houston_coalition_for_the_homeless

Entering a New Chapter!

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 20:07:17 GMT

The Way Home receives a new visual identity.

As our CFTH enters a new era, so does the homeless response system, otherwise known as The Way Home!

We’re rolling out a modernized appearance that reflects the success of our collective work and the journey ahead because The Way Home isn’t just our name. It’s a promise.

We’re excited to continue this journey with a fresh face and the same unwavering commitment to solving homelessness, together.

Juan's Rapid Rehousing Story

Thu, 22 Feb 2024 15:35:43 GMT

Behind every success story lies a network of dedicated individuals committed to fostering positive change.

Juan's* story encapsulates the essence of Rapid Rehousing (RRH)—providing not just housing assistance but a pathway to empowerment and self-sufficiency. It underscores the importance of personalized support, collaborative partnerships, and resilience in overcoming homelessness.

Juan faced many challenges, including homelessness, untreated mental health issues, substance use, and probation. However, with the guidance of a dedicated case manager and the support of program resources, Juan’s trajectory shifted dramatically after he was housed in February 2023.

Together with his case manager Kadecia Terrell from Harris County Community Services Department, Juan, age 28, tackled many barriers. From securing essential resources like utility deposits and furniture to navigating probation requirements and mental health treatment, Juan’s progress was marked by resilience and determination. Despite facing setbacks such as job loss and legal entanglements, Juan remained committed to the process.

By June, just six months after getting housed, Juan was independently managing his healthcare appointments. Then, he enrolled in GED classes. By November, Juan had secured full-time employment.

Navigating legal obligations, Juan exhibited remarkable accountability, fulfilling all probationary requirements and addressing outstanding legal fees. Despite facing obstacles including legal disputes, Juan remained focused on his goals, maintaining sobriety starting May 2023 and actively engaging with mental health services.

As Juan’s time in the RRH program came to a close, effective case management and supportive interventions helped him once again . Through negotiation and advocacy, Juan's case manager, Kadecia, secured a favorable lease renewal, ensuring Juan not only remain housed in his unit but that the rent remained affordable so he could remain stably housed. Reflecting on his journey, Juan expressed profound gratitude for the program and the unwavering support of his case manager, Kadecia.

"It has truly been my honor and privilege to bear witness to his success and will continue to use what I have learned with him for every client," said case manager Kadecia Terrell.

Behind every success story lies a network of dedicated individuals committed to fostering positive change: The Way Home, the collective effort to prevent and end homelessness. It serves as a backbone in cases such as Juan’s, where the guidance and care of his case manager, along with the support of her peers and supervisors, played a pivotal role in his journey towards stability. Their collective efforts exemplify the purpose of RRH—providing not just housing but hope for a brighter future.

Thanks to Kadecia Terrell, Case Manager of Harris County Community Services Department , for submitting the story.

Name has been changed.

The Way Home Anniversary

Wed, 23 Aug 2023 15:14:44 GMT

Celebrating 11 years of The Way Home!

A Brief History of The Way Home

More than a Decade Later

In 2015, Houston effectively ended veteran homelessness , becoming one of the largest cities to do so. At the time Houston had the second-largest veteran population in the country. But with the effective response system that had been put into place, over 3,650 veterans were placed into housing over the course of three years! We continue to have the resources to house any veteran presenting for services.

In August 2017, Hurricane Harvey devastated the Texas Gulf Coast, leaving thousands in disaster shelters and impacting those individuals who were already experiencing homelessness. For many, Harvey caused their homelessness — whether immediately or later on. Housing For Harvey was created in only a few short weeks after the storm by CFTH and other partners of The Way Home. Over 900 individuals and families were housed and later connected from this program.

Partners of The Way Home to host Job Fair

cvillarreal@homelesshouston.org (Catherine Villarreal) — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 17:39:22 GMT

The Partners of The Way Home are Hiring!

Have you ever dreamed of working for a non-profit or helping people experiencing homelessness? Now's your chance!

Nonprofit organizations that are partners of The Way Home, the local homeless response system, are coming together to hold a community job fair! Organizations are hiring for a wide range of positions, from entry-level to licensed social worker, and in between.

Join us to learn more about job opportunities and be part of something big!

Thursday, August 31, 2023 | 10 AM -2 PM

Department of Education

6300 Irvington Blvd, Houston, TX, 77002

Don't forget your resume and please be prepared for onsite interviews.

Participating Partners:

*Check back for list updates.

In the News: The New York Times highlights the work of The Way Home

cvillarreal@homelesshouston.org (Catherine Villarreal) — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 19:14:19 GMT

Houston's progress highlighted in major feature story

Today, The New York Times published a major feature story about the work of the partners of The Way Home and the Houston region's progress in reducing homelessness.

We are so proud!

A System Celebration: Susanne's Story

csouthern@homelesshouston.org (Caybryn Southern) — Thu, 01 Apr 2021 18:47:22 GMT

A story about bravery and strength

For the past thirty-five years, Susanne has dedicated her life to two things: taking care of her home and her family. Born and raised in New York, Susanne and her family moved to Texas about 13 years ago. It was here that Susanne had to leave everything she has ever known behind and start over for the sake of her safety and her life.

Susanne was once a happily married woman; however, over the years her husband grew increasingly violent. Susanne sought help from therapists and doctors, but it wasn’t until one of them provided her with the crisis phone line to the Houston Area Women’s Center (HAWC) that she truly understood the severity of her situation and learned that there was help available for her.

Following years of emotional and physical violence from her spouse, Susanne fled her home and sought help from HAWC.

Leaving her home and trusting strangers to help her wasn’t easy. Initially it was terrifying, but Susanne felt relieved after walking into HAWC’s doors and being able to sleep through the night for the first time in over three years. Because of the staff at the HAWC shelter, Susanne finally felt safe and free of the violence that had enveloped her life.

After allowing Susanne some time to settle, HAWC contacted the Coalition for the Homeless , lead agency to The Way Home Continuum of Care, to conduct a coordinated access housing assessment for Susanne. Brandon Oliver, senior outreach associate with the Coalition for the Homeless, was able to enroll Susanne into the newly established Community COVID Housing Program (CCHP).

CCHP is a $65M housing-focused pandemic response that will serve approximately 5,000 people experiencing homelessness by fall 2022. People who are currently experiencing literal homelessness (e.g., living in shelters, encampments or on the streets) as well as those who may fall into homelessness as a result of the economic effects of the coronavirus are eligible to receive permanent housing through CCHP.

Once referred to housing through CCHP, Susanne was partnered with The Salvation Army of Greater Houston and case manager Kiley Martens. Susanne constantly refers to Kiley as her “angel” from The Salvation Army, as both she and Kiley worked diligently to get her out of the shelter and into a home to call her own. Thanks to the additional resources provided by the CCHP, Kiley found a home for Susanne within only a couple of weeks.

Although Susanne has not yet moved into her new home, she explained all the feelings she has about having a place to call her own: Relief that she is no longer in an abusive home and relationship — and that she can now give up her bed at HAWC for the next woman who is strong enough to seek help. Gratitude for HAWC , The Salvation Army of Greater Houston , and the Coalition for implementing programs like CCHP to help people experiencing homelessness and help others to safely navigate out of violent situations. And excitement to start a new life, in a home to call her own, free from violence, and free to help others who, like her, were in an unfortunate situation.

Susanne’s story started with her seeking help; because she was strong enough to flee a violent situation and reach out to the resources available to her, she was able to change her life through CCHP and with the help of our partners.

SEARCH Provides Speaker Series and Virtual Tour

csouthern@homelesshouston.org (Caybryn Southern) — Mon, 17 Aug 2020 18:49:37 GMT

Moving people from the streets into homes

See collaboration in action! Watch the video above to learn how our partners are collaborating and working together during this pandemic to continue to house people experiencing homelessness, as well as methods they’re doing to prevent clients to returning to the streets and getting their basic needs met.

This webinar was hosted by SEARCH Homeless Services on August 12, 2020 – Partnered by Temenons Community Development Corporation and The Beacon .

Feeding Families Across Houston – Houston Food Bank

csouthern@homelesshouston.org (Caybryn Southern) — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 19:51:40 GMT

Thank you Houston Food Bank!

Click the photos below to see our great case workers lift and gift basic needs to our fellow community members thanks to the great donation of Houston Food Bank !

The Way Home is fortunate to have many generous partners in the community and we would like to start 2020 by highlighting our partnership with the Houston Food Bank !

Houston Food Bank focuses on developing and providing a solution to food waste and hunger for 18 counties in Texas. By networking with 1,500 community partners, the Houston Food Bank is able to feed 800,000 individuals each year in the Southeast Texas area.

To help people experiencing homelessness, Houston Food Bank has collaborated with partners of The Way Home to feed recently housed people and sent staff to help conduct the annual Point-in-Time Homeless Count & Survey – all in the first month of 2020!

People leaving homelessness sometimes talk about the struggle to find food and clothing once they have moved into their new homes, but thanks to the partnership of Houston Food Bank, we have been able to cross hunger off the list. In January, the Houston Food Bank donated 12,000 pounds of food to a single apartment community where multiple people previously experiencing homelessness have moved into new homes. This generosity is providing people with food security and helping them continue to rebuild their lives.

The collaboration didn’t end there – Houston Food Bank also provided multiple staff volunteers to help the Coalition for the Homeless with the annual Point-in-Time Count & Survey. Not only did members of the Houston Food Bank spend one day at the Count, but they joined in on all three days and had at least four members each day to represent!

The Houston Food Bank’s selflessness has inspired us! We feel fortunate to call them a partner of The Way Home. Thank you, Houston Food Bank, for walking beside us as we solve homelessness and hunger in our region!

A House With Walls is a Blessing!

csouthern@homelesshouston.org (Caybryn Southern) — Tue, 21 Jan 2020 20:05:03 GMT

Meet John Callier

Mr. Callier credits Otha with ending his homelessness; he shared that if Otha hadn’t approached him and invited him into this event, he wouldn’t have gone through the navigation process and moved into housing.

After the Navigation Event, Mr. Callier worked with Micah Southern, a Housing Navigator with the Coalition, who helped Mr. Callier to find an apartment, fill out the housing application, and obtain all legal documents needed to move forward in the housing process. On December 19, a little over a month after the Navigation Event, Mr. Callier moved off of the street and into a home to call his own for the first time in four years!

“To have a house with walls is a blessing!” says Mr. Callier.

When we asked Mr. Callier what his biggest challenge was while experiencing homelessness he said, “It’s easy to become comfortable in an uncomfortable situation when you can’t change it instantly.” One example of that was getting a tent and how it was both a blessing – community, ownership, comfort – and a curse – a tent made homelessness feel more permanent and made him feel outcasted from society.

One of the biggest changes for Mr. Callier since moving into housing has been establishing a social network within his new complex and neighborhood. He expressed how it was hard to get comfortable living inside when his friends and life on the streets was all he had known for four years.

But he also said that having a schedule, appointments, and goals with his case manager, and living in a complex where other individuals who previously experienced homeless now live are all helping him to create the new life he’s been dreaming of for years.

