Hope Street was founded in 1999 as part of Samaritan Inn Ministries, Inc. with Scott Martin as Administrator. Scott almost lost his life to drugs and the streets, and God made it clear to him that he was now to serve in the inner city. Westbrook Church further ordained him for ministry as a Pastor in 2000. The Samaritan Inn Ministries Board of Directors maintains strong accountability and a reputable organization.

We were initially located in 6 rented houses during the first year but it became evident that we could not manage them in a way that brought about the kind of Christian atmosphere needed. In 2000, we purchased a dilapidated building on 26^th and Capitol Drive in Milwaukee with a mortgage. We made extensive repairs and moved into our new home in August.

Our work here is based on the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37. This biblical passage tells how the Good Samaritan found a stranger who had been robbed, beaten and left for dead. The Samaritan stopped, had compassion on him, and dared to get involved while many others chose to pass by. Luke 10:33 “But a Samaritan as he traveled, came to where the man was; and when he saw him he had compassion for him.”

That is what we try to do at Hope Street. We give a hand-up, not a hand-out, to those who are left for dead in our streets; lives ravaged by drugs, alcohol and years of abuse. We house 46 residents in our building and maintain a waiting list. Each year we have been blessed with foundation grants to make substantial improvements to our building and today it is almost completely restored inside and out.

We give God all the glory and thanks for everything being done here. And for the many lives that are being restored.