The Future of Homelessness in Houston Spotlight: Black History Month and On-Site Housing |
SEARCH is the leading organization helping Houston’s homeless get off the streets, into jobs and affordable housing. Last year SEARCHprovided 73,382 tokens to help Houston’s homeless get to and from jobs and job interviews. This year, we need your help. By providing your spare change for the purchase of tokens, you can help the homeless get to work. Be a part of changing lives and ending homelessness. |
SEARCH President and CEO Larry Payne was joined by Coalition for the Homeless President and CEO Anthony Love to welcome a group representing over twenty different organizations, which included social service agency board members, managers, administrators, case workers, politicians, developers, congregations, volunteers, and one homeless man concerned about the need for immediate as well as long-term solutions. This two hour meeting on Friday, February 23rd, was the first of many follow-up meetings for the Future of Homelessness in Houston conference held in early February.
The attendees were invited to share what they had learned, relearned, or surprised them the most during the conference. Some of the responses included:
The main goal of SEARCH and the Coalition for the Homeless' ongoing Future of Homelessness in Houston series is to educate the public, eliminate the inefficient use of resources, and increase funding by bringing these different organizations together. One person stated that in their fifteen years of being in the social services non-profit world, this was the first time they had seen a coming together of different homeless service providers to work together. The Coalition for the Homeless, which does not provide direct services, will oversee the Systems Management Function, allowing all agencies to access an accurate stock of city-wide resources at any given time. The transparent knowledge of resources available and utilized eliminates overlap of services, provides measurable outcomes to public and private funders, and reduces the cost of serving each homeless client. The goal is to be more effective at changing lives and ending homelessness on a city-wide level.
Buddy Grantham of the Coalition presented the ten essential activities in the Systems Management Function (SMF), the key pieces of which are collaboration and partnership. The SMF will facilitate a community-wide planning process, consistent standards of care, and link individuals to services. The users of the SMF will implement the community-wide strategic plan to end homelessness, which addresses both current issues in homelessness as well as homeless prevention. The functions of the SMF include a housing locator, tracking resource flow and distribution, assessment of the strategic plan, resource and funding development, and a Katrina and Rita victim monitor, which will become more important as less FEMA funding is renewed.
The Business Plan of the Systems Management Function is available for download on the Coalition’s website.
Those in attendance then broke into smaller groups by area of expertise and interest, including Discharge Planning, Employment, Housing, Healthcare/Mental Illness/Substance Abuse, and Executive Directors/Leadership. Each group was given a question relating to their area and asked to come up with answers to the following questions.
The answers to these questions followed a general pattern: We’re doing well with what we have, but we need more from both the public and private sector, whether that be through greater funding, more education/public awareness, greater access to services, and increased cooperation by local, state, and federal government.
The groups formed will create the coordinating council or congress for this effort and will convene again in April. The challenge posed by Mr. Love was for each person to return to their respective agency, take stock of what they have and what they need, and ask what they can do more of; what resources, intellect, and solutions can each individual and agency contribute to the community effort to end homelessness in Houston.
In Memory of Harry T. Pringle Harry T. Pringle, Jr., a SEARCH volunteer and board member, passed away suddenly on February 24, 2007. He was a spiritual man who lived by what he wanted to see in the world. Harry believed in helping people get a second chance. All his life, he’d been in the oil business. With its ups and downs over the decades, he understood that losing your home and livelihood is something that could happen to anyone. A member of Chapelwood United Methodist, Harry began volunteering with his church group in SEARCH’s kitchen over three years ago. Not only did he become a major contributor, but on cold nights, Harry would personally go to Burlington Caot Factory to purchase coats and blankets for 150 people living on the streets. SEARCH and the homeless individuals of our community were fortunate to have been graced by Harry Pringle and his wonderful spirit, which will endure as we continue fulfilling our mission.
Dear Friends,
For eighteen years, SEARCH has helped homeless men, women, and children in the Houston and Harris County community reclaim their dignity and build better lives. Because of your investments, families like the one described below are able to overcome challenges and ensure an independent, productive future.
Tammy and Eric relocated their three children to Houston where a job was waiting. They settled in, having had enough money to pay first and last month’s rent, only to learn that Eric’s job offer had fallen through. With limited funds, they were soon evicted from their new apartment. Because most shelters do not house families as a unit, Tammy and the children went to a shelter for women and children while Eric slept in the family’s vehicle.
