Homeless services nonprofit Haven for Hope in San Antonio has been hard at work making sure its clients and other unsheltered people in the city have what they need to get through the inclement weather that set in over the weekend.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, an arctic blast hit Texas, prompting Gov. Greg Abbott and other state officials to urge residents to prepare for the harsh freezing temperatures, which are expected to last into mid-week.
In anticipation of the potentially dangerous weather, Haven for Hope has been collecting warm clothes to distribute to unsheltered individuals and people experiencing homelessness that have been taking advantage of the nonprofit’s plethora of social services.
“Clothes especially winter items are so important to keep people warm because were expecting temperatures below freezing these clothes are going straight to Haven clients and also to street outreach to make sure everyone has a coat, a scarf a beanie whatever they’re in need of this winter season,” said Haven for Hope volunteer Chanel Williams, speaking with News 4 San Antonio.
Haven for Hope serves as a one-stop-shop for homeless services in San Antonio, providing job training, skills development, counseling, and other services on the same campus it operates an emergency housing shelter.
“We’re having an average of about 1,700 clients here at Haven for Hope, so our donation warehouse is constantly having to restock our items,” said Haven for Hope communications director Terri Behling, per News 4. “Everything is free of charge, they come in and pick out what they want, and with the upcoming cold snap we are going to be handing out a lot of jackets, blankets, gloves, scarves, so it’s so important to keep that supply stocked up.”
“Our team here will be handing out items … we also have an outreach team that will be taking items out to the community to help the unsheltered,” she said.
In Dallas, homelessness and vagrancy have been on the rise in recent years. As previously reported by The Dallas Express, a survey of residents found that 76% registered disapproval with the levels of homelessness, vagrancy, and panhandling seen in their neighborhoods and around Dallas.
The “one-stop-shop” housing and social services model utilized by Haven for Hope has been credited with reducing unsheltered homelessness by 77% in San Antonio’s downtown area and has polled favorably among Dallas residents. Some local stakeholders in Dallas are seeking to launch a similar project, but it remains to be seen whether City officials will support the initiative.
