Hope Street began like many things that God creates. From nothing God created.... In the fall of 1998 Scott Martin was getting his own life together after almost losing his life to drugs alcohol and all the sin that goes with it. (See Scott's Testimony)

Two local Christian leaders who founded Basics in Milwaukee asked Scott to come into the city and help out a fledging local, secular agency which was providing Transitional living out of 6 houses on 24th and Michigan Street. After much considering and arguing with the Lord about the whole matter God made is explicitly clear what HE wanted Scott to do. So in October of 1998 Scott began managing this struggling agency. It was soon clear there were too many problems with that corporation to fix so Scott closed it down and reopened as Hope Street in January of 1999.

There were many who helped make Hope Street happen and grow over the years from a dedicated board of directors to the great staff who have worked together now since the beginning.

It soon became clear that in order to run the ministry effectively we needed our own facilities so in 2000 through a generous grant from the Fleck Foundation and a bank loan we were able to purchase our first building on 26th and Capitol and in August of that year we moved into our new home we were still are today. Great things began to happen almost immediately and the Lord blessed our work by filling our beds and bringing the financial resources we needed to operate.

Hope Street Ministries, Inc exists as a not for profit Wisconsin Corporation(501 c3) dedicated to providing Christian Discipleship to those who want to get off and stay off of drugs and alcohol. From the very start we prayed and based the whole ministry in prayer. We tried hard to make sure the Lord's will would be done in everything we did and we continue to strive to accomplish that yet today.

Over the years we have grown into 3 buildings with up to 88 members who are having their very lives transformed by the Holy Spirit through their faith in Jesus Christ. Members pay a monthly fee to be part of this ministry which covers about 45% of our operating costs. The rest of our income comes from private foundation grants and individual contributors. We receive no government funds.

But more importantly are the countless ways God has blessed this ministry by bringing so many wonderful people here to receive His grace. And by blessing us with so many donors and foundations that stand with us to be able to do what we do here in the central city of Milwaukee. We have been able to remodel our buildings inside and out, add a worship center, classroom, meeting rooms, state of the art fitness center, and to create a family atmosphere here that many find for the first time in their lives. We are a work in progress and are constantly striving to have the biggest impact for Christ in our community as we can. We give Jesus all the glory and credit, as we well should.