By Samantha Joseph

Staff writer

MARTIN COUNTY - Despite the economic recession - and ironically because of it - a local nonprofit is serving more clients than ever before.

Stuart-based House of Hope reported record service numbers for the first half of the year, a reflection of its ability to survive a national drop in charitable giving.

But the figures also point to a deepening economic recession, observers say.

Earlier this year, the group was among several Martin County nonprofits requesting urgent assistance to help meet escalating demand.

But despite the economic downturn, House of Hope reported it was able to assist a record number of clients in the first six months of 2009.

By June 30, its emergency financial assistance program, for instance, had helped 311 families, providing them with more than $49,450 for rent, mortgages, utilities, medical costs and other expenses.

The activity in that period alone comes close to the levels reported for the entire year 2008, when the group gave emergency financial assistance to 379 families through its operations in Jensen Beach, Hobe Sound, Indiantown and Stuart.

One beneficiary, who requested to be identified as Julie, said the agency helped keep her family from going homeless.

"I'd say things were tough, but that would be an understatement," she said. "They helped us when (another group) had already turned us away."

Requests for food from House of Hope's pantry grew 54 percent, and the group responded by handing out 58.2 tons of food, the equivalent of about 137,000 meals, said executive director Patrick Slattery. It fulfilled well more than 1,000 requests per month during that period.

Its clothes closet program also handed out 27,250 garments during that time, about 5,000 more than the same period last year.

"I'm pleased to say we have been able to help 70 percent of the families requesting help, and our goal was 60 percent," Mr. Slattery said. "However, the sheer number of requests is staggering."

However, in order to respond to the ever-increasing calls for help, House of Hope has had to make changes in its operation.

"The agency is struggling to raise funds to match the soaring demand, resulting in a reduction in the average amount of assistance per family," the group said in a statement.

To make a donation or contact House of Hope, call (772) 286-4673.