HOPE South Florida 
The information on this page was last updated 1/28/2026. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
For those desperately searching for a bridge to go from a crisis of homelessness to a life renewed, HOPE South Florida has been a beacon of light since 1995.
Started as The Shepherd's Way ministry, we are a faith-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that has provided emergency shelter, housing assistance, and support services to thousands of homeless families, veterans and individuals.
Contact information
Mailing address:
HOPE South Florida
1100 N Andrews Ave.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311
Website: hopesouthflorida.org
Phone: 954-566-2311
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 650670031
CEO/President: Joseph Kenner
Chairman: Madison S. Gulley
Board size: 9
Founder: Fred Scarbrough
Ruling year: 1996
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 12/31
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 2019
Purpose
Our Vision is to end homelessness by building HOPE-filled communities that empower families to become resilient and independent.
Mission statement
We exist to be a HOPE-filled community, keeping families together, providing compassionate care, and guiding and equipping those we serve on a path to holistic life change.
Statement of faith
We value Dignity
Genesis 1:26-27 - So God created mankind in his own image.
We value Compassion
1 Peter 3:8 - All of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.
We value Service
Galatians 5:13b - Serve one another humbly in love.
We value Collaboration
Romans 12:4 - So in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
We value Accountability
2 Timothy 2:15 - Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed
We value Hope
Romans 15:13 - May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
We value Christ-centeredness
Colossians 3:17 - And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Donor confidence score
Show donor confidence score details
To understand our donor confidence score, click here.
Transparency grade
C
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Rescue Missions/Homeless Shelters
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 1034 of 1593 | 98 of 176 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 1249 of 1594 | 137 of 177 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 1129 of 1594 | 118 of 177 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 446 of 1593 | 44 of 176 |
To understand our financial efficiency ratings, click here.
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 9% | 21% | 3% | 8% | 15% | 9% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 7% | 11% | 1% | 3% | 6% | 4% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 93% | 53% | 38% | 39% | 38% | 41% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 8% | 13% | 1% | 3% | 5% | 4% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 7% | 47% | 62% | 61% | 62% | 59% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 81% | 77% | 80% | 80% | 77% | 80% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 96% | 85% | 105% | 89% | 115% | 99% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 78% | 66% | 85% | 71% | 89% | 80% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 4% | 15% | -5% | 11% | -15% | 1% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 4% | 61% | -87% | 98% | -8257% | 7% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 9% | 10% | 19% | 17% | 18% | 16% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.56 | 1.09 | 2.47 | 1.81 | 2.85 | 2.79 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 2.89 | 1.66 | 2.14 | 1.90 | 2.36 | 2.15 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.08 | 1.81 | 5.30 | 3.44 | 6.75 | 5.99 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 10.33 | 23.94 | 14.47 | 5.12 | 7.62 | 9.86 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.09 | 0.04 | 0.07 | 0.20 | 0.13 | 0.10 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 5.09 | 6.35 | 2.11 | 2.80 | 1.55 | 1.80 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 9% | 69% | 86% | 78% | 100% | 62% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 66% | 81% | 66% | 91% | 57% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 145% | 29% | 6% | 12% | 0% | 14% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Cash | $581,288 | $426,420 | $634,841 | $130,863 | $364,112 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $521,871 | $273,063 | $342,935 | $514,607 | $354,800 |
| Short-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $1,103,159 | $699,483 | $977,776 | $645,470 | $718,912 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $720,505 | $785,249 | $849,993 | $840,615 | $823,589 |
| Other long-term assets | $2,220 | $15,211 | $27,651 | $39,566 | $0 |
| Total long-term assets | $722,725 | $800,460 | $877,644 | $880,181 | $823,589 |
| Total assets | $1,825,884 | $1,499,943 | $1,855,420 | $1,525,651 | $1,542,501 |
| Liabilities | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $46,080 | $48,336 | $146,112 | $84,759 | $72,946 |
| Other current liabilities | $0 | $0 | $45,000 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current liabilities | $46,080 | $48,336 | $191,112 | $84,759 | $72,946 |
| Debt | $1,207,519 | $1,219,160 | $1,230,292 | $1,394,302 | $882,562 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $2,220 | $15,211 | $27,651 | $39,566 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $1,209,739 | $1,234,371 | $1,257,943 | $1,433,868 | $882,562 |
| Total liabilities | $1,255,819 | $1,282,707 | $1,449,055 | $1,518,627 | $955,508 |
| Net assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Without donor restrictions | $382,185 | $217,236 | $406,365 | ($171,143) | $117,469 |
| With donor restrictions | $187,880 | $0 | $0 | $178,167 | $469,524 |
| Net assets | $570,065 | $217,236 | $406,365 | $7,024 | $586,993 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Total contributions | $1,246,028 | $1,355,367 | $1,465,318 | $1,425,005 | $1,766,751 |
| Program service revenue | $1,006,902 | $2,135,330 | $2,186,608 | $2,293,452 | $2,311,535 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $21,392 | $4,509 | $76,177 | $0 | $255,352 |
| Other revenue | $69,911 | $25,233 | $38,651 | $56,500 | $13,161 |
| Total other revenue | $1,098,205 | $2,165,072 | $2,301,436 | $2,349,952 | $2,580,048 |
| Total revenue | $2,344,233 | $3,520,439 | $3,766,754 | $3,774,957 | $4,346,799 |
| Expenses | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Program services | $1,543,455 | $2,984,554 | $2,684,132 | $3,349,426 | $3,466,032 |
| Management and general | $196,801 | $686,874 | $571,864 | $786,199 | $682,717 |
| Fundraising | $258,554 | $38,140 | $111,417 | $219,301 | $159,546 |
| Total expenses | $1,998,810 | $3,709,568 | $3,367,413 | $4,354,926 | $4,308,295 |
| Change in net assets | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $345,423 | ($189,129) | $399,341 | ($579,969) | $38,504 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $345,423 | ($189,129) | $399,341 | ($579,969) | $38,504 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Joseph D Kenner | President | $191,615 |
| George Rich | VP of Operat | $113,383 |
| Denise Trio | Director | $15,000 |
Compensation data as of: 12/31/2025
Response from ministry
No response has been provided by this ministry.
The information below was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 1/28/2026. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
A Humble Beginning
In 1995, a ministry called The Shepherd's Way was founded by local veterinarian Fred Scarbrough who felt a calling to help homeless families and individuals.
On Thanksgiving Day of that year, with no money, staff or formal plan, The Shepherd's Way housed its first family, a mother, father and five-month-old baby girl who had no place to spend the night, and no baby food. Using rooms at various hotels paid by volunteers, The Shepherd's Way began housing families.
Engaging the Community
As the homeless epidemic continued to grow through the years, The Shepherd's Way expanded programs and services to better assist those in need. Partnering with local churches in 2008, the ministry introduced a community housing program called Faith In Action that provided safe places for families to stay while they awaited placement into mainstream shelters.
As other partnerships and alliances arose in response to the homeless crisis, a continuum of care began to take shape, offering comprehensive services and resources such as a food pantry, shared mass meals, childcare, and financial literacy counseling.
The Story of HOPE
In 2010, eight of the largest churches in the Fort Lauderdale area joined with The Shepherd's Way to launch HOPE South Florida. The idea, then and now, is to work collectively to "Build Hope, Housing and Community" as part of a holistic approach to homelessness.
Today, HOPE South Florida continues to grow and gain momentum as more churches, businesses and individuals seek to be part of the solution. Contributing their time, talent and resources, they help us transform the lives of those who once found themselves homeless.
In many ways, our story is just getting started. Join us, and let's fill it with hope, purpose, and compassion in action.