About Us

After being established in 2007, Essence of Hope secured its first single family housing facility in 2019, honoring the legacy of our founder, Hilda E. Johnson. This milestone marked an important shift in how we approached emergency shelter and transitional housing.

Rather than simply providing a temporary place to stay, the staff and volunteers of Essence of Hope committed to creating designated spaces where participants could experience stability, dignity, and a true sense of Home.

The vision of creating safe, supportive environments where individuals could stabilize, rebuild, and move forward became the foundation for growing a legacy of housing rooted in hope, dignity, opportunity, and family.

With the appointment of Mia Crew as the new Executive Director and niece of the late Hilda E. Johnson, it was only fitting that the legacy continue through the naming of each designated housing location. Each home honors not only the founder of Essence of Hope but, also family and friends whose lives, values, and legacies have helped shape the heart of Essence of Hope.

Today, these homes represent more than places to stay. They are a continuation of a family legacy—creating spaces where hope has an address, housing becomes a foundation, and individuals have the opportunity to begin again. 

 In 2025, Essence of Hope secured its second designated housing facility, honoring the life and legacy of the founder’s nephew, Maxwell Montgomery.

The Maxwell House marked an important return and expansion of Essence of Hope’s presence in the metropolitan area. With the continued dedication of family, friends, staff, and volunteers, Essence of Hope continued to grow its services and reach more individuals in need.

The Maxwell House also represented an important expansion of our commitment to inclusive housing and supportive services, welcoming individuals across diverse backgrounds and identities, including men, women, and LGBTQIA+ individuals.

The Maxwell House carries forward a legacy of family, service, and compassion—while creating new opportunities for hope, stability, and a pathway forward.

In 2026, Essence of Hope secured its third designated housing facility, continuing the family legacy by honoring the life of the founder’s brother, Robert Evans Jr., affectionately known as “Bubba.”

Bubba faced his own battles with addiction and incarceration throughout his life, yet he remained a part of Hilda’s journey with Essence of Hope. She welcomed him into her program and housing, giving him the opportunity to begin again. Through that support, Bubba was able to take steps toward recovery and rebuilding his life.

Hilda and Bubba shared a close bond, and her words, “Anything is possible if you try,” became a reflection of the hope she believed in for everyone she served.

Bubba’s Place is a reminder that you do not have to be perfect to begin again—you simply have to be willing to try, make a change, and work toward something better.

In 2026, Essence of Hope is full steam ahead, continuing to grow, expand its reach, and create more opportunities for individuals to find their own path toward hope, stability, and a better future.

Where the Story of Essence of Hope Began

Every legacy has a beginning. For Essence of Hope, that beginning was born from love, loss, redemption, and an unwavering belief that lives can change.

In the mid-to-late 1990s, our founder, Hilda E. Johnson, was struggling with addiction alongside her husband. They were raising their five-year-old son, Gerad, when tragedy struck. Gerad tragically passed away after choking while in the care of a sitter.

The loss of her son changed Hilda’s life forever. Overwhelmed by grief and carrying a deep sense of responsibility for his death, she made the decision to get clean and turn her pain into purpose. From that transformation came a commitment to help others who were facing addiction, homelessness, incarceration, and other barriers to rebuilding their lives.

That commitment became Essence of Hope.

For years, Hilda poured her life into helping others throughout Atlanta and surrounding communities. She became known not only for the organization she built, but for the thousands of lives she touched. Even after surviving four battles with cancer, she continued to serve until her final battle took her life in 2018.

For many, the loss of Gerad remained a heartbreaking part of Hilda's story. But during Hilda's final days, her niece, Mia Crew, had a vision that would forever change how she understood her cousin's life and legacy: Gerad's life had a purpose. His life had changed Hilda's life—and through Hilda, his life would ultimately touch thousands of others.

Today, Gerad’s House is being created as a lasting tribute to that purpose.

It will stand as a reminder that even the deepest pain can become a source of hope, that a life does not have to be long to be meaningful, and that sometimes one life can change thousands of others.

Gerad’s story did not end at five.
His legacy lives on through every life Essence of Hope helps change.