Editorial
The idea of the Hope House in 2019-2020 is wonderful.
The image of helping pregnant girls to get back on their feet with the skills needed to be a mother is a noble cause.
Hope House purchased the iconic home in 2022 from an investor and is where the coming-of-age 1990s movie, “My Girl,” was filmed, starring Dan Aykroyd, Jamie Lee Curtis, Macaulay Culkin, and Anna Chlumsky. (See clip below).
The home was purchased by the founder of Hope House and Bartow Ford stepped in to guarantee the house.
The newly renovated six-bedroom home has been transformed into a refuge for first-time mothers.
Hope House is a 12-month maternity residential program for single expectant mothers in need between the ages of 18-26. Six mothers will be moving into the home during their first trimester. The nonprofit will cover all their living expenses.
“All of our moms will receive weekly one-on-one therapy by a mental health counselor. We’ll go heavy on financial literacy. We’re going to start with the foundations of understanding money and finance and build up budgeting skills, and job readiness preparation and life skills training” said Tara Johnson, executive director of Hope House to the media.
The women will be required to have a part-time job to have money saved for when they’ve completed the program.
Community donations have funded the purchase and renovations of the 7,508-square-foot home.
However, more than a dozen people have now contacted the Lakeland Gazette with stories of horrific events occurring inside that house.
See the clip below from their executive director that says this house is full of love and they are willing to help these girls.
Love and respect should always be shown because these girls are scared don’t know what to do and are hoping that this so-called home of love can help them transition into a better life.
But that is not what they get … being cursed at for doing the wrong things, being yelled at, degraded, and told they are worthless…., by Johnson
One girl was given a 20-minute pack for your stuff and was taken to a bus stop and she waited 3 hours in the middle of the night for someone to pick her up, Why? One girl left the house in the middle of the night and no one could find her. Why?
Listen to this audio clip……
The founder of Hope House Jill Green was forced out in June 2023 and Tara Johnston was given all the power.
Executive Director Tara Johnston has NO clinical background, period. She calls herself a Promotional Model, Brand Ambassador, and Super Mom. What do these things have to do about running a home for pregnant girls?
They already lost the Resident and the program director, Debbie Kelly who was living on-site. Hope House has lost multiple volunteer Clinicians due to Johnson’s heavy fist and mouth.
And when these people spoke up they all received a Cease and Desist letter from a local Lakeland attorney. (See Letter). What kind of world do we live in?
New Program Director Emily Collins started in February 2025, she has 7+ years in education and leadership but NO clinical background.
The Lakeland Gazette called the Mayor of Bartow, Trish Pfeiffer. She said we have tried but Hope House by they are not licensed by any government agency. She also stated that the Hope House board is trying to make changes.
Pfeiffer is correct this type of home has NO license by any government agency, and if you call DCF to ask for the standards for this type of home there are none.
It has come to light that Lakeland Mayor Bill Mutz is on the board of directors of His Hope House …… Why Bill, haven’t you fixed these issues? You were told about this months ago. Please Bill stand up for these young scared woman.
Sun biz Document Financial Data 2022 Form 990 2023 Form 990
MORE TO COME ………..
This is so sad. Has anyone reached out to One Hope United in Bartow? They have 20 or 30 hope houses in Florida and Illinois. This space should be used for children (boys or girls)in foster care. It would be much better utilized and a big need for the area. Just a thought.
It’s very sad!! The resource is needed and these mothers deserve a director with the right education to provide them the best possible outcome!