Camp Hope offers hope to those in need

Lindy & Charlie Boo-Boo

“I never thought I would be homeless.”

Lindy and her sweet dog Charlie Boo-Boo joined the Camp Hope community two months ago and is relieved to be in a place where she is safe and getting support for her physical and mental health.

Lindy moved to Las Cruces when her parents retired here in 2000 and has worked many jobs, sometimes three part-time jobs at a time. She was staying in a house that caught on fire and had only enough time to save her dog and alert her sleeping friends to escape. She found herself homeless without even a change of clothing.

With the support of Camp Hope, Lindy is finding space to work on her issues, and said she enjoys being a support for other residents who have greater struggles. She knows her late mother would be proud of her focus on being a positive influence on others, just as her beloved pet, Charlie Boo-boo, is a source of positivity for her.

Because of Camp Hope, for 15,000 nights last year, someone slept in the safety of the camp instead of on the streets of Las Cruces.

From August 18-September 28, the Tents to Rents Campaign raises funds for the operational costs of Camp Hope, as the camp is not eligible for state or federal funding.

Join Camp Hope in helping people experiencing homelessness find a path to a better future. Support Camp Hope at https://www.tentstorents.org/.

Editor’s note: Tents to Rent is a project of Camp Hope, which offers residents access to services to support their physical and mental health, secure jobs and job training and rebuild frayed social networks. Camp Hope’s operational expenses are covered solely by the Tents to Rents fundraising campaign. For six weeks, the Bulletin is featuring a resident of Camp Hope.