For Thanksgiving week, Haven for Hope CEO Kim Jefferies shared a poem describing her gratitude for the organization and its work in restoring the lives of those who are experiencing homelessness.
As covered by The Dallas Express, Haven for Hope has been credited with a 77% reduction in homelessness in San Antonio by employing a “one-stop-shop” strategy in which on-campus housing is provided alongside supportive services like counseling and job skills development on a single campus.
Jefferies read her Thanksgiving poem aloud in a video shared on Haven’s YouTube channel on Monday.
The poem reads as follows:
As my second year at Haven draws near,
I’ve learned more about why this place is dear,
To so many in desperate need of healing,
For the trauma with which they are dealing.
I’m grateful that Haven is here for my city,
For times when life isn’t always so pretty,
To provide a safe refuge and a place to call home,
So our unhoused neighbors don’t have to roam.
I’m grateful that Haven this past year has grown,
And added services and programs that we have long known,
Were needed to take care of those most in need,
So healing and hope can be returned to our clients with speed.
I’m grateful that Haven is here for young adults,
To provide them with better stability and results,
After many have aged out of the system of foster care,
Thinking that no one for them would ever be there.
But just this past summer, Haven opened 52 rooms,
To give those 18 to 24 a place where they can bloom,
Into adults we all know they have the potential to be,
So they can share their unique gifts with you and me.
I’m grateful that Haven is here for those who struggle,
To give them a place where they can actually snuggle,
Onto a couch where someone listens to their story,
And leads them back to stability with dignity and glory.
Our Living Room Program opened about a year ago,
And while we knew it would help, we could not know,
For those in crisis how critical it would be,
To help them decompress so they can stay free.
I’m grateful that Haven is here for the single mom and dad,
Who find themselves in a place where they feel incredibly sad
Not knowing how they’re going to get back on their feet,
Struggling day in and out to make ends meet.
They find themselves surrounded by love, support, and care,
So with their children, they can begin to share,
The opportunities that at Haven for Hope abound,
And with every given day as a family, they work and gain ground.
I’m especially grateful to the entire Haven staff,
Who greet clients with a welcome smile and a warm laugh,
Giving more of themselves than we could ever ask,
Doing anything needed, no matter how difficult the task.
Haven wouldn’t be Haven without the support of each of you,
From board to advisory to donors who always come through,
With incredible gifts of your time, talent, and treasure,
That are humbling and generous beyond all measure.
Thank you, San Antonio, for giving us Haven for Hope,
A place unmatched by its services and unparalleled scope,
That impacts the lives of 8,000 neighbors each year,
Creating a community for which we can all celebrate and cheer.
Jefferies references Haven’s Young Adult Program that was launched this summer, as reported by The Dallas Express.
Polling has indicated that Dallas residents support implementing a program similar to that of Haven for Hope in Dallas.
Mayor Eric Johnson visited Haven’s campus in August, but the City of Dallas has not pursued similar “one-stop-shop” policies. Meanwhile, residents continue to say they are frustrated with homelessness, vagrancy, and panhandling in their neighborhoods and throughout Dallas.
