About us..
Star of Hope Activity Center, Inc. is a private non-profit corporation that provides training,
employment, and housing for adults diagnosed with developmental disabilities.
SOH is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and operated by paid staff.
The Mission of Star of Hope is:
"To provide community support services in Oregon to individuals with developmental disabilities
in a manner which encourages independence, productivity, and physical integration.
Our History:
Founded as a beacon of hope in 1964 by a dedicated group of parents, the Star of Hope Activity Center, Inc. is a dynamic private, non-profit corporation. We specialize in providing essential housing, community supports, day activities, and employment services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities throughout Southwestern Oregon.
Governed by a passionate volunteer Board of Directors and powered by dedicated staff, our mission is clear:
"To provide community support services in Southwestern Oregon to individuals with developmental disabilities
in a manner which encourages independence, productivity, and physical integration."
Our Journey of Progress and Innovation:
1964 – Founded to offer local, home-based alternatives to institutional care for individuals with developmental disabilities. Since this beginning we have cared for our supported individuals in a manger that builds their independence and creates self-sufficient members of our community. We operated for twenty years under this model.
1984 – Opened Monroe Street Group Home in North Bend, providing a training residence and expanding residential services. Following the model at the time, this was a ten-bed home primarily for the individuals transitioning out of the State Hospital model of care. Residents could “train” in living skills at this home with a goal of graduating to an increased level of independence at our new Cammann Street Group Home.
1986 – Pioneered the Semi-Independent-Living Program, supporting residents in their own homes with trained care staff. This program was met with great success and furthered our mission of ensuring a high level of care to all supported individuals at their level of integration, productivity, and independence.
1993 – Invited by the State of Oregon to assume operation of a residential program in North Bend. Known as our Virginia Street Group Home, this residence served five medically fragile individuals.
1994 – Expanded further with the opening of our Compass Circle Group Home, serving five non-ambulatory residents, three of which were former residents of the Fairview State Hospital.
2002 – Secured federal funding for expanded social and leisure activities, enhancing community integration and creating a robust volunteer program to help with its success.
2003 – Introduced the Semi-Retirement Program, supporting our aging individuals transitioning from vocational services. At its inception, this program served eight individuals and ensured ongoing community integration and personal goal attainment in their new phase of life.
2004 – Expanded vocational services with diverse opportunities including lawn care, wine bottle recycling and sales, commercial/residential cleaning services, confidential document destruction, handmade cards, hand woven rugs, and product assembly.
2005 – Acquired additional properties, including 'The Oregon Connection/House of Myrtlewood', enriching vocational training and financial sustainability. In addition to the long standing myrtlewood product base, loomed rugs and greeting cards created by our individuals in our vocational program and were featured in the store. We also acquired additional administrative spaces in Empire and a vacant lot with an eye on future growth.
2008 – Expanded Community Supports Program, providing comprehensive care in individuals' homes, promoting independence. This program continued to blossom as an increasing number of individuals seeking a higher level of independence learned of and entered our services.
2009 – Opened our fifth residential program, the Cedar Court Group Home. This provided a home for individuals with complex behavioral needs. This year also marked the success of our first community-wide annual fundraiser, a “bluegrass bash” held at the Coos Bay Speedway.
2010 – Established Lombard Group Home, a home also supporting residents with complex needs as related to additional diagnoses and challenging behaviors. Expansion of the Oregon Connection/House of Myrtlewood occurred with the addition of a satellite location at the newly built Southwest Oregon Regional Airport in North Bend. Community-wide fundraisers continued with another bluegrass bash, located this time at Mingus Park in Coos Bay.
2011 – Community-wide fundraising expanded this year with a highly successful Valentine’s Day dinner and dance, hosted in the Ballroom at the Mill Casino. Another bluegrass bash was held along with a classic car competition and a chili cook-off at the Coos Bay Fire Department. These community events are important to note as they brought awareness to the work Star of Hope was accomplishing in the community, continuing to serve individuals with developmental disabilities through operation of six successful group homes, vocational services, community support services, and day activities. Continued support from and awareness within the community brought enthusiasm and allowed for success in all our operations.
2012 – Launched Marple Street Group Home, a residence serving three female residents and continuing the trend of expanding behavioral supports. Additional fundraising occurred with the highly successful Valentine’s Day event, with a doubling of revenue from the previous year.
2013 – Our eighth residential program, the Ash Street Group Home, opened this year. This home served three female residents with complex support needs. More fundraising occurred with popularity for our events and enthusiasm for our Agency spreading throughout the community. Our recycling program expanded this year with help from International Paper. Expansion included the ability to take donations of all paper products and other items such as vacuum cleaners and some plastics. Our ability to expand these programs and enhance quality through our fundraising continued to provide thoughtful and robust opportunities for our supported individuals to live productive and integrated lives.
