![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_3544-scaled.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTampa Hope’s new cottages.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTampa Hope’s new cottages.<\/p>\n
A local organization opened 100 new cottages as part of its rehabilitation program for the homeless. Tampa Hope\u2019s latest project has been partially funded by the city of Tampa and other partners.<\/p>\n
Tampa Hope is operated by Catholic Charities and provides temporary shelter to homeless people since December of 2021.Within the next three months, the project will help them house over 400 people. They also provides clothing, health services, haircuts, food, transportation and counseling to everyone living in the cottages.\u00a0<\/p>\n
On-site Services<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_3532-300x283.jpg\")
One of the unique services they offer is on site health screenings using an OnMed Care Station. The OnMed is basically a doctor\u2019s office in a box. It is equipped with a virtual exam program that uses high-definition cameras and thermal imaging. This allows for real-time remote assessments done by a health care professional.<\/p>\n
Tampa Hope was fortunate enough to get an OnMed Care Station donated from Tampa General Hospital. One of the first in Florida.<\/p>\n
Along with on-site healthcare, they also have a community clothing closet where new residents can pick out some clothes. Matt Duffy, an<\/p>\n
outreach specialist at Tampa Hope, said one of the first things they do for residents is get them checked out and in some fresh clothes.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen people come into our program they\u2019re able to just get some fresh clothes,\u201d said Duffy. \u201cSometimes it\u2019s really hard out there and they don\u2019t have the opportunity to just have some decent clothes on their back, and so we\u2019re able to get them just set up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Resident Testimonial<\/p>\n
One resident, Tony Haire, was homeless for three months before he was able to find Tampa Hope. He has now been living in the cottages for three months and is getting ready to move out. He said the cottages have been amazing compared to his previous living conditions.<\/p>\n
\u201cI got arthritis real bad and so tents kind of didn\u2019t do me good, so they put me in a cottage,\u201d said Haire. \u201cAnd they\u2019re nice, you know, you got plenty of room in the cottage. You got air conditioning, heat. It\u2019s pretty much like living in a studio apartment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Haire said after he gets settled outside of the cottages, he would like to to come back and volunteer.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s nothing you can do to repay them for it, so I\u2019m grateful, very grateful to this place, very grateful,\u201d he said. \u201cI feel good again.\u201d<\/p>\n
How You Can Help<\/p>\n
Tampa Hope has had a 37% success rate since they opened. They are hoping, with the continued support of the Tampa community, to increase that percentage.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s look out for our neighbors out there on the streets, you know, let\u2019s just show some love and see how we can all work together as one to really bring a more success rate for people that have been really struggling,\u201d said Duffy.\u00a0Although Tampa Hope gets funding from the City of Tampa and support from their partners, Duffy says donations are desperately needed as they prepare for a larger intake of people.\u00a0<\/p>\n