“There are quite a few of us who are now housed, and we are friends,” said Mr. Callier. “[We] talk about the past and are determined not to go back. Although there was a community we built [on the streets], we are in a better place now and want to work hard to maintain this success.”

Building Stronger Communities This Season

csouthern@homelesshouston.org (Caybryn Southern) — Thu, 05 Dec 2019 20:06:08 GMT

Making holiday wishes come true

It’s that time of year to spread holiday cheer! This holiday season we want to give a very special shout out to the amazing woman and team who have made so many holiday wishes come true: Patsy Slaughter and the entire property management team at The Redford Apartments!

Patsy Slaughter and her team have demonstrated what it means to be true Houstonians and humanitarians, having approved over 30 people experiencing homelessness – this month alone – for housing! The Redford team attended a Navigation Event held November 6th where more than 20 partners came together to speed up the time from referral to a housing program, to move in.

At the Navigation Event, Patsy and her team filled out applications with clients on-the-spot and approved 17 households in the same day! Further, most of those households were able to move into their new apartments within the week, reducing the move-in time from a month to a week!

During this process, Patsy and her team have learned that people leaving homelessness need more than just a home, they need something tur(n)key! They are assisting each resident moving in with creating their own email and property management account, so residents have access to and understand their documentation; both personal and business related. Success comes from hard work and understanding, and The Redford is working to ensure their new residents’ successes don’t end with their new home, but from their personal development in the future.

The holiday season is the time for us to count our blessings. There is a lot this tremendous team has done to house Houston’s homeless population, and we want to say thank you to the team at the Redford Apartments for all that they have done to help people have a home for the holidays!

Navigation Event Success!

csouthern@homelesshouston.org (Caybryn Southern) — Sun, 01 Dec 2019 20:08:16 GMT

Agencies come together to propel individuals through navigation process

On November 6th, 20 partner agencies of The Way Home came together to speed up the move in process for 100 people experiencing homelessness. Led by the Coalition for the Homeless and hosted by the Beacon , this navigation event brought together healthcare providers, law enforcement, local housing authorities, nonprofits, and local workforce to ensure that those experiencing homelessness could gather the necessary documentation to move into permanent housing. This process typically takes a month, but the navigation event reduced this time drastically – 17 people were even approved for housing on the spot that same day!

With 100 attendees, all agencies came together and worked as a unit to effectively and efficiently propel these individuals experiencing homelessness through this navigation process! Housing navigators and outreach team members attended and served as the first point of contact at the event, determining what documentation people needed to get that day. Then, representatives from The Harris Center and Healthcare for the Homeless – Houston used cross-referenced lists to write up disability forms throughout the entire event! These forms are also crucial to the navigation process as they are required for entry into Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) programs.

The Houston Police Department & Harris County Sheriff Homeless Outreach Teams (HOT) were absolutely amazing as they had pre-printed HOT ID’s ready to go for this event! This expedited the process for so many individuals, as not having proper identification documents can hold up the process greatly, and even prevent individuals from getting housed. The HOT teams and others also helped provide outreach and transportation to ensure that as many people could attend the event as possible.

Coalition staff helped people fill out their forms for the Social Security Administration and Workforce Solutions was on site to provide income verification where available. Of course, our PSH providers who attended were critical that day: Avenue 360 , Career & Recovery , Harmony House , Harris County Community Services , and SEARCH Homeless Services conducted housing intakes, enrolling clients into programs and services, helping them apply for apartments, and more! We were fortunate to have a private landlord present that day to process housing applications. The Redford complex alone approved 17 individuals on the spot!

More than 60 people who attended this event have moved into housing since! Navigation events like these that are coordinated by the Coalition are time and labor intensive, but are critical to the continued success of The Way Home system and allow our community to be an innovative leader in making homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring!

Survival or Identity: The Young Adult, Trans, Homeless Experience in Houston

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 19:13:10 GMT

"As a system we must do better"

The Salvation Army of Greater Houston’s Young Adult Resource Center (YARC) connects young adults experiencing homelessness, ages 18 to 25, to housing and other mainstream supports while also providing respite, meals, job and recovery coaching, and non-traditional educational support, tutoring, and re-engagement services. The YARC began in 2013 when a single client walked through the door looking for help and flourished from there.

The YARC sees an average of 40-70 clients each day and about 280 unique clients each month. The organization practices trauma-informed care to understand behaviors and successfully work with their clients. The YARC prides itself on being able to meet each client where they are and helping them with their specific needs while also giving them a space to heal.

Many clients of the YARC are young adults who, on top of experiencing homelessness, are facing another set of obstacles because they identify as transgender or gender diverse. So, what does homelessness mean for each of them? Jada and T, two transgender women who access services at the YARC, sat down to discuss their experience within The Way Home’s system.

“For me, as a transgender woman, it’s terrible being in shelters,” said T. “I not only had to take my shower last, but I didn’t even fit inside of it.” T says that she is not treated the same as other women because of how she identifies. Thanks to the YARC, she has a safe space she can go but is still waiting to be placed into permanent housing.

Recently, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) proposed a change to its Equal Access Rule which was established in 2012 and amended in 2016 to provide strong protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status. The recent proposed change has weakened these protections by allowing certain programs the opportunity to establish admission policies based on a person’s sex.

This is particularly troubling since a person’s sex does not always align with their gender identity, and this rule could have numerous negative impacts on the ability for trans people or gender nonconforming people to access safe, supportive, and affirming programs. The Coalition for the Homeless as lead agency to The Way Home Continuum of Care (CoC) is exploring options to strengthen local policies that could protect equal access in Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery Counties.

“As a system we must do better,” James continues. “Specifically, so people don’t have to risk their livelihood to identify as themselves in a homeless shelter or housing program, or risk their safety to get access to hormone replacement therapy.”

Kelsey Reynolds, a Youth Assessor & Housing Youth Development Specialist at the YARC, said that anywhere from 8 to 13 percent of young adults who access services at the YARC identify as LGBTQ. “If it were me and I was in Jada or T’s position, I would be terrified,” said Kelsey. “If someone who identifies as trans is not able to be themselves, a lot of people don’t understand that it can be a death sentence.”

Kelsey reiterates the importance of the YARC being a safe space for these individuals, and that a lot of their return clients keep coming back because that is where they feel most comfortable. “I would love to see people have more knowledge on this issue and realize that on top of all the system barriers these women are facing, they also have a world of trauma they’re carrying on their shoulders.”

The Link Between Sexual Assault and Homelessness – How One Organization Is Making A Difference

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Wed, 08 May 2019 19:25:46 GMT

Neurofeedback: A treatment model for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence

One of FBWC’s most innovative therapies, known as neurofeedback training, is the only of its kind in the United States for survivors. FBWC launched the pilot for this program in 2014, in response to the needs of survivors of domestic violence or sexual assault suffering from traumatic brain injuries. The program has now expanded to include victims experiencing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other brain health issues, such as depression or anxiety.

What Makes FBWC Different from Other Organizations?

According to Peggy Wright, Director of Counseling and Sexual Assault Programs for FBWC, the organization makes all their programs and therapies client-centered, versus being resource-centered, and take a trauma-informed care approach. “Between the fear of talking about the trauma they have experienced, to the stigma of being a survivor of sexual or domestic assault, we try to focus on each person’s strengths rather than their limitations,” says Peggy. “We think, what can we do to foster self-confidence? What tools, therapies, and programs can we provide to meet their needs?”

Peggy says the key to taking a trauma-informed approach is by understanding the trauma their clients have experienced and not being judgmental. Trauma can cause physical as well as chemical changes in the brain, and while some can be permanent, the brain is neuroplastic and can be re-trained. “If we can understand why survivors may be behaving the way they are and see it as something physical and tangible that has a scientific explanation, it can become less-stigmatized,” said Peggy.

What is The Link Between Homelessness and Sexual Assault?

Twenty percent of women who are sexual assault or domestic violence survivors struggle to find or keep housing because of sexual violence; and twenty percent of survivors experience homelessness as a result of sexual violence, according to the National Resource Center on Sexual Violence.

According to FBWC, most of their clients have both sexual assault and domestic violence history. “A lot of our clients are actually child sexual abuse survivors, so their trauma started at a really young age,” said Abeer. “This also makes them more likely to experience domestic violence or sexual assault as an adult, and their feelings about this abuse can interfere with motivation, job security, the list goes on.”

When individuals experience sexual or domestic violence in their own home, they may be forced to leave the only place they call home and move into a shelter. “The trauma’s impact on the survivor takes longer to cope with than any stay in a shelter can possibly last; these survivors need longer-term support,” said Peggy. “We focus on building a relationship and trust with each client, and while we don’t neglect traditional services, we want to build on them and offer support tailored specifically to each person we see.”

To learn more about Fort Bend Women’s Center, click here .

If you or someone you know is experiencing sexual or domestic violence, you can call the National Hotline for Domestic Violence at 1-800-799-7233 or visit their website by clicking here .

*The DSM-5 Severity Measure comes from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, which is the taxonomic and diagnostic tool published by the American Psychiatric Association. This measure corresponds closely to the criteria that constitute the disorder definition and are intended to help identify additional areas of inquiry that may guide treatment and prognosis.

Memorial Assistance Ministries Attends PopUp Business School

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Wed, 17 Apr 2019 19:32:25 GMT

PopUp Business School to provide entrepreneurial opportunities to individuals formerly experiencing homelessness

“MAM’s Employment Services program often sees clients who have dreams of opening their own business,” said Martha Macris, President & CEO of Memorial Assistance Ministries. “While we have no formal entrepreneurship program, we have been supportive and provided occasional volunteer mentors. We know that this can be a helpful revenue stream, and since we already had clients who we knew would be interested, it was an easy decision.”

Karina J., who participates in MAM’s employment services program, viewed the experience with PopUp Business School as extremely valuable to her new business. “This was an incredible opportunity for us, to have the opportunity to promote our business’, for free, at a venue like Memorial City Mall,” said Karina.

Karina’s business, ‘Nutritious + Delicious,’ focuses on promoting healthy eating habits and cutting out sugar. She says her overall goal is to offer and sell a variety of breakfast options. “My mom has 25 years of experience with manufacturing kolaches which gave me the idea for this business,” said Karina. “I was able to set-up shop and sell my kolaches directly to people at Memorial City Mall, I couldn’t believe it.”

Karina says one of the most valuable experiences she had over the two-week course, was learning how to create her own website, for no cost at all. She says she’s currently working on finalizing her web page and even plans on having some professional photos taken to put up on the site.

“My plan is to grow my business within the city of Houston, whether that be with school districts, private agencies, call centers, and just help the community and even offer job support,” says Karina. “We live in a country with an abundance of food and this is my way to give back.”

To learn more about Memorial Assistance Ministries, click here .