2015 – A significant reorganization was required this year as the State of Oregon shifted the employment model from “sheltered workshops” to supported employment in community based jobs. This led to the closure of our vocational services and the implementation of this new support model. Sold-out fundraisers continued with great fanfare for Star of Hope and the work we are doing in the community. Our Marple Street Group home relocated this year to North Bend and was renamed the Newmark Street Group Home.
2016 – Opened Forest View Group Home for men with intensive behavioral support needs. This continued expansion is credited to Star of Hope’s development of a reputation for our ability to perform these supports. Cultivation of a team of qualified professionals on staff include Behavior Specialists and certified Oregon Intervention System trainers. Additional successful fundraising occurred and Star of Hope faced a significant transition with the retirement of Executive Director, Dr. Gerald Miller. Promoted to this position was LouAnn Dewater who started her career at Star of Hope in 1998. Since her early days of working at the Virginia Street Group Home, she successfully worked at or led as a member of the management team throughout at all levels within our programs. This included many years as Deputy Director and providing oversight to the Oregon Connection/House of Myrtlewood.
2017 – Significant growth and progress was made this year with the shifting of our fundraising, expansion of our supported employment services, and the receipt of grant funds to remodel our former vocational spaces. With a change in the employment model, the vocational opportunity offered by the retail business was no longer necessary. This led to the decision to end operation of the Oregon Connection/House of Myrtlewood. Work began to transform the former retail and office spaces to an attractive and expanded activity center for our Day Services Program. Additional planning was made to create functional office spaces in the upstairs area for our growing Supported Living and Supported Employment Programs.
2019 – Fulfilling the vision of owning our homes, a beautiful residence was purchased for our Cedar Court Program. Located on Lakeshore Drive in Coos Bay, this move provided a higher level of quality for our residents and this program became known as our Cedar Group Home. Our fleet of vehicles was expanded this year with the contracting for all new vehicles. A new annual fundraiser, “Dancing with the Bay Area Stars”, was initiated and was very successful. With a goal of expanding into services for children, a new home was purchased on Maxwell Street in Coos Bay. Another home purchase was made in October, allowing our ladies in our Newmark Program to move from a rented property into a beautiful new home on Edgewood Drive.
2020 – This year came with the challenge of a global pandemic but significant success for the agency. In March a new children’s home was opened, known as our Maxwell House. Goals for program included keeping Coos County youth and their family in the same community. Another property was purchased and the Forest View Program moved, though they chose to retain their name. Significant modifications were made to our operations due to COVID-19 to comply with state requirements and ensure the safety of all supported individuals and our staff. This included the closure of our Day Program and the shifting of these staff to working in the homes. Overall, our team worked collaboratively to ensure the safety and care of our people that resulted in no outbreaks and all of us making it through this difficult time. It was noted that even in the face of adversity this year, the agency expanded and made significant improvements to provide additional quality of care.
2021 – Through sustained successful leadership, we continued to thrive and in this year we were able to provide a significant amount of bonuses and pay increases for our staff to reward them for their work throughout the pandemic. In January of this year we were invited by the State of Oregon to consider offering services in the neighboring Curry County. At this time we did not feel this was a match for our strategic planning but by May the State revisited the topic as the current provider had given notice to end services within the entire county. After visiting the residents and learning of the significant need, it was easily determined that Star of Hope could make a significant difference in the lives of both the residents and the staff providing their care. By July, less than two months’ time, Star of Hope was licensed and assumed responsibility for three residential programs, a supported living program, and a day program waiting to be revitalized following the pandemic. Two properties were purchased, providing beautiful and attractive homes in Brookings, Oregon; and an additional property was leased in Gold Beach for three residents to maintain their current home. Overall this venture was a resounding success with a marked improvement in the quality of life for the supported individuals and the State eager for our ability to serve more. As the pandemic protocols loosened, our Day Services Program reopened in the significantly improved spaces now known as “Star Services”.
2023 – The return of the "Dancing with the Bay Area Stars" fundraiser was a resounding success, bringing high-quality entertainment and fostering community involvement. This event proved to be an effective fundraiser for the agency. Additionally, the year marked significant progress in the agency's pursuit of property ownership, successfully acquiring 90% of the buildings occupied by Star of Hope.
2024 – Transitioned our Maxwell home from a children’s program to adult care. This allowed the youth turning eighteen to stay in their home as young adults. We also acquired a new building for administrative purposes and the expansion of our day activities programming. This development will provide services to additional individuals, up to twenty-five, in an attractive modern space designed specifically for their use. Additionally, the new space will facilitate enhanced training spaces for employees, ensuring they are better equipped to support our current residents and clients effectively.
Through decades of dedicated service and continual innovation, Star of Hope Activity Center, Inc. remains at the forefront of empowering individuals with developmental disabilities to lead fulfilling, independent lives. The journey continues!