: I think that is one of

the top things I'm most proud of.

456

I think we are, we have been so

intentional and careful about, what that

457

looks like and that has just developed.

458

Over time, we have a series

of readiness questions.

459

Hmm.

460

just so that people who are applying

can assess whether or not that our homes

461

giving hope is a good fit for them.

462

So we are not a group home.

463

We do not provide care.

464

All of our residents,

take care of themselves.

465

We do offer support by having,

an ra, you know, here overnight

466

to help problem solve if there's.

467

anything that comes up, but also

to help provide structure to

468

the home and opportunities for

residents to learn and grow.

469

So that right there sometimes, works for

some people and not for other people.

470

So we have the readiness questions

that we go through, and then we

471

have, you know, different interviews.

472

We sit down for an informational meeting

and we have, um, an admissions team.

473

And during that time we kind of take

each resident that's applying and just

474

really think about, where the opening

is, roommates, how we could see them,

475

getting along with the others, how we.

476

See them solving problems where

they might need the support.

477

And so once we, kind of all, I

mean it's a whole, a whole bunch of

478

people think, you know what, this is

definitely, I think people, somebody

479

who would do really well here.

480

and that's, we take families

to help us decide that too.

481

Um, lot of open communication.

482

then we have a whole process of.

483

Getting them moved in, helping

them get to know their roommates,

484

helping them get to know the house,

the area, how to do everything.

485

And that is just so, it's

very laid out, what to expect.

486

And we just kind of

walk hand in hand with.

487

Residents as they're moving in

488

Cliff DuVernois: because part of this

moving in process also includes, and I was

489

thinking of your chore board over there.

490

So being assigned certain chores,

weeks, and then those chores

491

rotate between the people.

492

So to make sure that everybody knows

exactly what they are responsible for.

493

'cause it's not just, like

you said, moving in here,

494

somebody takes care of you.

495

This is.

496

Independent living.

497

Sara Boven: Yes.

498

And it's like showing you, okay, this

washer and here's the washer and dryer.

499

It probably doesn't work like

the one you're used to at home.

500

here's how this one works.

501

Um, what do you do if you come to

do your laundry and there's clothes

502

in the dryer and they're not yours?

503

Um, just kind of try to help

ask questions and think about

504

what, residents might encounter.

505

In a new living situation

'cause it's new for them.

506

So we, we try to, kind of walk

through all of that with them.

507

Cliff DuVernois: Here's one more woman

I would like to introduce you to.

508

Meghan: Hi, my name is Meghan.

509

Um, I was a first HGH

resident here at HGH.

510

For most of my life, I lived at my

parents' house and I was, pretty lonely

511

and didn't have a lot of friends.

512

And I was part of a few groups,

but not a whole lot of people

513

understood me and my disability.

514

But then I found HGH and since

then it's been a huge blessing.

515

I've made friends and found

people that understand me.

516

the independence and having

a community of my own.

517

Family.

518

It just opened a new way of seeing how

to take care of myself and being at this

519

new house here, I can walk downtown and

I can't drive because of my disability.

520

So, it's a great like independent feeling.

521

I love to blog and write and I plan on

getting a book out about my disability.

522

Um, it's called My Journey with God.org.

523

And you can find me on my YouTube

channel called Meghan Beggs.

524

Cliff DuVernois: Sara, if somebody's

listening to this interview.

525

And they like what they, they

hear, maybe they want to coordinate

526

with you, check the place out.

527

Maybe they wanna donate, maybe

they just wanna follow you online.

528

How can they do all that good stuff?

529

Sara Boven: Well, we

have a beautiful website.

530

Cliff DuVernois: Yes, you do.

531

Sara Boven: Homes Giving Hope.org.

532

And right on there at the

top, there's a donate button.

533

Um, you can learn all about us.

534

There's a spot that if you would like

to contact us, you can just click

535

that button and send us an email.

536

We have opportunities for

volunteering, can always use prayer.

537

We have, opportunities for

individuals who are on our wait list.

538

I mean, don't necessarily reside at

the homes, but just on our wait list

539

and are interested where once a month

we do social events and just provide

540

opportunities to get everybody together.

541

So I feel like that if, if they

visit that website, there's all

542

the information that they need.

543

Cliff DuVernois: Homes Giving

Hope is a modern day version

544

of Five Loaves, two Fish.

545

God taking small actions and now

empowering believers to impact others.

546

Creating a special community, not based

on geography, but defined by people.

547

People who love us and

accept us for who we are.

548

People who understand us in ways

that others may not because they

549

face the same challenges that we do.

550

For the men and women of Homes Giving

Hope, they face these challenges

551

together, supporting, encouraging,

and celebrating one another.

552

Because in this community,

553

and no one stands alone.

554

My name is Cliff DuVernois

and we Total Michigan.