The U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development Announces Final Awards From FY 2018

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Wed, 27 Feb 2019 20:37:08 GMT

The Way Home receives funding renewals for 43 homeless services programs and new projects

This funding also included new dollars for several Domestic Violence housing programs and a Domestic Violence-specific Coordinated Access program. Domestic Violence survivors often find themselves facing a housing crisis, but for safety reasons have not been able to access The Way Home’s housing programs, due to privacy and confidentiality concerns. This new Domestic Violence Coordinated Access program will allow survivors to receive housing through The Way Home while maintaining their confidentiality and protecting their safety.

The Way Home CoC had initially applied for $37,007,152 but was awarded the more than $38 million to include increases in market rental rates, as well as the new funding. While the 2018 Homeless Count showed that 4,143 people experience homelessness in our region at any point in time, we know that tens of thousands of people access some type of homelessness or related service over the course of a year. In fact, the Coalition for the Homeless’ Research team projects that 54,000 people will access services in 2019 – anything from emergency shelter or contact with street outreach teams to employment or food pantry assistance.

This federal assistance combined with local philanthropic support and the monetary, in-kind, and volunteer assistance from the local community are sure to allow The Way Home to continue to lead the nation on solving homelessness.

Daya Houston – Bridging The Cultural Gap

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Thu, 14 Feb 2019 20:41:53 GMT

Did you know that worldwide, 1 in 3 women are victims of domestic or sexual violence? Or that women of South Asian cultures can face unique challenges when trying to flee from domestic violence?

As we know, collaboration is one of the keys to solving homelessness. “One of Daya’s three core values centers on collaboration: ‘We collaborate to meet the needs of our clients, community, and organization. We’re in this together’,” said Khare. Daya is a member of the Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council (HCDVCC) , a partner of The Way Home, where Khare sits on the Housing Steering Committee. Daya’s Housing Advocate, Haque, plays an active role in HCDVCC’s Housing Workgroup, and was instrumental in modifying the Coordinated Access* housing assessment (also used by The Way Home partners) to better reflect the types of abuse seen specifically in immigrant communities. And Daya’s Counselor, Hareema Mela, serves on HCDVCC’s Emergency Shelter Workgroup, where she is working organizations to develop coordinated access shelters across the Houston area.

Haque says James Gonzalez, Senior Project Manager for the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston , has played a critical role at meetings with HCDVCC. She says James has does a phenomenal job at connecting Daya to various housing resources available from the homeless service system. Because Daya is a non-residential program, many of their clients stay at domestic violence or emergency shelters after they have fled from domestic violence. Many clients are also able to access health services from various CoC programs.

“Most survivors experience some form of financial abuse, and many of the clients we work with prohibited from furthering their education or getting a job,” says Haque. “Just as domestic violence is a hidden epidemic within the South Asian community, so is the poverty and homelessness that many of our clients experience after leaving abusive situations.”

To learn more about DAYA and the incredible work they are doing, click here .

*Coordinated Access is a centralized or collaborative process designed to coordinate program participant intake, assessments, and referrals to housing. It involves an initial assessment of the participant to determine the best housing and/or income intervention.

Homelessness Is Not In Anyone’s Plan – Ms. Knox’s Story

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Tue, 18 Dec 2018 20:44:30 GMT

“Don’t be judgmental towards anyone, homelessness really can happen to anyone."

Ms. Knox knew she didn’t want to battle cancer again, much less battle it without a roof over her head. She says she feels eternally grateful to 1960 Hope Center, a partner organization of The Way Home that offers shelter from inclement weather, clean restrooms, hot showers, laundry facilities, lunch and more, for leading her towards a permanent housing solution. Through the Hope Center, Ms. Knox was able to get connected with Fernando Torres at Avenue 360 Health and Wellness , who worked diligently to find her a home of her own again.

In early November Ms. Knox was finally about to walk through the doors of her new home with help from Harmony House . “It was really overwhelming at first, I was extremely restless for the first few nights,” said Ms. Knox. “When you’re used to fighting off the elements and rodents, it takes a little while to get used to.”

Although Ms. Knox will be battling her cancer head-on in the months ahead, she says she feels so blessed that she can have a home to come back to every day. She said the next steps will be determining the right course of treatment and if any additional surgeries will be needed.

When asked what she wishes others knew about those experiencing homelessness, Ms. Knox said, “Don’t be judgmental towards anyone, homelessness really can happen to anyone. Do you think I pictured myself living in the woods fighting off the elements for over a year? Absolutely not.”

Home For The Holidays – Ms. Bobo’s Story

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Mon, 19 Nov 2018 20:46:03 GMT

A journey of determination and compassion

Originally from Pennsylvania, Ms. Bobo moved to Texas in 1999, with her mother and siblings. In 2016, after living in Houston for nearly 20 years, Ms. Bobo came home from work one day to a condemned apartment, with no prior notice given. With nowhere else to go, this was the event that triggered her homelessness.

While trying to navigate through the streets for the better part of two years, Ms. Bobo’s main focus was always on her daughters, making sure that they never went without a roof over their heads. “I would not allow for them to be out there with me,” said Ms. Bobo. “I refused to let that happen.”

It wasn’t until Housing Navigators Nye Hicks at SEARCH Homeless Services, Inc. , and Tonoa Bond at Career and Recovery Resources, Inc. , reached out to Ms. Bobo this April, that a glimmer of hope began to shine through. “I received a list of people experiencing homelessness for me to begin working with in April, and Ms. Bobo was the first person on my list,” said Nye. “I reached to her immediately to let her know she was eligible for housing, and within an hour she was there with me filling out paperwork.” Ms. Bobo also utilized resources through PATH Street Outreach through the Harris Center , The Beacon , and Healthcare for the Homeless – Houston , while experiencing homelessness.

Though the paperwork was quickly completed and Ms. Bobo was more than ready to have a home again, it wasn’t as easy as that. “It was really challenging, we faced a lot of barriers trying to get her an apartment,” said Nye. “From inspections failing to payments not going through, we worked for six months trying to get her into her new home.”

Despite multiple setbacks, including being told more than once she would no longer be able to move in while she was on the way to get her keys, Ms. Bobo remained hopeful. She credits Nye and Tonoa’s determination and compassion as to why she was able to get into permanent supportive housing. “We kept on top of each other,” said Ms. Bobo. “They helped me greatly through the whole process, and I tried to be there anytime I needed to be. It was a very emotional time for all of us, but we always had each other’s backs.”

When Ms. Bobo was able to walk through the door to her new home for the very first time, she says she felt absolutely ecstatic. “It was funny because no one, not even my mom or sister, believed that I finally had a home,” she said, with a smile slowly forming on her face. “I had to physically show them the keys! I even had Nye vouch for me that I did in fact have my own place, and I was ready to start my life again.”

When asked what she wishes people knew about those experiencing homelessness, two things come to mind: “For one, not every person who is homeless is cut from the same cloth, we all go through our own tragedies,” says Ms. Bobo. “And two, we are humans just like everyone else and being homeless does not change that; we’re just trying to find a place of our own.”

For now, she is focused is on getting back into a normal routine and spending much needed time with her two daughters. And even though they may not be the biggest fans of keeping their rooms clean, she says she sure enjoys being able to be under the same roof as them again. Her future aspirations include going back to school to get her degree, and eventually becoming a veterinarian technician.

New Hope Housing Harrisburg: Making Strides in Permanent Housing Solutions

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Mon, 05 Nov 2018 20:47:42 GMT

Breaking down barriers and creating state-of-the-art permanent housing solutions

New Hope Housing (NHH), a partner of The Way Home, opened its doors to assist families experiencing and at risk of experiencing homelessness in 2013 and never looked back. According to their website, “New Hope Housing’s core purpose is to provide life-stabilizing, affordable, permanent housing with support services for people who live on very limited incomes. Our vision is to be an enduring institution serving Houston’s most vulnerable citizens.”

One of their newest developments, known as Harrisburg, is the first ever mixed-use property to be developed by NHH. They broke ground on the property in April 2016 and opened the doors to residents earlier this year. Harrisburg partners include the City of Houston , the Houston Housing Authority , SEARCH Homeless Services , and the Coalition for the Homeless .

Over the past several months the property has shown wild success; it is now at 100 percent occupancy of its 175 single room occupancy (SRO) units. Of the current residents, 22 percent had been displaced by Hurricane Harvey, and were formerly at Residences on Emancipation. When Harrisburg was built, it replaced the Hamilton Street Property, which was NHH’s first SRO project that had been built 20 years prior.

Jason Thompson, a current resident of Harrisburg, found himself experiencing homelessness shortly after Hurricane Harvey hit Houston. When asked how he felt moving into his new home, he said, “I was ecstatic moving in! It’s overwhelming and I couldn’t believe it. It touches me that I had somewhere to go.” Thompson says having a furnished apartment and four walls was more than enough to help him get on his feet again, and he knows having his own home will help him reach his highest potential.

For residents at Harrisburg, the average length of stay is approximately 33 months. Nicole Cassier-Mason, VP of Fund Development and Communications at NHH, says they believe in a relationship of housing, art and community at all their properties. If a visitor were to walk into the building, they would notice original artwork filling the walls and installations of historic photos from the surrounding neighborhood. NHH aims to shatter the stereotypes of what affordable housing looks like.

Harrisburg offers community spaces where residents are encouraged to come out from their rooms to interact and build relationships with others. Many residents have often lost connections with their friends or families, and NHH tries to encourage everyone to build a community within their property. Often times there may be weekly dinners in these shared spaces, with a fully-equipped kitchen on-site, or even movie nights.

Other amenities offered at Harrisburg are a business center where residents can participate in life-skills training, a library where books fill the walls and can be used freely, and a courtyard that offers a safe, quiet outside space for those looking for calm. Harrisburg also houses a social services office for SEARCH Homeless Services and NHH team members to access as needed so they can provide free social services to NHH residents and other collaborative partners.

For Harrisburg specifically, the neighborhood surrounding the property is very urban. With the METRO light rail being right outside the building, residents have easy access to transportation. Since Harrisburg has been occupied, there has been an 85 percent increase in ridership at the Second Ward station.

New Hope Housing continues to break down barriers and create state-of-the-art permanent housing solutions. To learn more about their organization, you may visit their website at http://www.newhopehousing.com .

How does permanent housing feel? Terry has two words for you

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 19:52:49 GMT

After eight years of living on the streets, permanent housing allows Terry to plan for the future

When Terry finally walked into his new home for the very first time in late August, he was in a state of disbelief. As Tonoa handed him his keys, he stared at them in amazement and said, “I don’t even know what to do with these.”

And when asked how it felt having a place of his own again for the first time in almost 10 years, he had two words to say: “Damn good.”

Tonoa also believes that she was the one who was meant to help Terry get into housing again. “On the day we moved him into his new place, I cried, he cried – we all cried,” she said. “He used to be a chef and when I told him there were pots and pans in his welcome basket, he took them out so he could take a picture holding them. This job really just makes you feel good.”

When asked what he would want others to know about those who experience homelessness, Terry shared, “There’s a lot of mental illness in homelessness, and people who are homeless think a lot differently than those who aren’t. People need to be aware of that.”

