Experts are lauding Haven for Hope for its approach to homeless services, which has significantly reduced homelessness and vagrancy in San Antonio and garnered the nonprofit national acclaim.
In an interview with The Dallas Express, author and homelessness policy expert Michele Steeb discussed the shortcomings of Housing First — the “one-size-fits-all” federal homelessness policy premised on providing no-strings-attached housing for homeless people and vagrants.
Steeb pointed to Haven for Hope as a successful alternative.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Haven for Hope serves as a “one-stop-shop” for homeless services, offering food, medical care, drug treatment programming, and job training in conjunction with housing.
“Haven for Hope [has] a very sizable campus,” Steeb said. “It’s been around for almost 30 years … [and] serves pretty much all of the segments of the homeless population. They each have their own space on that campus. It’s a housing and services integrated model.”
Steeb said the model employed is very similar to that of a nonprofit she ran for over a decade in Sacramento — Saint John’s Program for Real Change — which supports women and children in crisis.
“Mine was for women and children only … but [at Haven for Hope], all of the services that this population needs in order to grow and participate in their recovery and their lives are there, and they are required for the most part,” she explained.
“If your issue is alcohol addiction, then those services are required for you,” she continued. “If you’re issue [is] with mental illness, then it’s required. If you need employment training, they have a program for you there.”
Steeb explained that case managers work with clients to meet their needs and determine the best path forward for them.
“And yes, they provide you with housing,” she added. “It’s temporary housing. I think they will keep you up to two years if needed, but you have to hit your goals.”
Steeb told The Dallas Express that while some clients may find Haven for Hope’s “comprehensive” approach difficult, the challenges are often necessary.
“It is a hard program because life is hard, and we are setting you up to be able to succeed in life,” she said. “There [are] requirements. You’re not going to like all of them, but that’s life, and we want to prepare you to be successful in life. And that’s exactly what Haven for Hope does.”
“It’s a very compassionate, loving environment,” Steeb added. “But anyone who has raised children in their lives knows you need to be compassionate and loving, but you also need to have rules.”
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Haven for Hope has been credited with a 77% reduction in homelessness in San Antonio.
Despite the model polling favorably among Dallas voters, the City of Dallas has yet to pursue a “one-stop-shop” strategy similar to Haven for Hope’s. Meanwhile, residents continue to say homelessness and vagrancy are “major” issues throughout the city.