H.O.T. Homeless Coalition http://www.heartoftexashomeless.org Fri, 11 May 2012 15:11:02 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Weekly Digest – December 31, 2010 http://www.heartoftexashomeless.org/2010/12/31/weekly-digest-december-31-2010/ http://www.heartoftexashomeless.org/2010/12/31/weekly-digest-december-31-2010/#comments Fri, 31 Dec 2010 16:30:01 +0000 admin http://www.heartoftexashomeless.org/?p=494  

 
 
Heart Of Texas Homeless Coalition

Weekly Digest 

Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition
Homeless peopleHomeless people
December 31, 2010 Vol 1, Issue 3
 

Link to  Calendar of Events

 

January

 
Articles in This Week’s Update (click link to jump to article)
Emergency Motel Vouchers
Mobile Food Pantry
Annual Membership Renewal
HOTHC Website Update
Project Homeless Connect Volunteers Needed
Homeless Count Volunteers Needed
Job Announcement from Salvation Army
Job Announcement from Family Abuse Center

Thrivent Financial helps with Emergency Motel Vouchers for Families with Children Program

 

 

 

Families with children being forced to stay on the streets is a growing problem. Not all homeless families with children are victims of domestic violence. The waiting list to enter a women’s facility can sometimes take months. Single dads with children have even fewer options, as the men’s shelters are not designed to accommodate children. Seperating a family during a crisis is done only as a last resort.

 

Currently, there is not an emergency shelter for families with children in Waco. The Emergency Motel Voucher Program will provide vouchers to families with children in need of emergency shelter. According to Teri Holtkamp, City of Waco Homeless Plan Administrator, Thrivent Financial has contributed Thrivent Fincancial for Lutherans has provided supplemental funding.  

 

The fund, administered by the Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition, currently has over $5,500. “The goal,” according to Holtkamp, “is to reach $50 thousand.” When the goal is reached the fund could provide up to two-thousand nights lodging for families with homeless children.     

 

Charitable organizations, religious organizations, buisinesses, and individuals are encouraged to help with this growing need. As little as $25 can keep a family off the streets for a night. For more information on the program, including how to make a contribution, contact Teri Holtkamp at (254) 750-5965.

MCHC Mobile Food Pantry – Shepherd’s Heart

 

           Wheels of Sharing

              Mobile Food Pantry

  

      The Third Saturday of Every Month

 

             

                                January 15, 2011

 

 

 

 

                                Shepherd’s Heart

                          1401 North 34th Street  

                                 10 a.m. – Noon

 

 

                Free, healthy food for your family!

 

 
 QUICK LINKS

Videos
  


          

 

 

Local Resource

 

 


National Resources 
 

US Census information 
on the  City of Waco 
  
 

 

 

HUD – Homelessness and Special Needs Housing  - Links to Training Videos

  Member Links

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Caritas

 

Join our Mailing List!
 
 
 

Annual Membership Renewal

 

HOTHC memberships are valid from January 1 to December 31 each year. We would like to thank all the organizations, agencies and individuals that have contributed to our growth and success.

The Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition is an organization dedicated to addressing the needs of the homeless within our community through support and coordination to service providers within our community.  Over the past 10 years, the coalition has been instrumental in bringing more than $4.62 Million of homeless assistance to Waco, through the Continuum of Care HUD grant process.  During the past year, the coalition fostered public education and community awareness through Homelessness Management Information Systems (HMIS) Training, SSI/SSDI Outreach Access and Recovery (SOAR) Training, workshops at events such as the Baylor Poverty Summit, Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week, and speaking circuits within the community.  Current priorities for the Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition include addressing the growing need of families with children who are homeless, permanent supported housing options, transportation, and information systems to help coordinate services. This year, HOTHC received a Certificate of Achievement from Texas Homeless Network and was nominated for the 2010 Award for Outstanding Homeless Coalition.

Growth strengthens the effectiveness of the Coalition. Over the past 2 years we have seen amazing growth.  With that growth our voice becomes louder and stronger as we advocate for those who cannot advocate for themselves.  Please consider renewing your membership with the H.O.T. Coalition.  You may choose from any of the three types of membership applications, attached to this e-mail.