As for the future, Terry hopes to be able to reconnect with his son soon and to get to know him again. He also has long-term goals of becoming an entrepreneur one day and starting his own business. Right now, he’s focusing on job searching and getting back into a normal routine again, one day at a time.

Donor Spotlight: Alvin ISD “The Day”

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Wed, 12 Sep 2018 18:48:49 GMT

Thank you to the team at Mary Burks Marek Elementary!

The drive proved to be a huge success and the 5th grade students and parents were able to assemble 34 Welcome Baskets! “Our Welcome Home Fund Drive on Saturday when really well!” said Ms. Chenault. “The students loved participating, making cards and baskets and helping carry them for us. We look forward to completing this drive again next year!”

The Way Home would like to thank the team at Mary Burks Marek Elementary – especially Ms. Chenault and her 5th grade class – for thinking of the Welcome Home Fund as the beneficiary of their service project. Welcome Baskets donated will go directly to partners of the Way Home to distribute to newly housed clients throughout the Houston region. If you would like to learn more about the Welcome Home Fund and how you can help, please contact Renee Cavazos at rcavazos@homelesshouston.org .

“Homelessness Can Be Your Next Door Neighbor”

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Fri, 17 Aug 2018 18:51:41 GMT

Mr. Butler's Story

Starting a new job following Hurricane Harvey last year seemed to be promising; a chance to get back on the right track. Mr. Butler would have never guessed just two days after starting his new job, he would suffer a broken ankle that would lead to being in and out of the hospital for two months, due to high-risk of infection and unavoidable illness. As others began to get ready for the holiday season, Mr. Butler was preparing to live out of his car once again.

Originally from Chicago, Mr. Butler moved to the Houston area from Mississippi over 35 years ago after his military service. Though there had been times where he had stayed with family friends or at the hospital (due to multiple chronic illnesses), Mr. Butler typically slept in his car and it had been four years since he had a place of his own. His nights were mostly spent worrying about who may reach in and grab his medication bag as he slept with his car windows down, because of the brutal heat that comes with Texas summers.

Mr. Butler utilized day shelter services at 1960 Hope Center when he could, eating lunch there a couple days a week and taking a shower if he was able to get there early enough. It wasn’t until his future case manager, Fernando Torres from Avenue 360 , found him while he was on a street corner one day, that Mr. Butler’s luck began to turn around.

Santa Maria Hostel Opens Non-Transactional Store with Palais Royal

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Fri, 03 Aug 2018 18:56:01 GMT

Donations welcome at new non-transactional store

Santa Maria Hostel , a partner of The Way Home, recently partnered with Palais Royal to make clothing more easily accessible to women in recovery. Santa Maria Hostel is one of Texas’ largest multi-site residential and outpatient addiction treatment centers, and one of a very few to provide a comprehensive continuum for pregnant and parenting women and their children.

“We are Human Beings Too” – Michael’s Story

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Thu, 02 Aug 2018 19:00:54 GMT

“When I first opened the door I couldn’t believe it. I never thought it was going to be this easy.”

Partner Agency Spotlight: Second Servings of Houston

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Wed, 11 Jul 2018 19:06:34 GMT

Working to solve food insecurity

Did you know that one out of five Houstonians is food insecure? Or that 40 percent of the food supply in the Houston area is being wasted? Barbara Bronstein, Founder of Second Servings of Houston , was tired of seeing food being thrown away that could instead be going to an individual in need, and she began working toward a solution.

“They Should Give It a Shot”

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Tue, 03 Jul 2018 19:10:50 GMT

What one Veteran who experienced homelessness for 30 years wants other Veterans to know

Making the LEAP to End Homelessness

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Fri, 15 Jun 2018 19:12:40 GMT

“Our partnership will do more than address affordable housing. Together we can change the lives of homeless Houstonians.”

Citing increased rents and a sharp drop in vacancies after Hurricane Harvey, JPMorgan Chase & Co. has joined with the Houston Housing Authority , Coalition for the Homeless , CSH , and the City of Houston to launch the Landlord Engagement and Assistance Program (LEAP), a new initiative designed to boost the availability of affordable rental units by bringing Houston’s landlords together with prospective tenants who are experiencing homelessness.

Thanks to a $300,000 grant from JPMorgan Chase , LEAP will fund a full-time staff person to operate as a liaison to landlords on behalf of The Way Home and local housing and services providers. By dedicating staff and offering intensive hands-on support, LEAP will become a one-stop shop for landlord partners, helping them navigate various government agencies and the subsidy process or troubleshooting tenant-related issues.

“Working together, we can provide desperately needed housing for the most vulnerable among us – young people aging out of foster care, the elderly and disabled, homeless veterans and families looking to pull their lives back together after Hurricane Harvey,” said Carolyn Watson, head of philanthropy for JPMorgan Chase in Houston. “Our partnership will do more than address affordable housing. Together we can change the lives of homeless Houstonians.”

Click here to read the full press release.

Are you a property manager in Harris, Fort Bend, or Montgomery County, TX who wants to be a part of ending homelessness in your community? Click here to learn more about how you can partner with The Way Home.

Making It Home

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Thu, 14 Jun 2018 19:21:42 GMT

What if there was a way for you to donate your time, goods, or network to help be the key to someone’s new future?

A Place He Could Call His Own

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Mon, 11 Jun 2018 19:31:29 GMT

“I hope I can grow accustomed to living inside again”

After being laid off from working at a gas station 25 years ago, Peter* found himself homeless with nothing but the clothes on his back. As a Nigerian immigrant who spoke broken English and faced complex physical and mental health challenges, he was convinced his situation was permanent.

Peter survived by sleeping near agencies that provided food such as Bread of Life and Star of Hope , in a part of downtown Houston largely populated by people experiencing homelessness. Peter was known to our local homeless response system since 2004, with hundreds of medical and social services provided by agencies including The Harris Center over the years. After spending almost 10 years with little to no interaction with local homeless organizations, he began to reengage. Peter was known to SEARCH Homeless Services outreach team members as someone who was always polite – but stubborn – reaffirming he didn’t need any additional services.

In January 2018, SEARCH’s outreach team committed to a consistent presence near an encampment close to where Peter was living to provide progressive engagement opportunities to the residents there. One day, Peter decided to greet an outreach team member while they were doing a housing assessment. The outreach specialist greeted Peter and simply asked, “Would you be interested in getting an apartment?” and Peter responded with a surprised and resounding, “Well… yes!”

The next challenge Peter faced was renewing his U.S. residency and securing his immigration status. With no identification of any kind, this process can prove to be lengthy and disheartening. Luckily, SEARCH was able to coordinate with the Coalition for the Homeless to identify a Permanent Supportive Housing program at Temenos Place Apartments II , a property of Temenos CDC, that would accept Peter while he was still working on his immigration status.

As the SEARCH team began to get to know Peter better, he revealed he hadn’t had a shower in over five years. A visit was then scheduled with Healthcare for the Homeless – Houston to provide him with a shower, care for any hygiene-related issues, and to discuss some of his physical ailments. While living in his apartment at Temenos Place Apartments II , Peter would be provided with case management as well as healthcare with SEARCH and Healthcare for the Homeless – Houston staff on-site.

On a recent Tuesday, Peter arrived at his new home. As he took a tour, Peter admired his new apartment and the building – a place he could call his own for the first time in 25 years. He received his key and said, “This is great – I think I’ll return Friday.” The staff were immediately alarmed and worried he wouldn’t return at all. But sure enough Peter returned Friday, ready to get settled into his new space.

“I hope I can grow accustomed to living inside again,” Peter said, showing a slight bit of apprehension towards the changes in his life. And as he took it all in, he turned to the staff and said, “So, how can I pay you for the services you have provided me?” to which the staff laughed and replied, “Peter, don’t you worry – it was a gift!”

*Name has been changed to protect client privacy.

The Way Home Exceeds Mayor’s Challenge on Chronic Homelessness

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 20:32:26 GMT

The Way Home exceeds goal of housing 500 chronically homeless individuals in six months

On Monday, December 18, City of Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner announced that The Way Home partners had exceeded their goal to house 500 chronically homeless individuals in six months.

More than two dozen homeless service organizations and hundreds of staff members moved 548 chronically homeless individuals into Permanent Supportive Housing between March – August 2017. In March, Mayor Turner announced a comprehensive and holistic approach to reducing homelessness, challenging The Way Home to intensify efforts to permanently house the most vulnerable chronically homeless individuals on Houston’s streets.

The Way Home played a pivotal role in Mayor Turner’s plan. Through a Housing First strategy, The Way Home has housed more than 11,000 individuals in permanent housing since 2012, and reduced overall homelessness by 60% since 2011. The unprecedented collaboration of the more than 100 partners of The Way Home paved the way for exceeding the goal – even in the face of major setbacks such as historic flooding from Hurricane Harvey and a federal freeze on housing vouchers. The City of Houston stepped in to cover the housing subsidy loss.

“The Way Home partners are an incredible team that has adopted a ‘YES’ culture, so I am thrilled – but not surprised – that we exceeded Mayor Turner’s goal of housing 500 chronically homeless individuals,” said Marilyn Brown, President/CEO of the Coalition for the Homeless (the Coalition serves as lead agency to The Way Home). “Hundreds of partner agency staff members spent countless hours on this project and their hard work deserves to be recognized. We also could not have done this without the partnership of Mayor Turner and the City of Houston; we are so thankful for their continued support of proven and permanent solutions to end homelessness.”

Meet Mr. Q

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Fri, 18 Aug 2017 19:34:54 GMT

A story about empathy and perseverance

Meet Mr. Phillips

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 19:39:29 GMT

“I was down, but I never gave up and now am in a better place.”

Until Wednesday, Mr. Phillips had been homeless for 10 years, mostly living on the streets in Spring, TX. All of that changed when he moved into his new home at New Hope Housing ' s Sakowitz property.

His Avenue 360 I-Care Navigator/Case Manager Briana was there for the moment, as well as Deputy J.M. Kelly, a member of the Harris County Sheriff’s Homeless Outreach Team. Mr. Phillips credits Deputy Kelly with helping him get off the streets and into housing.

Mr. Phillips shared that finding food and a place to bathe was a big challenge while being homeless in Spring. He has family in the Houston area, but they did not offer support.

As he was moving into his home, Mr. Phillips said, “It’ll take a while to get used to [this}, but it feels wonderful.” He is ready to heal from his hip surgery and has plans to go back to school and get a degree in the medical field.

We also asked Mr. Phillips if there was anything he would like to share to help people understand homelessness better and he shared that people shouldn’t judge the homeless based on their current circumstances, but they should instead recognize them for who they are and that they haven’t given up.

“Just because you don’t have anything doesn’t mean you’re nobody,” said Mr. Phillips. “I was down, but I never gave up and now am in a better place.”

Checking In: Where Are We on Ending Chronic Homelessness?

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 19:40:36 GMT

Since 2011, The Way Home has reduced overall homelessness by 60%

In March, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner announced his continued support for The Way Home, the collaborative model to prevent and end homelessness in our area. The Mayor outlined steps the city would take to support The Way Home, including a push to house 500 chronically homeless individuals by September through increased outreach, Housing Navigation, landlord partnership, and more.

