Founded by a firefighter who lived through the weight of untreated PTSD and the silence that surrounds it, Hope’s House was created to challenge the cultural mentality that keeps so many suffering quietly. What started as a personal journey has become a mission to close the gap, shift the mindset, and create a nationwide movement of support, healing, and hope.
Meet the Board of Directors
At Hope’s House, we believe no first responder should ever feel that suicide is the only way out—and no family should ever face the aftermath alone.
Our mission is to create a world where no first responder feels suicide is the only option, and under no circumstance does a first responder or their family feel they are alone. We are committed to breaking the stigma, elevating mental health as a priority, and ensuring support is always within reach.
-
Founder/PresidentTyler began his fire service journey at 15 years old as a volunteer in 2010 and went on to serve as a career firefighter/paramedic from 2015 to 2024. After facing his own battle with PTSD and the dangerous mindset often engrained in the job, he founded Hope’s House to ensure no first responder ever feels suicide is the only way out.
Today, Tyler dedicates his life to breaking the stigma around mental health in the first responder community. When he is not working on his mission, he enjoys life on the farm with his wife and son.
-
Co-Founder/Vice PresidentThrough her personal experience alongside her husband, Tyler Balas, Hannah has developed a profound understanding of the mental toll that a first responder career can take. Having witnessed and navigated the struggles firsthand, she is committed to putting meaning to her own experience by offering much-needed support, not only to first responders, but also to their spouses, who often face their own challenges in silence.
-
SecretaryRaised in a fire department family and married to a career Lieutenant, Francesca has a deep respect for the dedication and sacrifice of first responders and admires how they foster a strong sense of community. She is passionate about Hope’s House goal of providing essential support to first responders and their families, ensuring they receive the care and encouragement they deserve.
Join the team
In the next five years, we aim to establish a national presence within the IAFF and FOP, supported by testimonials and measurable data that demonstrate the urgent need for mental health support and suicide prevention in the first responder community.
Hope’s House is more than a place. It’s a mission. A community. A promise.
We are currently looking for a Treasurer for our Board of Directors!
We serve all first responders—firefighters, law enforcement, EMS personnel—and their immediate families, including those whose loved ones have lost their battle with PTSD. We exist to say, “You are not alone.”