Within two weeks of being referred to SEARCH, the family was started on a new life. We placed the family in an apartment and enrolled the children in SEARCH’s House of Tiny Treasures (Houston’s only nationally accredited childcare center focusing on the needs of homeless children). Tammy and Eric both enrolled in a pharmacy tech training course through SEARCH’s employment program. Within six months, both had graduated in the top 5% of their class and received permanent job offers from their internship hosts. Tammy and Eric’s story is similar to many families’ that SEARCH helps. Because of limited opportunities to make a living wage and the high cost of housing, many families struggling to make ends meet then become homeless.
You make the difference. Approximately 30,000 men, women, and children in Houston experience homelessness in a given year. SEARCH serves more than 10,000 of these individuals and families. But we couldn’t do it without your help.
Please join by donating at least $20 to SEARCH, asking a friend or colleague to match your contribution, and consider making a recurring monthly donation. By giving now, you can magnify your donation through a Sterling Bank challenge that will match $1 for every $4 raised to reach a goal of $250,000. These funds would contribute to our Hopes & Promises Scholarship Fund, which would provide education, therapy and a stable environment for children and their families to break the cycle of homelessness.
Your donation is tax-deductible and is crucial to our efforts, as we continue working to help homeless men, women, and children get off the streets, into jobs and affordable housing.
Thank you so much for your continued support. Please give generously to SEARCH today!
Sincerely,
Laurence J. Payne
President & CEO
On Thursday, February 23rd the staff and residents of SEARCH’s On-Site Housing delighted guests with a tribute to Black History Month, Understanding Our Past, Living Today, Creating Our Future.
The program commenced with an invocation led by Ms. Betty Hall. Words of inspiration from the New Orleans native spoken word artist, Asia, set an atmosphere as rich and soulful as the food that had been prepared to fortify the crowd. The entertainment did not stop there! Residents of SEARCH’s On-Site Housing program had not only planned a spectacular line up, they performed too! Performing their rendition of “I’m Not Giving My Black Back”, it was clear that the men and women of SEARCH had put both heart and humor into making the afternoon one to remember!
Deloyd T. Parker Jr. oh the S.H.A.P.E. Community Center honored the event as guest speaker and delivered a message addressing the importance of working as a “one” unified people to create positive change. The very talented trio, Brothers 2 Brother, provided a colorful backdrop of music, offering a taste of everything from gospel to R&B.
We are very proud of our staff and residents for orchestrating the 2007 tribute to Black History Month and look forward to another wonderful reverence in 2008!
Daynee & Ed Heller and co-chairs Jan & Alan Selbst invite you to join them on Saturday, May 5, 2007, at Hilton Americas for a high-flying evening of acrobatic audacity and limitless imagination, by none other than true Cirque performers! Your support brings self-worth and stability to the lives of Houston’s homeless children through our Tiny Treasures Programs. SEARCH cultivates the skills needed by these children to reach their maximum potential and break the cycle of poverty and homelessness. You don’t want to miss this spine-bending, mind-tingling spectacle!
Young Ambassadors
Our next mixer is scheduled for Wednesday, March 28 at Grimillion Galleries. Invitation will be going out next week by mail from Houston Modern Luxury Magazine. Featured artist: Steve Alexander.
Discover Women's Program Grand Opening
Discover Women's Program will host a grand opening of their new facility on Friday, April 20, from 1-3pm. The Forum Plaza Apartments are located at 10101 Forum Park Drive, off Bissonett between the Southwest Freeway and the Sam Houston Tollway.
Last month, we told you about the successes of Detra, one of the Discover Program's residents. This month, we'd like to take the opportunity to highlight the efforts of the entire Discover Women's Program. Discover assists homeless women with a history of substance abuse get back on their feet, practice independence within a monitored environment, and eventually become self-sufficient. Recently, the whole program moved to the Forum Plaza apartments in southwest Houston. Moving the ladies had a few unintended consequences, the most important of which was easier access to gainful employment for the women. The women also have one bedroom apartments, letting them practice self-sufficiency in a well-observed recovery environment. The new location provides tighter on-site security and greater access to main bus routes.
Mandy Kao, who owns the Forum Plaza Apartments along with her husband, has offered the use of a self-help library with incentives for reading. When one of the women finishes a book, Mandy asks a few questions to ensure that the women have read the book, then provides them with two movie tickets. When the women finish the Discover Program, they are offered move-in and rent incentives to stay at Forum Plaza as independent residents.
Mandy has also connected the ladies with Pastor Darrell, who runs the Heart to Heart Church with his wife. Pastor Darrell provides a voluntary Bible Study for the Discover women who are interested, as well as providing on-site counseling at the leasing office for the residents of Forum Plaza.