A setback occurred in April when the US Department of Housing and Urban Development announced a freeze on the Housing Choice Voucher program. The City of Houston stepped in to find funding to cover the gap left by the voucher freeze, which has helped our partners get back on track with a new goal of housing 500 people by November. Mayor Turner provided an update on these efforts to NPR this week.

How The Way Home works:

Clients are assessed for housing at day/emergency shelters, homeless service agencies, or by trained outreach staff.
After assessment, they are placed on a centralized waiting list that prioritizes people for housing based on their vulnerability. Factors include: length of time homeless, disability, chronic and other illnesses, and more.
Individuals work with a Housing Navigator or case manager to gather documents and complete paperwork required to move into housing.

Since 2011, The Way Home has reduced overall homelessness by 60% and since 2012 has housed more than 11,000 people – but the work isn’t over.

What’s changed since March?

Nearly 300 chronically homeless people were housed from March – June 2017. Read about Willie’s path to permanent housing here .
Thanks to new funding, we have more Housing Navigators to help clients with everything that needs to be acquired, signed, and delivered to move into housing faster.
Shelters have expanded temporary capacity for individuals who haven’t been permanently housed yet.
Weekly case management meetings are held to address barriers that often prevent people from getting off the streets: criminal backgrounds, poor rental histories, mental and physical health conditions, and more.
Street Outreach Specialists at partner agencies continue to engage homeless individuals in conversation, build trust, and encourage them to get connected to housing.
Specialized outreach events are being held to verify we haven’t missed anyone and that anyone who may have fallen out of communication with us are re-assessed and connected to housing as quickly as possible.

What can you do to help?

Contact your US Representatives and Senators, asking them to continue funding homeless assistance programs. Houston has a high-performing homeless response system, but we need to ensure that it stays adequately funded. The National Alliance on Ending Homelessness has great resources on how you can be an advocate.
Get in touch with our Texas state government and ask for additional and adequate resources for mental health care . We know a small but visible number of people living on the street are mentally ill and may never be able to sign a traditional lease – so housing isn’t their answer. We need higher levels of care to make sure they have a safe place to live permanently that isn’t the street.
Give your time! Partners of The Way Home rely on volunteers to provide services to homeless individuals and families.
Donate to the Welcome Home Fund , which provides furniture, home goods, and one-time financial assistance to homeless individuals moving into housing. 100% of the money raised goes directly to clients housed through The Way Home.

More than a Dream: Willie’s Success Story

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Fri, 30 Jun 2017 19:45:53 GMT

“Today is a blessed day.”

Willie credits Star of Hope for helping him turn his life around. “They rescued me,” he says. While The Way Home’s “housing first” approach to ending homelessness doesn’t place requirements on housing such as sobriety, Willie decided he wanted to complete a recovery program before being housed. In early 2016, he was assessed for housing. From there, he graduated from a program at Star of Hope and then began working with Kenneth to get into an apartment.

Once a person is assessed for housing through The Way Home, they are placed on a system-wide waiting list – not in chronological order but based on a number of factors that determine how vulnerable a person is. The more vulnerable they are, the higher they are placed on the waiting list. While waiting, there are several steps, processes, and pieces of paperwork that need to be completed before moving into housing.

Identification, proof of income, proof of disability, and proof of homelessness are just some of the materials required to move into permanent housing programs. Some documents are easier to obtain than others – applicants and their Housing Navigators/case managers often find it difficult to prove they don’t have something, such as a home or income. Some homeless service organization employees like Kenneth function as Housing Navigators and help homeless individuals and families do everything they need to move into their new home. Once clients are moved in, Housing Navigators work with a Permanent Supportive Housing case manager to transition the client into their care for the long term.

When Willie arrived at Temenos Place II Apartments , the Permanent Supportive Housing complex he was moving into, he was greeted warmly by the staff, sat down to review and sign his lease, finalize his monthly payment amount, and get the keys to his new home. His new Permanent Supportive Housing case manager came to greet Willie in the lobby and set up a time to meet with him. “You find me either this afternoon or tomorrow morning – maybe around 10:00 am. And if you don’t show up, I know where you live,” she joked with a smile on her face.

During the tour, Willie’s expression showed that this was all so foreign and new to him – the computer lab, the community room, the fact that there was going to be a barbecue later that day – these were luxuries that Willie hadn’t experienced in years. “The reality of having their own place again has been nothing but a dream for these clients for so many years,” said Kenneth. “A part of them is still in disbelief, even as they are moving into their new homes.”

Willie approached his new apartment and fumbled with the key for a second before opening the door. When he stepped inside, he was greeted by a fully-furnished Single Room Occupancy (SRO) unit complete with a kitchenette, spacious bathroom, a plush bed, and even a small flat screen TV. You could see that he was appreciative, but after six years, it was an overwhelming experience. As he looked around, he quietly said, “I could get used to this.”

Willie and Kenneth locked the apartment and got back in the van; Kenneth was taking Willie to Fiesta to get a money order for the first month’s rent. Clients in Permanent Supportive Housing pay no more than 30% of their monthly income in rent and the rest is covered by subsidies through The Way Home. Clients who have no income pay nothing.

As the van rolled down the streets, Willie talked about some of the misconceptions around being homeless, sharing that no one really wants to be homeless. “Being homeless and living on those streets isn’t good,” Willie said. “It’s not good for your health, it’s not good for the soul… Most everyone out there has their issues and they’re trying to work through them. I’d like for people to know that. That we’re all out there trying.”

Since the move in a few weeks ago, Willie has been receiving regular case management and education, food pantry assistance, and has been participating in community activities planned by the Temenos staff. That is another goal of The Way Home’s permanent housing programs; to create a sense of community for individuals in their new home, as a substitute for the community they often found on the street when they were homeless. Some of Willie’s friends from his time on the streets currently live at the same complex and on Willie’s move-in day, they were already making plans to pray together.

The Way Home permanent housing programs have an impressive success rate of about 90%, so Willie has a good shot at remaining housed for the rest of his life. “We had to fight on the streets. Fight to stay alive,” he shared as he stood beside his new dining room table. But as of that day, Willie was done fighting. He was ready to live a new life.

As he stood in his new home, he repeated one more time for good measure, “Today is a blessed day.”

The Way Home Partners Featured on National Blog

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 19:47:29 GMT

The Way Home continues to lead the nation on solving homelessness

The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) has featured The Way Home on its blog with two posts guest-authored by Houston-area service provider staff members.

Senior Research Project Manager Ana Rausch wrote a blog post titled “ Coordinating Your Way Home in Houston ,” about the creation and implementation of Coordinated Access. Ana writes, “The unprecedented collaboration of The Way Home partners has helped change the path toward ending homelessness for our community and it is something that we are all incredibly proud of.”

The second post featured on the USICH blog, “ Houston Pilots Coordinated Entry for Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence ,” was co-authored by James Gonzalez, LMSW (Coalition for the Homeless) and Barbie Brashear, MSW (Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council). The pilot underway has been working on how to observe privacy laws under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) yet still ensure that Intimate Partner Violence survivors are connected to homeless resources when appropriate.

The Way Home continues to lead the nation on solving homelessness and we thank USICH for featuring our innovative work!

2017 Homeless Count Shows Continued Decrease in Homelessness

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Wed, 24 May 2017 19:51:09 GMT

“The Way Home partners have been focused on permanent housing with supportive services as the key to solving homelessness, and the 2017 Count results show that this strategy is working”

On the night of January 23, 2017 there were 3,412* total sheltered and unsheltered homeless people in Houston, Harris County, and Fort Bend County; compared to 8,538 identified in 2011. Additional highlights from the Count results in Houston, Harris County, and Fort Bend County include:

The number of unsheltered, chronically homeless individuals has decreased by 20% since 2016 – from 354 individuals to 282 individuals; and by 82% since 2011, when the number of unsheltered, chronically homeless individuals was 1,591.
75% reduction in unsheltered homelessness since 2011.
78% of unsheltered homeless individuals surveyed during the Count became homeless within the Houston city limits.
39% of unsheltered homeless individuals surveyed had a high school diploma or GED; 21% had some college or a college degree or higher.
25% of unsheltered homeless individuals reported having no income, while 20% reported panhandling for income.

*Montgomery County results are not included in the historical comparisons listed above because 2017 is the first year that The Way Home’s Count methodology was executed in that area.

Houston’s most vulnerable homeless individuals get faster move-in at The Way Home’s Navigation Event

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Wed, 29 Mar 2017 20:00:19 GMT

As The Way Home strives to end chronic homelessness in Houston, strong partnerships bring us closer to our goal

The Way Home works to knock down barriers for homeless families

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Fri, 10 Mar 2017 21:01:39 GMT

Angela and Denise’s stories highlight the complexity of homelessness, both in what causes it and how to end it

Angela and her two young children were living in a vehicle in a local Wal-Mart parking lot; not only was Angela wary of her and her children’s safety at local shelters, but she was working and faced conflicts with the shelter hours, her job, and childcare. Denise and her three-year old son had the odds stacked against them: Denise was a sexual assault survivor, had a dual diagnosis of Depression and Bipolar Disorder, and was having trouble finding emergency shelter.

For Angela, Denise, and other families with minor children, The Way Home has been offering a collaborative Rapid Re-housing (RRH) program since January 2015 that helps them find housing as quickly as possible, and then provides them with supportive services and case management to help them remain housed. Families in the RRH program find, sign a lease for, and move into housing and receive short-term rental assistance. Once they move in, they work with a case manager on things like creating a budget; gaining education, employment and/or income, and connecting them with community support like childcare, food assistance, and more.

RRH has been proven to be an effective and cost-efficient solution to homelessness. RRH also places families in fair market housing meaning that they can get back on their feet in their permanent home. In theory, the RRH program is simple and straightforward; however, homeless individuals and families often face unique hurdles that make success in housing difficult.

Denise was enrolled in RRH, but her search for an apartment wasn’t easy due to a misdemeanor on her criminal history. Through hard work and with the help of her case manager, she was eventually able to sign a lease for an apartment just a few months after enrolling in RRH.

Denise also wasn’t taking her medication when she first enrolled in RRH, but she is now working with staff at both Memorial Assistance Ministries and The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD and is taking her medications regularly. Denise also has an incredibly supportive mother and The Way Home partners who work with her say that she keeps a positive attitude and is working hard to become financially independent.

Once Angela enrolled in RRH, she found housing relatively quickly and began working toward independence, but experienced a setback when she lost her job because she couldn’t find affordable daycare for her young children. Until she found another full-time job, she delivered phone books part-time.

Angela completed her education and certification to become a Pharmacy Technician and is currently looking for a job in that field. Her case manager at SEARCH Homeless Services says that Angela has now completed the RRH program and is paying 100% of her rent without any assistance.

