"A problem can be so overwhelming and so daunting, but when we narrow the scope and we make a difference for one person, then we've had purpose," said Laura Jaworski, who became executive director two years ago. "Slowly but surely: one, two three people at time — and we now support over 135 people in housing in any given month."

Jaworski said Shower to Empower, which has provided nearly 1,100 showers since it opened last spring, is one of several tools House of Hope is using to bring people in off the street, with the goal of getting them into permanent housing. But it's much more than a shower.