 

Membership in our organization currently includes:

 

1)      Monthly meeting presentations from other service provider organizations

2)      A monthly newsletter that provides the most recent updates on Coalition activities, an extensive calendar of events pertaining to homelessness issues, local and national news links pertaining to homelessness issues, and much, much more…

3)      Networking and collaboration opportunities with other members and service provider organizations

 

Current benefits of attending our meetings include:

 

1)      Updates on Regional and National changes

2)      Opportunities to voice your concerns about needs of the homeless in your community

3)      Opportunities to network with other members

4)      Opportunities to form collaborations with other members in resolving community needs

5)      Opportunities to hear reports on local research regarding community needs

6)      Opportunities to learn of special funding opportunities available to our community, such as the continuum of care grant

 

 

Please join us in our efforts to end homelessness. Complete the form on our website and mail it, with the membership fees, to the address provided on the form.

 

If you would also like to have your organization listed on our website, please e-mail:

 

1) a 100-150 word description of your organization,

2) an image or logo to represent your organization and

3) your organization’s website address

 

to H.C.User@hotmail.com.

 

Website Update

 We are updating our website. We need your help. The goal is to provide a comprehensive listing on anything pertaining to homelessness in the Heart of Texas Region.

 

Our new Calendar of Events includes tabs for meeting dates, ongoing events, and a tab for each month. If your event/meeting/program/activities are not already listed please e-mail the information to h.c.user@hotmail.com .

 

Our “Member” tab will soon contain descriptions of all our member organizations and logos that link back to their organizations website.

 

Our “Get Involved” tab will provide information about how to become involved with member organizations. If your organization could use more public involvement send the pertinent information to h.c.user@hotmail.com

 

The aim of the “Service Provider” tab is to provide a comprehensive list of services provided in the Heart of Texas Region. Whether your group provides comprehansive social service support, or it is a church that provides a meal once a month, we want to list it. If your organization is providing any type of service/product to the homeless, please e-mail information to h.c.user@hotmail.com .

 

If you send information to be placed on our website, please include website addresses to the specific page of your website that includes the information whenever possible.

 

Project Homeless Connect Volunteers Needed

from Alexis Weaver 
 

Project Homeless Connect 2011 is coming up quickly:

January 27, 2011

8 AM to 12 Noon

Salvation Army – I-35 and S. 13th location

 

All indications are that we will serve a record number of homeless this year. The Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition and PHC organizers would appreciate your assistance this year as well. We are seeking 150 volunteers to help escort homeless individuals through the event.

 

There will be a volunteer training held before Project Homeless Connect. It would be ideal if all of the volunteers could attend at least one of the trainings.

 

Training 2: January 26, 2011, 8:00 PM, place TBD

 

Project Homeless Connect: January 27, 8 am to Noon. Lunch will be provided (please indicate if volunteers will be staying for lunch)

 

 

Please let me know if you would be willing to volunteer this year!  If you are willing to recruit other volunteers, please also let me know. You can provide the information below and via email to aweaver@wacochamber.com or fax to 254.757.5639.

 

 

Name:

 

Phone 1:

 

Address:

 

Phone 2:

 

e-mail:

 

 

 

 

Will You Be Staying for Lunch? Yes _______ No ____________

 

 

 

  

Thanks and I look forward to hearing from you!

 

Sincerely,

Alexis Weaver

Director of Community Affairs

Community Development

 

SalomeCommerce Center

Greater Waco Chamber

101 S. Third St.

Waco, TX 76701

 

254.757.5630 office

254.716.0907 cell

 254.757.5639 fax

aweaver@wacochamber.com

 

Homeless Count Volunteers Needed

from Rebecca Carlson

 

 

We need your help in finding volunteers to help with the local homeless count. For those that don’t know every other year we conduct a homeless count in McLennan County. This count helps us in continuing to receive funding for local programs that serve the homeless (i.e., Family Abuse Center, Mission Waco, Compassion Ministries, HMIS, etc.) and it also allows us as a community to know how best to serve those that are homeless by learning better of their needs, etc.