Angela and Denise’s stories highlight the complexity of homelessness, both in what causes it and how to end it. Even when families and individuals qualify for assistance and enroll in a program, significant barriers can often remain. The partners of The Way Home are committed to working with each homeless individual and family through the entire process, and ensuring that they find housing and remain housed for the long run!

“Don’t Lose Hope”

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Tue, 21 Feb 2017 21:08:28 GMT

Thanks to The Beacon and other partners of The Way Home, Bill has found what he calls his “new beginning!”

Bill had worked for most of his life and worked hard; he didn’t know any other way. However, everything changed when he was injured on the job, working in a warehouse unloading large deliveries. After more than a year of tests, screenings, scans, and more, doctors told Bill he would never be able to work again; he had fractured a disc in his lower back.

This was in August of 2013. Soon after, Bill applied for Social Security Disability Income (SSDI), and lived on his meager savings in the meantime. Month after month, the approval of his benefits was nowhere to be found. Eventually, with his savings exhausted and with no family in the Houston area, Bill lost his home.

At night, Bill would sleep in abandoned houses. During the day he hung out at METRO bus stops in the downtown area. “My biggest challenge was to not lose hope!” Bill said. Thankfully, in early 2016, he was connected with The Beacon , a day shelter located in downtown Houston, where he received a housing assessment. Bill refers to The Beacon only as his “saving grace.” Once he was connected there, he began to utilize other partners of The Way Home, such as COMPASS , The Harris Center , and Salvation Army Red Shield Lodge for help obtaining his SSDI benefits, outreach, and emergency shelter while he waited for housing.

Not only did Bill not lose hope, but he gained it anew when he was finally approved for disability income benefits, and then again on February 16, 2017 when he moved into a beautiful new apartment of his own. Thanks to The Beacon and other partners of The Way Home, Bill has found what he calls his “new beginning!”

JPMorgan Chase Commits $1 million to The Way Home to Fight Homelessness in Houston

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Wed, 02 Nov 2016 20:12:31 GMT

JPMorgan Chase becomes first corporate donor to support The Way Home’s development of Permanent Supportive Housing

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner today announced a $1 million grant from JPMorgan Chase to support Houston’s ambitious efforts to end chronic homelessness through The Way Home, the collaborative model to prevent and end homelessness in Houston, Pasadena, Conroe; and Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery Counties. The award makes JPMorgan Chase the first corporate donor to support The Way Home’s development of Permanent Supportive Housing for homeless Houstonians.

The Way Home has now raised $7 million toward its $15 million goal to finish creating 2,500 units of housing for chronically homeless individuals. Chronically homeless individuals are those who have been homeless for a year or more and have a disabling condition.

“JPMorgan Chase’s support is more than just a grant, and it’s more than just about getting the homeless off our streets. It’s an investment in solving homelessness and changing the lives of homeless Houstonians,” said Mayor Turner. “The Houston region is on track to end chronic homelessness, but we need the community’s support to cross the finish line.”

Click here to read the full press release.

New Beginnings

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Tue, 26 Jul 2016 20:15:05 GMT

With determination – and a little help from others – people can find their way home

The stories of homeless individuals often inspire us: people who have faced twists and turns and rocky patches; yet, with determination – and a little help from others – find their way home. Steve* was helped by several partners of The Way Home and is no exception to this rule.

In 2013, Steve was living in New York when he lost his job. Soon after that his wife filed for divorce. These devastating events, one after another, led to clinical depression. Before he knew it, Steve found himself homeless on the cold streets of New York for several months. Eventually, he was able to acquire some temporary work, which allowed him to save enough money to buy a one-way bus ticket to Houston with the hope that he could move in with his cousin. Unfortunately, when Steve arrived in Houston, he found that his cousin didn’t have enough room to accommodate another person in the home.

Steve headed to the Salvation Army where their staff referred him to The Beacon for a Coordinated Access housing assessment. Steve visited The Beacon almost daily for meals showers, and laundry services, while staying at the Star of Hope Men’s Development Center. He also received mental health and healthcare services from The Harris Center and Healthcare for the Homeless – Houston ; and other services from SEARCH , Harmony House , and Lord of the Streets . Steve was eventually connected with a case manager at Houston Area Community Services (HACS) who helped him stabilize.

Steve later enrolled in Houston Community College’s (HCC) Diesel Mechanic Program, and his HACS case manager was able to get Steve into permanent housing at a complex very close to HCC! Steve completed his HCC program in May 2016, and a month after that achieved self-sufficiency and is now living independently in his new apartment.

Though Steve’s path had many twists and turns, the partners of The Way Home were with him every step of the way to provide housing, education, healthcare, counseling, and support; leading him down the road to stability and leaving his future looking much brighter!

*Client name changed to protect privacy.

Now Hiring! The Way Home holds first Income Now Job Fair

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Wed, 20 Jul 2016 20:16:59 GMT

The Way Home breaks down stereotypes with new initiative

We have all heard the stereotypes about homeless individuals, so we want to take some time to set the record straight: homeless people do not want nor choose to be homeless; homeless people are not all criminals and addicts; and it is not too expensive to help the homeless population – in fact, it costs more in taxpayer and public funding to not help them!

One of the more prevalent, and perhaps most damaging stereotypes, is that homeless individuals are “lazy” and not interested in gaining employment. The Way Home is proving that stereotype wrong with its Income Now initiative .

Income Now is a simple concept: Connect homeless individuals with income that will help them secure and maintain permanent housing. Income can range anywhere from helping individuals with disabilities access Social Security Income/Disability benefits, to connecting The Way Home (and in turn, homeless individuals) to Houston’s public workforce system: Workforce Solutions.

The Way Home hosted its first Hiring Event on April 29. More than 50 homeless clients were in attendance, ready to get back into the workforce. Nine employers met with clients, conducted interviews, and even hired five clients on the spot. More than 20 clients were given second interviews by employers. The event was a great success and those involved not only benefited but also really enjoyed the process.

“I loved the Hiring Event. I had never been to one before. I loved the people that helped me with my resume; I never did a resume before. I like the vendors from Goodwill because they looked at my resume and told me which jobs I qualified for and which jobs I didn’t,” said client Chasity.

Clients were also given the opportunity to attend a resume workshop two weeks prior to the event, and the Hiring Event opened a few hours early to allow clients to get in some interview practice and resume review with Income Now partners. Dress for Success and Career Gear provided professional outfits for the clients in attendance, and every client received a portfolio as they checked into the event. Makeup artists were even on hand to ensure that clients put their best face forward!

“The Income Now job fair was a great experience for me. I particularly liked the interview practice and the resume assistance we had right before our encounter with the employers. I also really enjoyed our clothing by Career Gear, thanks to SEARCH, and last but not least, I liked our gift cards. Everyone was welcoming and the general atmosphere was great,” said client Moise.

Homeless individuals access Income Now when they complete a Coordinated Access assessment and receive a referral to the appropriate income type for their situation. Income Now partners include: Career and Recovery Resources, Inc. , Coalition for the Homeless , Houston Area Community Services , SEARCH Homeless Services, SER Jobs For Progress , and Workforce Solutions .

Another hiring event is scheduled for August 2, 2016 as the Income Now program continues to expand.

JN’s Way Home

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Fri, 10 Jun 2016 20:24:53 GMT

A story of self identity and hope

JN* is a wheelchair-bound, 55 year-old, African American man. He struggled in the midst of poverty and homelessness for most of his life and had found it difficult to find food and a safe and secure place to sleep for the past several years. His physical disability made traveling difficult and he was frequently an easy target for thieves and predators.

JN’s situation is unique; born at home in a small country town in South Texas, there was no birth certificate filed to record his birth. Not being able to prove his identity with a birth certificate made JN’s life even more difficult. He could not get a government-issued ID card, work a paid full-time job, open a bank account, nor many things that others take for granted. With no proof of identity for the last 55 years, JN has also not been eligible for most social services, including housing programs. Given the circumstances, JN was convinced that his life would end on the streets of Houston.

Through a Coordinated Access referral, an I-Care (1115 Medicaid Waiver) case manager with Houston Area Community Services (HACS) was sent to meet with JN in the grocery store parking lot where he had been living at the time. After hearing the client’s story, the caseworker knew that JN’s situation was challenging and would require collaboration from multiple entities. After a series of phone calls, referrals, and investigations, the case worker was able to link JN to the Compass for assistance in obtaining identification.

Through four months of interagency collaboration and a lot of effort from the client, he was able to obtain a Houston Police Department Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) ID card. Provisions were then made possible by New Hope Housing and the Houston Housing Authority to allow the client to move into his very own Single Room Occupancy (SRO) apartment.

JN has been one of the more difficult 1115 Medicaid Waiver clients to navigate through the process to housing. It took more than four months from the initial outreach engagement to getting JN into housing, but the HACS ARCH Program outreach and I-Care Program teams, and other partners of The Way Home were determined to get him off the streets.

JN recently moved into his apartment with new bedding, pots and pans, and other household items that his case manager was able to help him put away and organize. The I-Care Program team was also able to fill JN’s refrigerator with donated food from SNAP Kitchen . JN no longer has to face worried and restless nights of sleep, nor worry about being hungry on the streets. His appreciation for all of the hard work and effort from HACS and other partners of The Way Home was on display when he was handed the keys to his new apartment.

*Client’s name changed to protect privacy.

Sally’s Way Home

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 20:32:39 GMT

“All I want is a home where I can rest for the first time in my adult life”

After working tirelessly and persistently to help sally reach that goal, she was able to obtain her Texas identification, a social security card, and clear the other hurdles to get into Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH). Today, Sally is a resident with Change Happens! PSH program. She has also been approved for food stamps, and has access to healthcare, case management, and other supports that will keep her stable in her housing.

“It has been an incredible honor to work with Sally and to be a part of her journey,” said Kenneth. “Her inner strength and sweet spirit are contagious and a joy to be around! We will never be the same because of her!”

Yet another story of The Way Home partners working together to solve homelessness in our area. We are thrilled for Sally; she has found her way home and is loving it!

*Name changed to protect client privacy.

The Way Home Hits Milestone: 57% Reduction in Homelessness Since 2011

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Thu, 26 May 2016 17:25:16 GMT

Coalition for the Homeless conducts 2016 Point-in-Time Count

Houston Area Receives $32 Million in Housing Funds for Homeless Programs from HUD

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Mon, 02 May 2016 17:30:44 GMT

The Way Home receives an $8.4 million increase in funding

On Monday, May 2, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) made its FY2015 Continuum of Care Program Competition Tier Two grant awards announcement. The Way Home Continuum of Care (CoC) will receive funding for all of its Tier Two new project requests made during the FY 2015 CoC competition. When combined with Tier One renewal and planning awards (which were announced in March 2016), our system will receive $32,098,014 in federal funding for 45 local homeless housing and service programs in Houston, Pasadena, Harris County, and Fort Bend County. This is an $8.4 million increase in funding from 2014, and every project that applied for funding in the 2015 competition was awarded.