Discover Women's Program will host a grand opening of their new facility on Friday, April 20, from 1-3pm. The Forum Plaza Apartments are located at 10101 Forum Park Drive, off Bissonett between the Southwest Freeway and the Sam Houston Tollway.
Shop for a CauseFinally an excuse to go shopping...
On Saturday, March 17, 9a.m. – 10p.m, Macy’s is hosting their national day of support for non-profit organizations, like SEARCH! Make a $5 donation to SEARCH and we’ll give you a coupon for 20% off of regular, sale & clearance priced fashion and accessories for ladies, men and kids and fine jewelry. Also included is an extra 15% off of regular, sale and clearance priced bed & bath, china & crystal, silver, house wares, frames and luggage. There’s more! Plus, a savings card for $10 off a $20 purchase (exclusions apply)! Coupon must be present in order to receive your discount.
The best part: ALL proceeds from ticket sales will directly benefit SEARCH!
If you are interested in purchasing a coupon, please contact Nancy Rocha, 713-739-7752, ext.160 or nrocha@searchproject.org to discuss coupon pick-up or delivery arrangements. Perfect for those on Spring Break!
Our Company Kitchen located at The End Hunger Network building, 2445 North Freeway, Houston, 77098 is in need of volunteers! Help the Company Kitchen staff and other volunteers prepare and package meals that our delivered to hundreds of low-income families and local shelters in a state-of-the-art kitchen facility. Volunteers are needed Monday – Friday, with 2 shifts available, 8a.m. – 12:30p.m. or 12:30p.m. – 5p.m. and/or Saturday mornings, 9a.m. – 12p.m. This opportunity is also great for groups! In fact, we are able to accommodate up to 30 volunteers! Don’t miss out on this terrific opportunity to help feed Houston’s hungry!
The Resource Center Kitchen, located in SEARCH’s main building, 2505 Fannin, needs you to help prepare and serve a meal to our day shelter homeless clients, Monday – Thursday, 8a.m. – 11:30a.m. This is a great hands on opportunity!
For more information about volunteer opportunities, please visit the Volunteer section of our website or contact Nancy Rocha, 713-739-7752 ext. 160 or nrocha@searchproject.org.
Our Volunteer Department would like to give a special thanks to the Shepherd Poverty Program for Washington and Lee university students. Fifteen (15) students traveled from Virginia to Houston to volunteer a full day for one week, Tuesday, the 20th through Friday, the 23rd. The energetic group did everything from cookie decorating with the House of Tiny Treasures children to cleaning out the Mobile Outreach outdoor storage. They did a wonderful job!
Thank you to all of our in-kind sponsors. We would not be able to supply the homeless individuals and families without your support! Currently……
The individuals and families in our Scattered-Site Housing Program are currently in need of gently used dishware. This includes silverware, plates, glasses and/or utensils. In addition, our other Programs, Challenge and Discover are in need of household items, such as toilet paper, paper towels, towels, dishes, utensils, working/fairly used appliances, blankets, bedding items, and or cleaning supplies, i.e. Febreeze, furniture polish, dishwashing soap, sponges, laundry detergent etc.
Our House of Tiny Treasures program is in need of diapers, sizes 3 & 4.
The Resource Center, our homeless day shelter is in need of towels for our shower services and hygiene packs which may include liquid soap, shampoo/conditioner, razors/shaving cream, comb, feminine products, hand sanitizer, baby wipes, baby powder, lotion and/or Q-Tips.
The students trying to receive an education in our Education and Employment Program are in need of notebook tablets and pens and pencils.
The Volunteer Department is in need of greeting cards! Any birthday cards, blank cards or holiday cards would be greatly appreciated!
For a complete list of in-kind donations, please click here.
House of Tiny Treaures Showcased on Fox
Fox 26 news story did a story on SEARCH and its House of Tiny Treasures. Learn more.
Santa Maria Hostel Permanent Housing Project
On March 1st at the request of Harris County Community and Economic Development Department, SEARCH expanded program services by assuming administration of fourteen units of Shelter Plus Care permanent housing previously operated by Santa Maria Hostel. This program provides apartments, located throughout the Houston community, to homeless women who are disabled due to chronic substance abuse, and their families. The program also provides participants with intensive case management and supportive services that include substance abuse counseling and treatment, life skills classes, education and employment assistance.
Continuous Quality Improvement Program Revised
SEARCH recently received a Department of Health and Human Services Targeted Capacity Building grant to develop and initiate a Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI). SEARCH staff is working with an external consultant to review program operations and services, assess effectiveness of current processes and make recommendations for enhancements and changes.
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SEARCH Homeless Center is a proud member of the United Way.
