San Antonio’s Haven for Hope is operating over capacity amid a rise in homelessness in the area.
As previously covered by The Dallas Express, Haven for Hope serves the homeless population in San Antonio using a “one-stop-shop” approach in which housing is offered on the same campus as supportive services like counseling, rehabilitation, and job skills development.
Communications Director Terri Behling told The Dallas Express that Haven for Hope has “seen the number of families experiencing homelessness more than double from last summer.”
“We’ve been operating over capacity for the last 20 months, and we don’t anticipate the numbers going down anytime soon,” she continued. “Our design capacity is 1,450, and we’ve been averaging a little more than 1,700 for the past three months.”
Behling said Haven for Hope is working with “other partners in San Antonio’s Homeless Response System to make sure all who need resources are getting those resources.”
Along with Haven for Hope, San Antonio’s Homeless Response System comprises the City of San Antonio, Centro, Christian Assistance Ministry, Corazon Ministries, SAMMinistries, and the Salvation Army, among other organizations.
One thing that was weighing on the minds of Haven for Hope’s executives and staff was the possibility of a federal government shutdown.
“Many in San Antonio are already living paycheck to paycheck,” said president and CEO Kim Jefferies in a press release sent to The Dallas Express. “We’ve seen a 100% increase in the number of families experiencing homelessness since last year. If there is a government shutdown, it could lead to more households being unable to make ends meet.”
“Our clients are already dealing with so much in their lives,” she continued. “We will do what we can to help them navigate any impacts the shutdown would have on their specific situations.”
A government shutdown was averted on Saturday after the House and Senate agreed on a 45-day stopgap funding bill, reported the Associated Press.
Behling said that while Haven for Hope typically sees more homeless people during the summer, the past few months have been marked by an increase in family groups coming to the campus in search of shelter and social services.
Furthermore, the numbers have continued to increase since the school year began. Behling said Haven for Hope never turns away families but may need to reassess that policy.
“In reality, the City of San Antonio is probably going to have to expand capacity if numbers continue like this,” she said, per KSAT.
While the organization may be strained right now, its model has proven successful in combating homelessness. Its “one-stop-shop” approach has been previously credited with a 77% reduction in homelessness in San Antonio.
Homelessness is worsening not only in San Antonio but also in Dallas, where 75% of residents say homelessness and vagrancy are “major” problems, according to a City satisfaction survey.
The model Haven for Hope uses has polled favorably among Dallas residents. Mayor Eric Johnson recently visited the campus, but it remains to be seen whether Dallas officials will adopt such an approach.
