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Job loss. Medical emergency. Loss of a partner. Domestic violence. Inflation. Rising housing costs. These are all scenarios that could lead to homelessness for you, for me and our neighbors.
According to the 2023 Point in Time (PIT) Count in San Antonio, 3,155 people were counted as experiencing homelessness. This is a 5% increase from the 2022 count. Since 2010, Haven for Hope has helped individuals and families transform their lives to find stable housing and income. In the fiscal year 2023 (Oct. 1, 2022, through Sept. 30, 2023), Haven served 9,778 people. For the last 20 months, we’ve been operating at 118% of our design capacity. People in our community are in need. During the pandemic, there were safeguards in place. There was a moratorium on evictions, and there was an influx of federal stimulus money to help people get by. Now that those safeguards are gone, the number served at Haven is back to pre-pandemic levels and on the rise.
Haven is more than a shelter; we are a transformational campus. Our clients have access to safe, indoor sleeping; food and clothing; medical, dental and vision care; and resources designed to address substance use, mental health, income and skills development, ID recovery and more. Haven’s one-stop concept has become a national model for addressing homelessness.
A troubling trend in our community is the number of families experiencing homelessness. Haven served 523 families in FY23, up 118% from FY22. Ke’Andra arrived at Haven in October 2022 with her two young daughters. After “couch surfing” for about five months, Ke’Andra knew she wanted more for her girls. She had heard about Haven and the resources offered at the shelter. Since arriving at Haven, her girls are enrolled in Head Start and kindergarten, and Ke’Andra is working on her G.E.D. She is working through the housing application process, which can take several months. While she is here, Ke’Andra is also taking parenting classes and classes on money management.
“My lifelong dream is to become a teacher,” Ke’Andra said. “I am learning a lot at Haven and can take these skills wherever we end up.”
Another population with a spike in numbers is young adults, ages 18-24. We served 789 this past fiscal year, up 31% from last year. Ben aged out of the foster care system and had nowhere to go. He made his way to Haven and stayed in Haven’s low-barrier shelter.
His experiences inspired him to act. He is president of the Youth Advisory Board, a group providing feedback to San Antonio’s local Continuum of Care, Close to Home. Ben and other young adults experiencing homelessness shared their experiences with Haven’s leadership, which led to Haven creating a separate space for young adults. Through specialized case management and different common areas, clients in this age group can be with their peers and navigate Haven’s resources together.
“This program is crucial,” said Ben. “Without it, many of us would fall through the cracks.”
Haven for Hope is part of the community’s Homeless Response System, and together with other agencies, we are working on collaborative solutions to address our communities’ needs. From building more income-based housing units to rapid rehousing to more permanent supportive housing programs, we can help our city’s most vulnerable get back on their feet.
How can you help Haven? We have many opportunities for you to support the life-changing work happening at our 22-acre campus. From in-kind donations to financial support to volunteering, you can help us make a difference in the lives of our clients.
We accept gently used clothing and small household items (dishes, lamps, etc.) Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. at our Donation Center at 1 Haven for Hope Way, San Antonio, TX 78207. Our clients take clothing vouchers to Haven’s Closet and pick out clothing to match their style; it’s just one way we build confidence and restore our client’s dignity. Our clients never pay for items at Haven’s Closet.
Did you know we distribute more than 50,000 pairs of socks and 50,000 pairs of underwear each year? You could purchase new socks, bras and underwear, drop them off at Haven, or purchase them on our wishlist and ship them directly to our facility.
We also have individual and group volunteer opportunities. From painting to landscaping to sorting donations, we could use your help! To learn more about volunteering, click here. Another way to learn more about Haven is by touring our facilities. We have a virtual tour on our website, and each week, we have community tours available. To register for a tour, click here.
Please click here if you would like to make a financial contribution during our Holiday Appeal.
Homelessness is not an us-versus-them issue; it’s an issue our community and many other communities across our country are wrestling with. Through education and support, we can make a difference in the lives of our neighbors going through tough times. Visit Haven for Hope’s website to learn more.
