Our History
Bridge of Hope Ministries (BOH) was founded in 2001 by missionaries, Stephen and Robin Boda. What began as a new church plant in one of St. Louis City’s most disinvested neighborhoods, became a haven for the unhoused and housing insecure after intentional conversations to understand the community’s needs. Shortly after its inception, BOH acquired the former Williams Elementary school to begin rendering services.
For more than 20 years, BOH has provided basic services such as a place to come out of the inclement weather and rest, receive a hot meal, toiletries, shower, washer and dryer access, a clothing room, and literacy education. The objective was to make space for those who the larger community deemed a nuisance.
Our Pivot to Respite
In 2020, BOH underwent a massive leadership change from the founders to a new Executive and Board of Directors. Amid a global pandemic, the new leadership evaluated the programs and services to understand what was most impactful and essential in helping clients achieve health and economic stability. Leadership decided on a programmatic change shifted BOH from being a basic needs drop-in shelter to becoming a Bridge Program that advocates for and navigates challenging bureaucratic systems that keep the unhoused and housing insecure from receiving needed services, as well as a plan of care where we walk alongside clients from instability to stability. The expectation is graduation from our program.
While our long-standing day shelter has provided short-term necessities and case management services, what our clients have asked for most is access to healthcare and connection to housing. To expand upon our Bridge Program, we are changing our model to focus on medical respite in order to make the greatest long-term impact in the lives of our clients, reduce demand on local emergency departments, and reduce healthcare costs.
Over the years Bridge of Hope has become a place where the unhoused feel safe, loved, seen, and unafraid to fail forward.