Haven for Hope operates year-round, 24/7. In extreme weather events, we make sure we have what we need to serve those experiencing homelessness, especially the unsheltered in San Antonio.
From distributing blankets, jackets, gloves, and hats to adding additional indoor sleeping capacity, we are prepared to serve those who need it. News4 San Antonio/Fox 29 stopped by Haven to see how we prepare for these weather events.
The Point-in-Time (PIT) count is a count of sheltered and unsheltered people experiencing homelessness on a single night in January. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires that Continuums of Care conduct an annual count of people experiencing homelessness who are sheltered in emergency shelter, transitional housing, and Safe Havens on a single night. Each count is planned, coordinated, and carried out locally.
Haven for Hope participates in this event and staff volunteers to survey unsheltered individuals experiencing homelessness. Care packages were prepared and given to survey participants.
Click here for local media coverage about the PIT Count.
Photo: Jerry Lara, Staff with San Antonio Express-News
Haven employee Kenneth Anderlitch is going to run across Texas to create awareness and funding for sober living programs and Haven’s partner, Pay it Forward, SA.
SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio has become the first of 70 cities aligned with the House America pledge that’s met and exceeded the goal of placing 1,500 people from the streets into permanent housing.
“Today, I am proud to announce that San Antonio has rehoused over 1,600 households,” said Mayor Ron Nirenberg.
A coalition of non-profits and community leaders set a goal last fall to use funds from the American Rescue Plan for helping rehouse 1,500 households in San Antonio by the end of 2022.
“Congratulations for being the first House America community to not only meet but to exceed your rehousing goal,” said Marcia Fudge, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. “No community has ever solved homelessness by banning it.”
While the city was able to relocate 1,642 people into permanent housing, SAMMinistries President and CEO Nikisha Baker stressed there are still thousands of residents across Bexar County at risk of ending up on the streets.
“18% of our local households are living at or below the federal poverty level and another 33% are considered working poor, which means half of our neighbors are just one paycheck away from homelessness,” Baker said.
Haven for Hope continues to serve as an anchor for helping San Antonio’s homeless community. President and CEO Kim Jeffries noted soaring inflation and rising housing costs have contributed to the unprecedented number of families seeking shelter and services.
“Family dorm is full and we have 65 families in overflow and so those families are coming to us because of all of these factors and so that tells us that we still have work to do,” Jeffries said.
Click here for the news story on Kens5
Jack and Emma Heeney already understand the importance of giving back. Jack needed a project for his Eagle Scout rank. He asked his former Scout Master for ideas. Monty McCann, Life Safety Officer at Haven gave Jack a tour and pointed out two projects. The butterfly garden or the Hair Care Center.
Haven has operated a Hair Care Center since opening its doors in 2010. Volunteer barbers and hairdressers provide free haircuts and styles to Haven clients. For someone who has been experiencing homelessness, this is very impactful. A fresh haircut or style boosts one’s confidence, especially for a job interview. The Hair Care Center lacked personality and many of the supplies needed by the volunteers.
The remodel included new flooring, paint, frames around the mirrors, larger barber chairs, back bars for supplies, a TV, and a cordless vacuum. As a bonus, Jack secured a donated barber shop pole. The project helped Jack earn his Eagle Scout rank, the highest achievement or rank attainable in the Scouts program. And Jack is only 15.
His sister Emma, age 17, got involved and is going for her Gold Star ranking (equivalent to the Eagle Scout) for the Girl Scouts. She secured supplies – clippers, scissors, hair care products, brushes, combs, etc. A family friend took photos on campus and around San Antonio. The black and white photos on the Hair Care Center walls add personality to the transformed space.
The value of the project is more than $13,000 and took approximately six months to complete. Haven’s volunteer barbers are thrilled with the new “look” and hope to recruit more volunteers to help in the Hair Care Center and make it accessible to clients multiple days per week.
Watch the impact of this project when KSAT interviewed Jack and Emma and one of Haven’s clients and volunteer barbers. It will inspire you. Click here to watch!
Haven for Hope President & CEO, Kim Jefferies, provided an update to the Bexar County Commissioner’s Court on Haven’s operations. She shared that we are seeing a record number of families experiencing homelessness. Watch KSAT’s coverage for more information.
Courtney Freidman, reporter and anchor for KSAT News in San Antonio recently visited Haven for Hope and talked to one of our families about living at Haven for Hope and preparing for a new school here.
Kens 5 visited our Donation Warehouse to learn more about our increasing needs for donated water and sleeping mats. Watch the story here:
Gianna Adams may only be 10 years old, but she already exhibits Servant Leadership! She has been helping her grandmother, Carmi “Mia” Adkins in Haven for Hope’s Kennel for three years. She loves helping take care of the cats and dogs who stay at Haven for Hope while their owners work on their housing plans.
Haven’s kennel has room for 20 dogs and 10 cats. Pets are important and we recognize how therapeutic it is for clients to be able to keep their pets safe while staying at Haven. Clients are responsible for feeding their pets and visiting them twice a day. Haven provides food, supplies, and basic vet care including core vaccines and flea treatments. Mia and her volunteers, including Gianna, help keep the kennel areas clean, restock supplies and make sure the pets are well cared for.
Gianna loves dogs but doesn’t mind changing the kitty liter and giving the cats fresh water and treats. “She used to be scared of the cats, but now she loves to play with them,” Mia said.
“Animals respond to love and that’s what we provide here,” Mia continued. When asked if she wants to care for pets as an adult? Gianna shakes her head. Her dream job? Illustrating children’s books.
We have no doubt, that Gianna will do great things in the future!
Bank of America benefits SA charity through leadership program
Jul 21, 2022
Bank of America Corp. established a “leader on loan” program as part of its philanthropic initiatives, which sends an executive to a local charitable organization within its respective market for a year.
Stefanie Adame, senior vice president of regional business management and operations executive at Bank of America (NYSE: BAC), was selected to spend a year as interim director of leadership and organizational development at San Antonio’s Haven for Hope.
“When I said yes to this assignment, I thought it was a perfect fit given my skill set,” said Adame. “I can come in, I can give recommendations, I can help in terms of leadership development and organizational development.”
Adame says her day-to-day duties include planning events, dealing with community partners and locating resources for the organization.
The program, which started in 2017, began as a partnership with four organizations. Today, it sends 27 executives to help with economic and philanthropic initiatives for respective organizations, according to Adame.
BofA works with area nonprofits to match leaders with the organization. She says in other markets, applications are posted for employees to sign up for leader on loan positions.
Adame said she retained her full salary, benefits and vacation time while serving as an employee with Haven for Hope. She is in the final few months of her tenure with the organization and says that once finished she will transition back to her duties with BofA.
“This is a very unique opportunity that we’ve had, the opportunity to benefit from it,” said Justin Barbour, general counsel and director of human resources at Haven for Hope. “We would welcome those kinds of opportunities in the future.”
Haven for Hope, founded in 2010 by founding CEO of Valero Energy Bill Greehey, helps provide food, shelter and clothing for San Antonio’s homeless. It has reached over 15,000 clients since its founding. The two organizations have had partnerships in the past, with Haven for Hope being named a Bank of America Neighborhood Builder in 2019.
