A group that brings hope to people facing homelessness thanked its own supporters Tuesday.

Passage Home, a non-profit group formed in 1991, held a recognition breakfast for its community, faith-based, and corporate partners.

The group offers transitional and affordable housing and support to women and children working to get back on their feet.

Angela Winston Hill said Passage Home helped her turn her life around almost twenty years ago when she and her husband split up, and she had nowhere to live with her four children.

"To go from somebody who depended on somebody for everything, to realizing what my potential was, was great," she said.

Passage Home co-founder and CEO Jeanne Tedrow said the current economy makes the group's mission even more important.

"The families who are seeking our assistance are increasingly those who have never really considered that they would be homeless." Tedrow said.

According to Passage Home's annual report, between September 2008 and August 2009:

-37 women and 67 children were served in the transitional housing program for homeless families.
-All of those households gained employment over the course of the year.
-82 percent moved into permanent housing, and stayed in the residence for at least six months.

Passage Home also has a reentry and transitional housing program for women recently released from prison, which has a reported recidivism rate of less than 15 percent.

The group's mission is to end homelessness and poverty in Wake County through housing, economic development, youth development and neighborhood revitalization.