Today we’d like to introduce you to Melinda McDermott.
Hi Melinda, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My story really began with a deep desire to respond to the needs I was seeing around me, particularly among single mothers who were working incredibly hard but still facing impossible barriers to stability. I personally resonated with the mission because I was also a young mom. While I had an incredible support system around me, I soon realized that my experience was actually the exception — not the norm. That realization helped me see that what became Elevate Hope House wasn’t just an idea; it was a real and growing necessity.
What started as conversations and prayer gradually grew into a vision for something tangible — a home and support system where single mothers and their children could find stability, dignity, and a pathway toward long-term independence. I realized early on that housing alone wasn’t enough. Families also need community, mentorship, and practical support to truly thrive, so Elevate Hope House was built around that more holistic vision of care.
Along the way there have been a lot of learning moments — building a nonprofit from the ground up, forming a board, raising funds, and sharing the vision with people who believed in the mission. What has been most meaningful is seeing how many people have come alongside the work and realizing this is far bigger than one person’s idea. It’s truly a community responding to a real need.
The Called Conference has also become an important part of that journey. It has created space to share the story, connect with others who feel called to serve in different ways, and encourage people to step into what God may be placing on their hearts. It’s been powerful to see how those conversations create momentum not only for Elevate Hope House, but for other ministries as well.
Today, we continue to grow the vision. We’ve been able to open two shared housing homes for women and their children in crisis, and one affordable housing home for a mom who previously came through our program. We are now pursuing land for our next affordable housing home while continuing to build partnerships and invite more people into the mission. It’s been a journey of faith, persistence, and community, and I’m grateful to be part of what God continues to do through it.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Like many nonprofits, especially ones that are privately donor-funded and faith-based, funding is always something we have to trust God with and work diligently toward. There have been seasons where resources felt uncertain, and we’ve had to continue moving forward in faith while inviting others into the mission.
We’ve also faced practical roadblocks along the way — especially as we’ve worked toward building homes. Navigating land opportunities, zoning, partnerships, and development has been a learning process, and there have been moments where things didn’t move as quickly or easily as we hoped.
But some of the most meaningful learning has come from the relationships with the moms we serve. Many of the women coming into our program have experienced deep instability or broken trust in the past. There have been times when a mom might act like she doesn’t need the support, or even push back against it. Over time we’ve realized that sometimes that response is actually a way of testing whether we will give up on them — because in their past experiences, that’s often what people have done.
So part of our work has been learning how to meet moms exactly where they are, while still providing structure, encouragement, and consistent support. It’s required a lot of humility and growth on our part as an organization. But those moments are also where some of the most powerful transformation happens — when a mom realizes that the support and community around her aren’t going anywhere.
Through all of it, the challenges have really strengthened our mission. They’ve helped shape how we serve families and reminded us that this work is ultimately about faith, perseverance, and walking alongside people for the long term.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Elevate Hope House is a faith-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting single mothers and their children by providing stable housing, supportive community, and practical pathways toward long-term independence. Our heart is to walk alongside moms during seasons where life has felt unstable or overwhelming and help create a foundation where both they and their children can truly thrive.
What makes Elevate Hope House unique is that we focus on more than just housing. While safe and stable homes are a critical part of what we do, our model is built around holistic support. That includes mentorship, life skills, financial guidance, community relationships, and consistent encouragement. We believe lasting change happens when families are surrounded by both practical resources and genuine community.
We currently operate one shared housing homes for women and their children in crisis with our second to open Fall 2026, and we have also been able to partner with Spring Lake Park High School to build our 2nd Home that we utilize as an Affordable Housing Model for one of our program moms to continue to bridge her way to independence while staying in the community. Our long-term vision is to continue expanding affordable housing opportunities while maintaining the relational support that helps moms succeed beyond the program.
Something we’re especially proud of from a brand and mission standpoint is the culture of dignity and hope we strive to create. We want every mom who comes through our doors to feel seen, valued, and capable of building a different future for herself and her children. Elevate Hope House isn’t about “rescuing” people — it’s about creating an environment where women can rediscover their strength and step into stability with the right support around them.
What we want people to know most is that this work truly takes a community. Everything we do is made possible by donors, volunteers, mentors, and partners who believe in investing in families. When people support Elevate Hope House, they aren’t just funding a program — they’re helping create real homes, real stability, and real generational change for families in our community.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I don’t tend to think of things in terms of luck as much as I think about faith, timing, and God’s provision. Looking back, there have certainly been moments that others might call “good luck” — the right conversation at the right time, a donor stepping forward when we needed it most, or a housing opportunity appearing just when we were praying for direction. But to me, those moments have always felt more like confirmation that we were walking in the right direction.
At the same time, there have also been situations that might look like “bad luck” from the outside — land opportunities falling through, funding challenges, or plans not coming together the way we expected. In those moments, it can feel discouraging at first, but many of those situations have actually redirected us toward something better or helped us learn lessons that shaped the organization in a healthier way.
Starting and growing a nonprofit like Elevate Hope House has definitely required a lot of persistence and trust. If anything, I’ve learned that the journey is rarely linear. The setbacks often end up strengthening the mission, and the unexpected opportunities often come through relationships and people who believe in the work.
So rather than luck, I would say the biggest role has been faith, community, and a willingness to keep moving forward even when the path isn’t completely clear.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://elevatehopehouse.org
- Instagram: elevatehopehouse
- Facebook: elevatehopehouse
- LinkedIn: elevatehopehouse
- Twitter: elevatehopehouse