So, we go out to different sites/agencies that serve or encounter homeless and fill out a survey for individuals that are homeless. I need volunteers to fill out surveys at different sites that don’t have staff to complete it for us. We are looking for people that have worked with the homeless before and/or have skills to be able to complete surveys while also showing dignity/respect to the person.

Please let me know as soon as possible if you’re able to help or if you can pass on this info to friends that could help. You can email me at Rebecca.Carlson@familyabusecenter.org or Rebecca_Carlson@baylor.edu. I would like to finalize my volunteers by Monday of next week…if possible.

I’ll have a brief training during the next Homeless Coalition meeting

Need volunteers at following sites for Homeless Count:

Mission Waco – My Brothers Keeper – Wednesday, January 26th from 6pm – 8:30 or 9pm. Need 3-5 volunteers.

Project Homeless Connect (at Salvation Army) – Thursday, January 27th from 8:30am – 12pm. Need 30 volunteers.

Mission Waco Free Clinic – Thursday, January 27th from 8am-11am. Need 2 volunteers.

Mission Waco Meyer Center – Need 2-3 volunteers Thursday, January 27th from 7am – ?? (Still waiting to hear how long volunteers would be needed there).

First Lutheran Church – Friday Morning Breakfast – Friday, January 28th from 6:00am – 8:00am. Need 12-15 volunteers.

 

 

Rebecca Carlson, LCSW

Director of Programs

Family Abuse Center

ph#254-772-8999 ext 2242

fax#254-772-4770

We need your help in finding volunteers to help with the local homeless count. For those that don’t know every other year we conduct a homeless count in McLennan County. This count helps us in continuing to receive funding for local programs that serve the homeless (i.e., Family Abuse Center, Mission Waco, Compassion Ministries, HMIS, etc.) and it also allows us as a community to know how best to serve those that are homeless by learning better of their needs, etc.

So, we go out to different sites/agencies that serve or encounter homeless and fill out a survey for individuals that are homeless. I need volunteers to fill out surveys at different sites that don’t have staff to complete it for us. We are looking for people that have worked with the homeless before and/or have skills to be able to complete surveys while also showing dignity/respect to the person.

Please let me know as soon as possible if you’re able to help or if you can pass on this info to friends that could help. You can email me at Rebecca.Carlson@familyabusecenter.org or Rebecca_Carlson@baylor.edu. I would like to finalize my volunteers by Monday of next week…if possible.

I’ll have a brief training during the next Homeless Coalition meeting

Need volunteers at following sites for Homeless Count:

Mission Waco – My Brothers Keeper – Wednesday, January 26th from 6pm – 8:30 or 9pm. Need 3-5 volunteers.

Project Homeless Connect (at Salvation Army) – Thursday, January 27th from 8:30am – 12pm. Need 30 volunteers.

Mission Waco Free Clinic – Thursday, January 27th from 8am-11am. Need 2 volunteers.

Mission Waco Meyer Center – Need 2-3 volunteers Thursday, January 27th from 7am – ?? (Still waiting to hear how long volunteers would be needed there).

First Lutheran Church – Friday Morning Breakfast – Friday, January 28th from 6:00am – 8:00am. Need 12-15 volunteers.

 

 

Rebecca Carlson, LCSW

Director of Programs

Family Abuse Center

ph#254-772-8999 ext 2242

fax#254-772-4770

Job Announcement

From

Salvation Army

 
 

.

We currently have an opening for a  Case Manger at The Salvation Army.  The position is full-time with benefits and is tied to a grant contract so continued employment beyond the contract period (Sept. 2011)  is possible but not guaranteed.   Ideally we are looking for someone with a Bachelor’s in Social Work or equivalent degree and experience with case management to individuals in an emergency/crisis situation (homeless or facing homelessness).  I have attached a copy of the job description.

Persons interested in applying should submit their resume to our HR director, Rosa Burks.  Resumes/applications may be completed in person at 1221 Jack Kultgen Expressway or faxed to Rosa’s attention at 751-1592.

We are looking to fill this position ASAP! 

