At Hands of Hope Ministries, we strive to reach out to individuals who live with mental illness by meeting their relational, physical, emotional, and spiritual needs through various avenues.

In 2007, Hands of Hope Minsitries began two food banks located within Centerpoint Health, a community mental health agency in Cincinnati, from which individuals who live with mental illness can get food through their case workers when they have emergency food needs. Since January of 2007, we have had the privilege to donate almost $30,000 in non-perishable food items to these two food banks. We have also provided approximately 900 coats during the winter season and holiday meals for those who live in poverty. We hope to continue to expand this outreach and develop others. Click here to learn more...

Did You Know...

Did you know... In Ohio 2.3 million people have a diagnosed mental illness-that's 20%!!!

• Hamilton County - 164,000
• Butler County - 71,000
• Kenton and Boone Counties combined - 52,000

The mental health system in Hamilton County serves 18,500 adults. This means that number of people are having significant enough problems that they need assistance to meet basic needs such as housing, food, medicines, etc...

1 in 5 people suffer from depression, bi-polar disorder, schizophrenia and related diseases (information taken from NAMI - Hamilton County).

Did you also know...

1. Cincinnati has been rated the 3rd poorest city in the country; the poorest in Ohio
2. 28% of the city's residents live below the poverty line. (Family poverty level for a family of five is $22,610)
3. On any given night there are between 1200 and 1500 homeless people on the streets of Cincinnati - an increase of 150% from 15 years ago
4. 31% of the homeless are mentally ill
5. 31% of the homeless have an alcohol or drug addiction
6. 40% of the male homeless are veterans as opposed to 8% nationally

Effects of Severe Mental Illnesses...

(in addition to the symptoms themselves):

1. Social isolation
2. Very few, if any, friendships
3. Increased rates of drug use
4. Increased rates of having other diseases
5. Shorter life spans due to taking psychiatric meds over a long period of time
6. Difficulty finding work
7. Mentally ill are shunned by the community