“No One at Hope House Is Going to Give Up on You”
When Orlando first heard about Hope House in 2022, he wasn’t interested. Four years later, he had spent more time there than any other resident since the program opened in 2020.
At 14 years old, he was preparing to leave a foster care residential program after struggling with behavioral challenges. But then, he met Hope House Executive Director Josie Bayona over a video call. Orlando didn’t want to leave his current environment, and he wasn’t convinced that Hope House would be any different from the places he had already been.
But during that conversation, something changed. He made the decision himself to come to Hope House.
Before Hope House
Orlando’s story began long before that video call. His mother passed away when he was five years old, and he was raised by his grandmother. As he grew older, he carried a great deal of anger and pain that often showed up in his behavior.
Eventually, he was removed from his grandmother’s care and entered the child welfare system.
Before Hope House, Orlando experienced eight different foster care placements. Legal trouble, acting out, and difficulty adjusting caused many of those placements to end.
“My anger built up because I was never heard,” he explained.
A Different Kind of Place
When Orlando arrived at Hope House, the transition wasn’t easy.
He skipped school, ran away, came home disheveled, and refused services. He was also on probation at the time.
But unlike previous placements, the staff at Hope House didn’t give up on him.
“No kid goes into Hope House unheard,” Orlando reflected.
Staff continued showing up for him, even during setbacks.
“We may take three steps back, but we’re going to take ten steps forward,” said Josie.
For perhaps the first time, Orlando experienced adults who were committed to him for the long haul and over time, Orlando began to make different choices.
He took the probation seriously and successfully completed it. He learned from his mistakes and from watching the paths some of his peers took—paths he didn’t want for himself.
“Staying focused and learning from my mistakes helped me get to where I am today,” he said.
In his final year at Hope House, Orlando worked at Little Caesars Pizza and earned his driver’s permit.
Finding a Place to Belong
What Orlando wanted most was never perfection—it was connection.
“I’m okay being by myself. I’ve never really had a mother or a father. But I’ve always wanted a place where I fit in. When I came into One Hope United, it was different—they treated me well and it was amazing.” — Orlando
That sense of belonging is at the heart of Hope House’s mission. Beyond providing safety and support, Hope House works to give young people something every child deserves: normalcy, stability, and the chance to build a future.
Today, Orlando is 18 and living independently. While he keeps in touch with his grandmother, he is largely navigating life on his own.
But Hope House isn’t disappearing.
As he continues building his future, the relationships and support he found at One Hope United remain part of his journey.
About Hope House
Hope House provides trauma-informed residential care for youth ages 13–17 who need stability, support, and a place to heal. Through consistent relationships, life-skills development, education support, and individualized care, Hope House helps young people move toward independence and hope.