Job Announcement

From

Family Abuse Center
 

Children’s Services Coordinator

Family Abuse Center (FAC) is hiring a full-time Children’s Services Coordinator (CSC).  The overall responsibility of the CSC is to provide intervention and prevention services for children and adolescents in the shelter.  The CSC is responsible for coordination of the children’s program, which includes supervision of interns, volunteers, and/or staff as necessary.  The CSC also provides individual and group counseling for the youth and children.  As needed, this position also provides back-up coverage to the crisis line, represents the FAC at community events, and completes other tasks as assigned by supervisor.

Key Requirements:

q       Master’s Degree in Social Work or Counseling preferred

q       1-2 years experience in the field of Domestic and/or Sexual Violence preferred, or the same amount of residential services and/or case management experience

q       Experience in social or human service field required

 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

q       Work with at-risk children who have experienced or witnessed abuse

q       Be able to advocate with schools and other agencies on behalf of the children of Family Abuse Center

q       Facilitate, supervise, and develop age-appropriate group activities for at-risk children

q       Keep programmatic statistics, track outcomes, and complete grant reports in an accurate and timely fashion.

q       Provide a variety of therapeutic intervention techniques to children who have seen or experienced domestic violence.

q       Have a good working knowledge of local community resources applicable to FAC’s client population.

q       Work independently to develop program goals and direction as well as work as part of the care team to provide high quality services to all clients.

q       Supervise interns and operations of in-school violence prevention program.

q       Supervise staff, interns, and volunteers for children’s group and other children’s activities

 

To Apply:

Direct inquiries to Rebecca Carlson, LCSW, Director of Programs at 254-772-8999 ext 2242.  To apply, email resume, cover letter, and KSA statement.*

 

*KSA statement (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities) is a document identifying in paragraph form how the applicant has learned/demonstrated the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities listed above.

 

 
 

This email was sent to waco.hcuser@gmail.com by waco.hcuser@gmail.com |  

 
Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition | P.O. Box 23025 | Waco | TX | 76702

]]> http://www.heartoftexashomeless.org/2010/12/31/weekly-digest-december-31-2010/feed/ 0 Coming Soon http://www.heartoftexashomeless.org/2010/12/22/weekly-digest-december-17-2010/ http://www.heartoftexashomeless.org/2010/12/22/weekly-digest-december-17-2010/#comments Wed, 22 Dec 2010 17:59:08 +0000 admin http://www.heartoftexashomeless.org/?p=122  

Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition | P.O. Box 23025 | Waco | TX | 76702

]]> http://www.heartoftexashomeless.org/2010/12/22/weekly-digest-december-17-2010/feed/ 0 December 2010 http://www.heartoftexashomeless.org/2010/12/07/december-2010/ http://www.heartoftexashomeless.org/2010/12/07/december-2010/#comments Tue, 07 Dec 2010 14:22:13 +0000 admin http://www.heartoftexashomeless.org/?p=55  

 
 
Heart Of Texas Homeless Coalition
Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition
Homeless Family
December 2010 Vol 3, Issue 12
 
Building On Success (click link to jump to article)
Monthly Meeting Sponsor
Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition Builds on Past Achievements
Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition Builds on Past Achievements
Calendar of Events
Service Provider Spotlight: Navigating Homeless Issues with HMIS

Link to Decmber’s Meeting Sponsor

Family Abuse Center

Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition Builds on Past Achievements

                                     

  In 1997 the Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition began meeting to plan the annual Stand Down, now known as Project Homeless Connect. In 2000, the coalition applied for its first Continuum of Care (CoC) grant, which initiated a move into addressing more issues associated with homelessness. The Coalition was formally incorporated as a 501(c) 3 in March 2004. This year, HOTHC received a Certificate of Achievement from Texas Homeless Network and was nominated for the 2010 Award for Outstanding Homeless Coalition.
 
For 13 years, the coalition has fostered homeless outreach through programs like Project Homeless Connect, the 9-1-1 Veterans’ Services Project, and distributing 211 cards in the region. The group has grown from 12 individuals in 1997, to 43 memberships, including organizations and government agencies. Monthly meeting attendance ranges from 45-50 individuals.
 
The Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition was a key stakeholder in formalizing the Mayor’s 10-year plan to End Chronic Homelessness in Waco. Through the CoC grant process the coalition has been instrumental in bringing more than $4.62 Million of homeless assistance to Waco.
The coalition fosters public education and community awareness through Homelessness Management Information Systems (HMIS) Training, SSI/SSDI Outreach Access and Recovery (SOAR) Training, workshops at events such as the Baylor Poverty Summit, and speaking circuits within the community. A 2007 documentary titled, “Homeless in Waco,” depicts life on the streets of Waco and the plight of the homeless.  In 2010, Barbara James, from Texas Homeless Education Office (T.H.E.O.), and Ken Martin, from Texas Homeless Network (THN,) presented a workshop titled, “Children, Homelessness and Education: Identifying Challenges, Creating Solutions.” In addition, members of the coalition work with local law enforcement, code enforcement and the downtown Public Improvement District.
 
“Through community planning and visioning that includes our homeless we have experienced less duplication of services,” according to Teri Holtkamp, City of Waco Homeless Plan Coordinator. She also advises these results stem from the coalition’s conscious effort to eliminate duplication of services, and improve collaboration among agencies serving the homeless. The HOT HC advocated the initiation of, and continues to support the expansion of, HMIS in Waco/McLennan County. The coalition also facilitates inter-agency case management concerns, and works with local foundations to guide collaborative efforts within the region. 
 
According to Holtkamp, “Since the inception of the Homeless Coalition many partnerships have been formed and relationships built.” One example is the establishment of scattered site permanent supportive housing, through a collaborative effort including Heart of Texas Mental Health Mental Retardation (HOTMHMR), the Veterans Administration (VA), and City of Waco. Another is through collaborations among the VA and coalition members, such as the Salvation Army, and the establishment of the PATH program at MHMR.
 
  “More opportunities to merge new energy with existing agencies reducing the amount of new not for profit agencies and making stronger agencies to serve our homeless population,” according to Holtkamp, “Making a concentrated effort to work on priorities set by the needs expressed by the homeless, HMIS reports and the agencies involved in the Homeless Coalition help to fill the gaps in services desperately needed by our homeless.” Each spring, the HOTHC meets to discuss data collected from Project Homeless Connect (PHC), identify existing gaps in services and establish priorities for the coming year. In 2010, the priorities identified are: Emergency Housing for Families and Children, Transportation, Permanent Supportive Housing, and building HMIS. The processes work together to accomplish the goals set in the Mayor’s 10 year Plan to End Homelessness, based on current needs. 

HMIS Gets New Home
                                     

.   On November 1, 2010 the City of Waco Housing Office assumed administration of the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). “The city is excited,” according to Teri Holtkamp, City of Waco Homeless Plan Administrator, “We look forward to the opportunity to build upon the foundation HOT COG has created.”
 
“HMIS is a great tool for coordinating services for individuals in need of assistance,” according to Holtkamp, “It also allows the city to understand local needs and aids in program implementation among community social service agencies.”
 
The city is already working with HMIS Coordinator, Natalie Searing, to identify ways to improve the effectiveness of HMIS for local agencies. A number of opportunities exist. When the City of Waco assumes administration of HMIS, the program will be the main focus for the HMIS Coordinator. Accessibility to the Coordinator will increase. More attention will be given to capacity building.  
 
Although HMIS has contributed to obtaining over $4 million for participating agencies, since its inception in 2002, more accurate service analyses promise to increase funding opportunities. To facilitate the demand for higher quality data, according to Holtkamp, the city plans to cross-reference data for accuracy & at some point look into the possibility including the data for the working poor who use services.
 
According to Holtkamp, “Support from the community is essential for a strong system.” Local service providers can support expanding HMIS updates, and usage by making referrals through the HMIS system, checking the HMIS delivery mechanism for incoming referrals, and making sure data is updated accurately. Some ways the community can get involved in supporting the expansion of HMIS include, individuals encouraging non-profit or religious organizations they are associated with to join the system, individuals asking service providers if they need an HMIS card when receiving services, and making referrals to the HMIS Coordinator about agencies serving the homeless who could be contacted and updated about the benefits of using the HMIS system as part of their agency or ministry.  
 
