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.
1,500+
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
Nathan Carter leads HOPE Calloway with a passion for helping people find stability and purpose. With years of nonprofit and education experience, he believes every person deserves a chance to rebuild. When he’s not at HOPE, he’s consulting and coaching with community nonprofits and businesses to strengthen leadership and teamwork across the region.
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.
2024 - 2025
Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors is made up of volunteers from all different backgrounds and fields.
One thing that they all have in common is that they have a heart for people and serving this community.
President: Jeremy McKeel
Vice President: Tyler Cope
Treasurer: Kristin Bolen
Secretary: Allie Gibbs
Members: Vonda Murdock, Taylor Cline
Our Story of HOPE
1997 – A Beginning Rooted in Compassion
2002 – Honoring a Legacy
2003 – Building a Foundation for Families
2017 – A Community Movement Grows
2019 – A Strategic Partnership Forms
2020 – A New Chapter Begins
2022 – Serving Those Who Served
2025 – Expanding HOPE Together
Today – The Story Continues
The story of HOPE Calloway began with a simple but powerful belief: every family deserves a safe place to call home.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Growth continued in 2022 with the opening of Barrow House, a transitional home dedicated to serving veterans who had experienced homelessness.
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.
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.