An announcement from HUD regarding today’s announcement described the Tier Two FY 2015 CoC grant competition as the most competitive ever, both locally and nationally; and as being consistent with HUD’s policy goals and with Congressional direction to stringently review performance and make investments in communities that are using evidence-based best practices such as Housing First and Rapid Re-housing. HUD strongly encouraged applicants to prioritize their funding requests very carefully, using a mix of performance measurement data and local needs assessment. Nationally, local CoCs reallocated a combined $124 million in renewal funding from lower performing projects to apply for new housing projects that will provide Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) and Rapid Re-housing (RRH) solutions for those experiencing homelessness.

The Way Home CoC heeded HUD’s guidance and submitted an incredibly competitive application, reallocating $2.6 million of its own renewal funding to focus on new projects. The funding awarded today for new projects will bring 295 new units of Permanent Supportive Housing for chronically homeless individuals, a new Rapid Re-housing program for homeless young adults (ages 18-24), and a new Rapid Re-housing program for survivors of Domestic Violence.

Congratulations and thank you to all the partners working together in our community. Our strategies and results to date are being recognized and rewarded at the national level!

2016 Count & Survey Takes a “Deep Dive” Approach for Improved Results

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Fri, 01 Apr 2016 17:34:18 GMT

The greater Houston area is leading the nation in reducing homelessness, becoming the national model for other cities

Our Continuum of Care (CoC) was formalized in 2012 and launched The Way Home in 2014 to bring more than 70 partners together. With hurdles still ahead, we’ve comprehensively tackled homelessness and the results show tremendous progress has been made.

A key research indicator in solving homelessness is the annual Point-In-Time Homeless Count, a requirement of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the local CoC funding process. The Homeless Count provides agencies with hard data about the number and characteristics of the area’s homeless community on a given night. This helps The Way Home further its work to right-size the homeless response system.

In previous years, the Homeless Count was conducted on a single evening; however, this year it grew into the Homeless Count & Survey to collect improved data. While the sheltered portion of the Count & Survey (and the official date) remained on a single night, the unsheltered portion took place over three days. Instead of counting by observation only, more than 200 surveyors from partner agencies and the community conducted brief, conversational surveys with individuals who slept on the street to assess their homeless status as well as their housing and service needs. This allowed Coordinated Access Housing Assessments to be offered on the spot to those who were eligible.

Staff and volunteers from partnering agencies and community advocates conducted these efforts on foot. “It’s always impactful to interact with those who are resistant to contact an agency and reveal themselves,” a homeless services agency staff member advised.

These conversational interviews humanized the process. One volunteer recalled a conversation shared during the Count and stated, “I learned that a lack of services isn’t always the barrier to getting off the streets. Some of [the] issue [is] ‘brokenness within [the] heart’. This showed me that homelessness is a complex situation that is unique for each individual experiencing it.”

One volunteer met a veteran who had been homeless for about two months. He was working full-time in a restaurant and was extremely open about his situation. “I was glad to see that he was already connected with SEARCH and was receiving services to end his homelessness,” the volunteer said.

The Count & Survey is organized and led by the Coalition for the Homeless , in consultation with the University of Texas School of Public Health and the City of Houston Department of Health and Human Services. The UT Public Health research team is analyzing the data and other factors received during the Count & Survey to produce the 2016 final report. Findings will be presented in late May/early June. Stay tuned!

Houston Receives National Recognition for Permanently Housing 4,114 Homeless Veterans

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 18:35:50 GMT

4,114 formerly homeless military veterans and their families in Houston will enjoy a safe, warm holiday in their own homes

This Thanksgiving, 4,114 formerly homeless military veterans and their families in Houston will enjoy a safe, warm holiday in their own homes , thanks to an effort under way since 2012. In recognition of these results, the National Alliance to End Homelessness recently honored Houston at its annual awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. for its work.

“ Houston’s achievement shows what we can accomplish when we have the resources and the determination to change lives for the better,” said Nan Roman, President and CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness.”

More than 70 local governmental, business, faith, nonprofit, and charitable organizations are working together under The Way Home to build and manage a single system focused on a “Housing First” model to solve homelessness for veterans, chronics, youth, and families. The first goal of the system was to end veteran homelessness in the region, which was publicly announced earlier this year by Houston Mayor Annise Parker, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro, Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert F. McDonald, Department of Labor Secretary Thomas E. Perez, and Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Matthew Doherty. As a result of the local system’s success, every homeless veteran who is encountered by a system partner has a permanent housing option available to them.

Back in Houston last week after the NAEH nod to Houston, a much more intimate celebration took place for the 35 partners of The Way Home specifically leading the veteran program success. The private, low key event was jointly hosted by Coalition for the Homeless CEO Marilyn Brown, Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center CEO Adam Walmus, and Houston Housing Authority’s Housing Choice Voucher Program Vice President Mark Thiele. Thiele led the local team known as “ Housing Houston’s Heroes ” – part of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Mayors Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness.

Partners were invited to comment on the success , even as the system moves to closure on chronic homelessness and 2016 goals which will be focused on youth and family homelessness. “The VA is committed to working with our state and local partners to assist veterans who are homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless,” said Adam Walmus, Director of the Houston VA Medical Center. “No veteran should be without a place to call home.”

For video interviews and comments from the local celebration, click here .

Looking to the Future

Houston has been on the national radar over the past few years for the community’s efforts to comprehensively tackle homelessness through the unique partnership of The Way Home. The results show that tremendous progress has been made, even as the work continues. The 2015 Point-In-Time Homeless Count indicated that on a given night there are approximately 4,609 sheltered and unsheltered homeless individuals in Houston, Harris County, and Fort Bend County. This number represents a nearly 50% decrease in overall homelessness since 2011. The annual Count, conducted by the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County, provides agencies with hard data about the number and characteristics of the area’s homeless community on a given night. The Coalition is gearing up for the next Count & Survey – slated for January 26, 2016 – and hopes to see further reduction.

Given the successes of The Way Home over the past four years, the community was recently selected by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)(along with one other community – Cincinnati/Hamilton County, Ohio) to pilot a youth-focused youth homelessness prevention initiative. More than 100 community stakeholders, local and national experts, and homeless youth from our community came together for a Youth Homelessness Community Conversation and created a strategic plan to end youth homelessness in Houston, Harris County, and Fort Bend County by 2020. The collaboration brings The Way Home partners together with outside groups including: Harris County Child Protective Services; Juvenile Justice; Houston and other Independent School Districts; and agencies that provide housing and services to youth. These kinds of collaborations provide the community with the opportunity to lead the nation in cultivating best practices and creative solutions that work.

To learn more about The Way Home and Houston’s collaborative system to prevent and end homelessness, visit old.thewayhomehouston.org. Any veteran experiencing housing instability is encouraged to call the VA Homeless Veteran Hotline at 1-877-4AID-VET, or visit the McGovern VA Drop-In Center at 1418 Preston Street.

Media Contacts:
Jennifer Evans
jen@jlevans.com
8 3 2-692-7615

Sara Brown
sbrown@homelesshouston.org
832-531-6019

Maureen Dyman
maureen.dyman@va.gov
713-578-5569

Finding The Way Home

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 18:38:50 GMT

A new outlook on life

Houston Endowment Makes $12.5 Million Investment in The Way Home

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 18:36:31 GMT

More than 2,200 Houstonians like “Sally” have found way home

Houston, Texas (February 23, 2015) – Sally* has lived in the greater Houston area for over 10 years. Unfortunately, life took a downward turn in 2010 when she found herself homeless. Service provider staffers at multiple homeless services organizations, including THE BEACON Day Center, Houston Area Community Services, Healthcare for the Homeless – Houston, SEARCH Homeless Services, and Star of Hope engaged with Sally to try to help her. Sally was suffering from PTSD due to her many years on the streets, and it was hard for her to trust people. Under the umbrella of The Way Home , the collaborative model to prevent and end homelessness in Houston, Harris County, and Fort Bend County, system partners made a connection that helped Sally change her path in life. She was housed in late 2014, and with ongoing supportive services remains stable to this day.

The Way Home was launched in 2014 under the leadership of the Houston/Harris County Continuum of Care, which in 2012 began the work of transforming the homeless response system from managing homelessness to ending it. The Way Home includes more than 60 local service providers and partners working together to create integrated, community-wide strategies to prevent and end homelessness. The positive impacts of this effort to date are staggering. In fact, Houston is leading the nation in reducing homelessness, becoming the national model for other cities. The Way Home expects to achieve its 2015 goals – to end chronic homelessness and veteran homelessness by the end of the year – before moving on to address family homelessness and setting the path to end all homelessness so that ultimately no one has to be without permanent housing for more than 30 days.

Houston Endowment, the well-known Houston-based philanthropic foundation established by Jesse H. and Mary Gibbs Jones in 1937, has stepped up in a big way to put some dollars behind the system to help those who are homeless in the community. The Foundation recently announced six major grants totaling $12.5 million to local non-profit organizations that are part of The Way Home.

The grant recipients are:

CSH - $4M

Healthcare for the Homeless - Houston - $1.4M

New Hope Housing - $1.6M

SEARCH Homeless Services - $3M

Star of Hope - $1M

The Women’s Home - $1.5M

“Houston Endowment values opportunities to work with both public and private entities towards systemic solutions. The Way Home initiative presented the opportunity to have a broad, leveraged impact in the community,” said Ann B. Stern, President of Houston Endowment. “An Action Plan was outlined by the Houston Harris County Continuum of Care which focuses on coordinated strategic investments that will drive the new system, matching resources to the need for quality affordable housing and stabilizing services, with an effective governance and monitoring system in place. We are pleased with the progress that The Way Home partners and service providers are making in our community. Houston is becoming a model for other communities in tackling homelessness, and Houston Endowment wants to help pave the way to make it happen.”

Sally is like hundreds of others remaining in the area who need permanent housing with supportive services to end their homelessness. The Way Home partners use Coordinated Access, a Web-based, electronic system that manages real-time unit availability. This system matches homeless individuals to permanent housing with services based on level of service need. That said, there are simply not enough Permanent Supportive Housing (known as PSH) units already available to help the individuals and families in need. The Way Home’s leadership and other major partners, such as Houston Mayor Annise Parker’s Leadership Team on Homelessness, have begun quietly engaging private funders to augment the costs needed to create the housing solutions needed. It is estimated that 2,500 housing units are needed - a mix of new construction, rehabilitation, and conversion of existing apartment units.

Daphne Lemelle, Community Development Director for the Harris County Community Services Department, recently stepped in as Chair of the CoC Steering Committee, replacing Houston Housing Authority’s President & CEO Tory Gunsolley who held the position for the past two and a half years.

Lemelle expressed her appreciation for Houston Endowment’s investments in The Way Home, saying “Just as service providers are collaborating, we are delighted to see pacesetter funders such as Houston Endowment demonstrate their belief in what we are doing for our community. Permanent housing, coupled with supportive services, is the solution to ending homelessness, and there are costs involved. While public entities will provide most of the funding to accomplish the goals set forth, about five percent of the campaign - $33 million - will need to be contributed by private donors and the Endowment’s investment is a great start.”

