Skip to main content

Stories of HOPE in Calloway County

Opening Doors. Transforming Lives. Unlocking Potential.
Since 1997

Our Why

Homelessness has no place here. Yet every day, friends and neighbors in Calloway County teeter on the brink or lose ground entirely. At HOPE Calloway, we believe that hope is not a luxury, it’s a necessity. We exist because no one should navigate crisis alone.

1500

people have found HOPE beyond homelessness while living in our shelter

78

of Transitional Housing Shelter Graduates remain housed after 12 months.

28

years of proven success and stability provide our foundation of HOPE.

How We Walk With
Our Neighbors

At HOPE Calloway, we don’t just respond to homelessness. We walk beside people as they rebuild their lives. Everything we do centers around four key areas that open doors, transform lives, and unlock potential. Through our transitional housing and coaching, we provide more than a place to stay. We help families and individuals find stability, set goals, and build a new path forward. Our outreach team meets people where they are, whether that’s on the street, in a camp, or anywhere hope feels out of reach. We bring care, connection, and possibilities for change.

Our prevention program helps people before a crisis becomes homelessness. Sometimes all someone needs is a small bridge – help with rent, utilities, or guidance – to stay in their home and protect their dignity. And when emergencies happen, our emergency assistance program provides fast, respectful support. Whether it’s transportation, shelter, or safety, we respond quickly to help people take the next step toward hope.

“HOPE didn’t just find me a home. They believed in me when I couldn’t.”

Our Community Network

We believe deep change happens together. That’s why HOPE Calloway partners with local organizations like Needline (food & basic needs), Housing Authority of Murray (permanent housing), Angel’s Attic (household essentials), Bridges Family Center (counseling and support), and more.

Together, we offer a continuum of care – making sure no one slips through the cracks.

Meet Our Team

Our mission is powered by staff, board members, volunteers, and partners – each of whom pours their heart into every story of transformation.

Executive Director

Residential Program Director

Brenda Greer leads our residential program and lives on site to support families as they work toward stability and independence. She’s known for her compassion, creativity, and deep commitment to helping residents find the resources they need to thrive. Outside of HOPE, Brenda serves as pastor at New Birth Temple, where she has led for more than 25 years.

Administrative Assistant

Paula McCutcheon keeps things running smoothly at HOPE Calloway with her positive spirit and willingness to help wherever she’s needed. She connects easily with clients and staff, making everyone feel valued and supported. Paula brings years of experience in customer service and takes joy in lifting others up each day.

Counselor

Courtney Martens, LPCA provides on-site counseling for HOPE Calloway clients through our partnership with Bridges Family Center. She first joined HOPE as a volunteer intern before joining the staff. She helped build our programs and now helps residents address challenges, build confidence, and take meaningful steps toward healing and stability.

Board of Directors

2025 – 2026
  • President:
    Jeremy McKeel
  • Vice President:
    Tyler Cope
  • Treasurer:
    Kristin Bolen
  • Secretary:
    Allie Gibbs
  • Members:
    Vonda Murdock, Taylor Cline

Our Story of Hope

The story of HOPE Calloway began with a simple but powerful belief: every family deserves a safe place to call home.

1997
A Beginning Rooted in Compassion
In 1997, the Murray Calloway County Transitional Shelter was founded to provide housing for families with children facing homelessness. It was one of the first efforts in our community to turn compassion into action, helping families find both safety and stability.
2002
Honoring a Legacy
A few years later, in 2002, the shelter was renamed Gentry House in honor of board member Kathy Gentry, whose heart for people and dedication to service helped shape the organization’s future.
2003
Building a Foundation for Families
By 2003, Gentry House partnered with the Housing Authority of Murray to build what is now the Gentry House Family Shelter, allowing more families to rebuild their lives with dignity and support.
2017
A Community Movement Grows
As the years went on, the need in our community grew, and so did the response. In 2017, the Murray Calloway County Homeless Coalition was formed to reach individuals and families who didn’t fit the traditional shelter model. The coalition brought together churches, agencies, and volunteers united by one goal: to make homelessness rare, brief, and nonrecurring.
2019
A Strategic Partnership Forms
In 2019, the coalition opened Opportunity House, a transitional home for individuals without children, and soon formed a strategic partnership with Gentry House. Both organizations recognized that together they could do more.
2020
A New Chapter Begins
That vision became reality in 2020, when Gentry House and the Murray Calloway County Homeless Coalition officially merged to become HOPE Calloway, a united organization with a shared mission of opening doors, transforming lives, and unlocking potential.
2022
Serving Those Who Served
Growth continued in 2022 with the opening of Barrow House, a transitional home dedicated to serving veterans who had experienced homelessness.
2025
Expanding HOPE Together
And now, in 2025, HOPE Calloway is partnering with United Way of Murray-Calloway County to launch the HOPE United Campaign, a bold initiative that will double the amount of transitional housing available in our community.
Today
The Story Continues
From those early days in 1997 to today, one thing has never changed: our commitment to walking beside people as they rebuild their lives. Each new chapter brings more open doors, more transformed lives, and more potential unlocked in Calloway County.