• Our Mission

    Casa de Esperanza strives to break the cycle of child abuse and neglect for at-risk infants, children and their families by providing comprehensive residential and family support programs that transform people and communities.

    Our Vision

    Every child deserves a home that provides safety, health, permanence and hope.

2024 Mission Video

Since 1982 Casa has served over 6,700 children and their families like Virgie’s, whose incredible love for her children and perseverance in the face of heartbreaking adversity and loss is humbling. We are honored to have walked alongside her and her family and the many families who turn to Casa de Esperanza for support in their times of need. The 2024 Mission Video tells our story of providing safety and hope.

  • Our Vision

    Every child deserves a home that provides safety, health, permanence and hope.

Our Vision

Every child deserves a home that provides safety, health, permanence and hope.

Our Values

  • Belonging

    Few things are more damaging to a child than not being wanted. It is important for children to know they belong.

  • Safety

    We establish and sustain safety through a positive environment, which is vital to a child's mental, physical, and emotional health, development and education.

  • Relationships

    By forming strong relationships, generational change and healing are possible.

  • Permanence

    Children who have been abused, neglected, traumatized, homeless, hungry or affected by HIV reach their fullest potential when they are part of a stable and supportive family.

  • Community

    Casa de Esperanza’s greatest resources are our relationships with volunteers, donors, volunteer foster families, adoptive families, Hands of Hope House Parents, and staff who open their hearts and change their lives to support the children and families we serve.

  • Education

    We are committed to inspire and teach our community and future generations the value of protecting the most vulnerable.

  • Support

    Services are provided at no cost to our families, through the generosity of our supporters, and without government funding.

Looking To The Future

STRATEGIC PLAN

  • Build a continuum of care.

    Our continuum of care provides ongoing support for children, youth, and families.

  • Operate at capacity.

    Our residential program strives to operate at capacity, responding to our community’s need for services.

  • Attract and retain talent.

    We attract, develop, and retain the talent we need to achieve our strategic goals in fulfillment of our mission.

  • Stay financially sustainable.

    We embrace long-term financial sustainability by expanding and diversifying our sources of support.

  • Steward real estate assets.

    We are excellent stewards of our real estate assets and make optimal use of our resources.

  • Follow best practices.

    Our board advances our mission by following the best practices of nonprofit boards.

Our History

Kathy Foster, Bill Jones and a small group of friends begin meeting to discuss opening a home for abused children.

Houston attorney Paul Daugherty makes initial donation of $500 and the first Casa de Esperanza house is rented.

1982

Dr. Kathleen Motil, a pediatrician, visits Casa de Esperanza and begins volunteering and providing a weekly clinic for the children.

1983

Two volunteer psychologists, including Ronnie Koehn, visit Casa de Esperanza and begin to provide services to the children. Ronnie is later hired on staff full-time and worked for Casa for nearly 40 years.

1984

Casa cares for its first child with HIV.

1986

Casa de Esperanza celebrates its first adoption.

1988

Mary Nicholas donates 4 acres which will become the Casa Neighborhood and Office location.

1990

Casa de Esperanza is the beneficiary of the first Houston Rockets Tux & Tennies gala and a portion of the proceeds are used to build the Rockets Center offices.

1995

Casa Academy opens to provide educational support to post-adoption clients.

1997

100th adoption takes place, and the Hands of Hope Service Year program is established.

2000

The new neighborhood opens. David Weekley Homes built the homes at cost and the Morgan Group built the neighborhood’s infrastructure.

2008

Casa de Esperanza celebrates 30 years of service to the Greater Houston community.

2012

Co-founder Bill Jones retires from Casa de Esperanza. Shelley Starr is named Executive Director.

2017

Co-founder Kathy Foster retires from Casa de Esperanza.

2019

Shelley Starr retires, and Melissa Simon becomes Casa’s third CEO. In the fall of 2021, the staff and board create a 3-year Strategic Plan to continue the mission of Casa de Esperanza.

2021

Casa de Esperanza celebrates our 40th Anniversary!

2022

AmeriCorps and Casa de Esperanza partner to create the Hands of Hope AmeriCorps Service Member program.

2023

Honoring our founders: Kathy Foster & Bill Jones

With an original gift of $500 and the help of many friends, Kathy Foster and Bill Jones opened Casa de Esperanza’s first home for children in crisis in October 1982.

Watch the video to learn more about Kathy and Bill, and the story of how they founded Casa de Esperanza.

We are so grateful for all the donors, volunteers, staff, children, and parents who have been on this journey with us.

We deeply value your continuing support, and invite you to collaborate with us as we work to see every child in Houston grow up in a safe and stable home that gives them hope for a brighter future.