Sally is just one person with one story, and there are so many stories to be told and lives to be changed. Through The Way Home, more than 2,200 chronically homeless individuals have been housed since 2012. In addition to the private fundraising effort underway, members of the community are encouraged to support The Way Home by contributing to the “Barrier Buster” fund, which helps provide newly-housed individuals and families with security and utility deposits, furniture, household goods and food. Individuals interested in supporting The Way Home may visit www.thewayhomehouston.org to donate to the Barrier Buster Fund online, volunteer or take the pledge and stay connected.

*In order to protect the privacy of the formerly homeless individual referenced in this story, her name has been changed.

In the News - Editorial: Real Help

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 19:01:24 GMT

Houston's efforts highlighted in Houston Chronicle editorial

The Houston Chronicle featured the work of the partners of The Way Home in a new editorial story. This story addresses the overall results in reducing homelessness and how these numbers compete with what we might see in our city every day.

Houston’s Homeless Outreach Team featured on Nationswell, Huffington Post

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Thu, 18 Dec 2014 18:40:51 GMT

This is what community oriented policing looks like

This Is How Cops Should Treat Homeless People
Huffington Post

The Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) started as a pilot program in January 2011, and was made a permanent program in the department after a successful six-month pilot. Led by Sergeant Stephen Wick, the team helps homeless individuals with housing, shelter referrals, employment, IDs, and much more. The HOT Team is a valuable collaborative partner of The Way Home .

Houston Celebrates Milestone in New Service Delivery Model

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 18:54:01 GMT

New service delivery model built upon the creation of integrated care teams

On October 31, the City of Houston and the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County gathered more than 40 service provider staff members to celebrate a milestone in the implementation of a new service delivery model to better serve our homeless neighbors. In the past few months, 130 individuals have been housed, and another 20 enrolled for housing through the hard work and incredible collaboration of local service partners: Houston Area Community Services (HACS) , Healthcare for the Homeless – Houston , SEARCH Homeless Services , New Hope Housing, Inc. , and the Houston Housing Authority .

Houston Housing Authority Wins Multiple Awards

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Wed, 19 Nov 2014 18:56:46 GMT

“We are proud to receive these awards, which serve as symbols of the hard work and dedication of the Housing Authority staff”

The Texas Chapter of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) awarded the Houston Housing Authority (HHA) the following awards in April of this year: Media Recognition, Best Newsletter, Best Other Publications, Resident of the Year, and Member of the Year. Texas NAHRO is an organization that promotes quality affordable housing and sustainable communities in Texas through advocacy, education, and empowerment, and announced the winners at its 38th Annual Conference in Corpus Christi, TX.

HHA received the Media Recognition award for the well-executed media coverage on its new smoke-free policy, the Best Newsletter award for its quarterly public housing newsletter, “The Home Edition,” and the Best Other Publications award for its quarterly newsletter “Building Connections,” that is distributed to landlords participating in its voucher program. The Resident of the Year award was given to the children at Clayton Homes who participated in last year’s Lemonade Day and donated a portion of the proceeds they earned from selling lemonade to victims of the tornado in Moore, Oklahoma.

The final award, NAHRO Member of the Year was given to Mark Thiele, Vice President of Housing Choice Voucher Program at the Houston Housing Authority, for his commitment, dedication, and constructive service to Texas NAHRO, the Houston Housing Authority, and the Houston Community.

“We are proud to receive these awards, which serve as symbols of the hard work and dedication of the Housing Authority staff,” said Houston Housing Authority President & CEO Tory Gunsolley. “We are committed to transforming the lives and communities of those that we serve, we are pleased that Texas NAHRO recognized us for our work.” As a valued partner of The Way Home, we would also like to congratulate the Houston Housing Authority for their dedication to changing the path for Houston’s homeless neighbors.

The Houston Housing Authority provides affordable homes and services to more than 60,000 low-income Houstonians, including more than 17,000 families housed through the Housing Choice Voucher Program and another 5,500 living in 25 public housing and tax credit developments around the city. HHA also administers the nation’s third largest voucher program, exclusively serving homeless veterans. More information about the Houston Housing Authority can be found at: www.housingforhouston.com .

Videos: Orlando Delegation Visits Houston to Learn from Our Successes

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Wed, 19 Nov 2014 18:55:05 GMT

A delegation from Orlando, Florida visited Houston earlier this fall to learn from our successes in housing our homeless neighbors. Below are some video highlights of that trip

via Rethink Homelessness

Florida Looks to Houston for Help in Dealing with Homeless via CW39

The Women’s Home Receives Tax Credits for New Permanent Supportive Housing

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Mon, 27 Oct 2014 17:57:30 GMT

“We are so excited to announce our award for the 9% tax credits for The Women’s Home Housing Project Phase II"

In March, 2014, the Houston City Council voted yes to a Resolution of Support for a tax credit application for The Women’s Home Phase II housing project. This affirmative vote helped bring The Women’s Home one step closer to significant funding that will aid in the construction of an additional Permanent Supportive Housing complex for women and their families. More than 44 speakers were present at the City Council meeting the day before the vote, including Board Members and volunteers from The Women’s Home, Spring Branch neighbors, and representatives from other partners of The Way Home.

We received this update over the weekend from Paula Paust, Executive Director at The Women’s Home:

“We are so excited to announce our award for the 9% tax credits for The Women’s Home Housing Project Phase II. This represents a $10 million award! We could not have accomplished this without the commitment and support you gave us by speaking and providing letters to the City Council on our behalf. You helped us convey the message of our mission to show that those most vulnerable in our community are worthy of support from all of us. Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

For more information on The Women’s Home, visit their website .

Number of Houston’s Homeless Veterans Continues to Drop

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Thu, 18 Sep 2014 17:58:24 GMT

Houston has housed more than 2,800 homeless veterans since
January 2012

HOUSTON, Texas (Sept. 18, 2014) ---- Houston has housed more than 2,800 homeless veterans since January 2012, according to the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/ Harris County. This morning, City of Houston Mayor Annise D. Parker, Director and CEO of the Michael DeBakey VA Medical Center Adam Walmus, and Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/ Harris County President and CEO Marilyn Brown announced significant progress made in changing the path for Houston's homeless veterans. Addressing a large crowd at the CSH National Conference in Houston, the trio updated information surrounding one of the four primary goals of The Way Home campaign - to end veteran homelessness by 2015.

Since 2012, over 80% of the veterans housed in Houston were categorized as chronically homeless, meaning they have been on the street for at least a year or have had four episodes of homelessness over a three year period and have a disabling physical and/or mental condition including substance abuse. Extensive planning and collaboration between the City of Houston, the VA, Harris and Fort Bend Counties, the Housing Authorities and local Continuum of Care partners, has resulted in a dramatic decrease in the time it takes to house a homeless veteran. Depending on their circumstances, Houston-area veterans can now be housed as quickly as the same day they present. The goal is that every veteran’s homelessness will be resolved as quickly as possible.

“The numbers speak for themselves,” said Mayor Parker. “As a result of increased collaboration and a commitment to ending chronic veteran homelessness, Houston has been successful in getting homeless veterans off our streets. The job is not done, but we are proud of what we have been able to accomplish in Houston for the men and women who have served our country.”

Any veteran who is still experiencing homelessness can report to Stand Down on October 3rd at the Latino Learning Center beginning at 7:00am to be assessed for housing.

Director Adam Walmus of Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center agreed saying, "What distinguishes Houston is our integrated approach that allows us to use community and VA-based resources to address medical, mental health and social needs of veterans in a collaborative way. This allows us to use an individualized approach that benefits each and every veteran. We are housing an extraordinary number of veterans and working to keep them housed.”

Marilyn Brown, president and CEO of the Coalition for the Homeless, noted the progress made locally for all homeless veterans.

“Permanent housing, with supportive services, is the solution to homelessness. Since the 2012 launch of Houston’s Continuum of Care, there has been unprecedented alignment and collaboration among the stakeholders addressing this challenge. We’ve now effectively created a single front door so that any homeless veteran in our community can receive services, regardless of their circumstances. Today, we have an opportunity to become a role model for other communities,” said Brown.

Brown went on to acknowledge Wells Fargo as a significant partner in the early efforts to end homelessness, introducing Jonathan Homeyer, Executive Vice President Commercial Banking, Wells Fargo.

“To speed the end of veteran homelessness, we are leveraging federal, regional, city and county resources, but we can’t do it without private or business support. I’d like to welcome Jonathan Homeyer, Executive Vice President Commercial Banking, Wells Fargo, and recognize Wells Fargo’s significant investment through its NeighborhoodLift SM program local initiatives funds. With your support, we can say today that we can help any homeless veteran in need of permanent housing in our community,” Brown said.

The Way Home is a blueprint to end chronic and veteran homelessness by 2015, to end family and youth homelessness by 2020, and to build a system in which no one has to be without housing for more than 30 days. In 2011, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) named Houston as a priority community to help end homelessness. Learn more at http://www.thewayhomehouston.org/.

Media Contacts

Coalition for the Homeless/The Way Home

Jennifer Evans

jen@jlevans.com

(832) 692-7615

City of Houston/Mayor Annise Parker

Marc Eichenbaum

marc.eichenbaum@houstontx.gov

(281) 660-6946

DeBakey VA Medical Cent er

Ma ureen Dyman

maureen.dyman@va.gov

(713) 578-5569

“The Way Home” Changing the Path for Houston’s Homeless

info@homelesshouston.org (Communications Admin) — Wed, 02 Jul 2014 18:00:10 GMT

Multi-Agency blueprint aims to provide a solution to homelessness by 2020

The Way Home campaign launched today with support from homeless advocates to provide a solution to homelessness in Houston by 2020, according to a plan proposed by the Houston/Harris County Continuum of Care (CoC).

Today there are about 5,300 people living on the streets of Houston, Harris County and Fort Bend County or in shelters on any given night, according to the 2014 Point-In-Time Homeless Count. That’s enough people to fill more than 85% of the Miller Outdoor Theater. The three-phase blueprint sets to end chronic and veteran homelessness by 2015, youth and family homelessness by 2020, and to build a system which never allows anyone to be without permanent housing for more than 30 days.

The Way Home brings to life a collaborative effort led by the Houston/Harris County CoC, with the support from the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County , Mayor Annise D. Parker, and the City of Houston, to tackle this community problem. The key ingredient to the efforts’ confidence in success: permanent housing with supportive services. Presently, the necessary housing is 95% funded with more resources in the pipeline.

“The Way Home provides a clear, focused, collaborative strategy for our community; and it is working to provide a solution to homelessness,” said Marilyn L. Brown, President/CEO of the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County.

The Partners leading The Way Home are already producing significant decreases in the overall Houston homeless population. The Coalition for the Homeless recently announced a 37% decrease in overall homelessness with a 57% decrease in chronic homelessness and a 40% decrease in veteran homelessness since 2011. This was accomplished by finding permanent housing for 1,550 chronically homeless individuals and 2,245 veterans with the appropriate level of critical services to remain stably housed.

Learn more about The Way Home and how to get involved at The Way Home Houston .

Read the full press release here .