Agencies interested in joining the HMIS program may contact Natalie Searing at (254) 750-5601, or by e-mail at nataliew@ci.waco.tx.us

 QUICK LINKS

Funding Opportunities
 

 
Videos
 

Tennant’s Stories

 

Healthcare and Homelessness

 
Local Resource

 

 

National Resources 

 

  Member Links

Act Locally – Waco

Join our Mailing List!
 
 
 

Calendar of Events

  
Link to ActLocally Calendar of Events 
ActLocally is a community-wide Calendar of Events
Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition Calendar of Events (see below)

December 16, 2010
Salvation Army Dedicates New
Emergency Shelter for Men

December 17, 2010      11:45 am
Monthly Coalition Meeting

Family Abuse Center (call for directions)

January 27, 2010
Project Homeless Connect
Salvation Army at I-35 and 13th

Service Provider Spotlight: Navigating Homeless Issues with HMIS

  “Not analyzing the trends of consumers when the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) is available, is like navigating by the stars when GPS is available,” according to Teri Holtkamp, City of Waco Homeless Plan Coordinator. Foundations insist on measurable data before funding projects/programs. The use of HMIS provides greater access to funding from foundations by providing efficient access to measurable data. HMIS also provides the only means of accessing federal funds through certain HUD, and other government programs.
 
From 2001 to 2009 HUD’s Continuum of Care grant program has provided over $4.62 million toward addressing homeless issues in Waco. Since the HMIS program started in 2002, social service providers in Waco have received over $4 million. In 2006, alone, member organizations of the HOTHC service providers in Waco received over $1 million.
 
According to HMIS Coordinator, Natalie Searing, “The HMIS license is an investment that allows organizations to more effectively manage, or reduce, overhead and increase funding opportunities.” Instant information exchange allows the most efficient service coordination possible. Trending reports help gage changing needs of consumers and prioritize an organization’s budget. Networking opportunities are made available through local, state and national trainings. Natalie also advises that local training and consultations in the use of HMIS are provided as part of the license fees. Training sessions in basic HMIS usage are available upon request. Natalie is available for consultations, in person, by phone or online from 8 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday.
 
For more information about HMIS contact:
Natalie Searing
HMIS Coordinator
Housing and Urban Development Department
City of Waco
Phone: (254) 750-5601
E-mail: nataliew@ci.waco.tx.us

 
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This email was sent to h.c.user@hotmail.com by kallen@ci.waco.tx.us.

Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition | P.O. Box 23025 | Waco | TX | 76702

]]> http://www.heartoftexashomeless.org/2010/12/07/december-2010/feed/ 0 August 2010 http://www.heartoftexashomeless.org/2010/08/07/august-2010/ http://www.heartoftexashomeless.org/2010/08/07/august-2010/#comments Sat, 07 Aug 2010 14:19:20 +0000 admin http://www.heartoftexashomeless.org/?p=54  

 
 
Heart Of Texas Homeless Coalition
Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition
Homeless Family
August 2010 Vol 3, Issue 8
 
Permanent Supportive Housing
Making Permanent Supportive Housing A Reality
$400K Shelter Plus Care Grant Helps Stabilize Chronic Homeless
Calendar of Events
Service Provider Spotlight:

Making Permanent Supportive Housing a Reality
                                     

 

In 2005, the City of Waco approved a 10 year plan to end homelessness. Part of the plan focuses on Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH). According to the plan, the aim is to provide the balance of services and support needed to promote housing stability and break the cycle of homelessness.
 
PSH gaps identified in the 2005 plan include: an absence of PSH in Waco , lack of leadership for the project, a lack of funding and awareness, and a need for improved referral processes.
 
Progress has been made in the past fiveyears. Gaps in the provision of PSH are being closed. Leadership for the project is emerging. Preventative measures are being taken.  The goal of 55 PSH units has been exceeded. A location for a PSH site has been identified.
 
The Shelter Plus Care program and the Veterans Administration Supportive Housing (VASH) program collectively are providing permanent supportive housing opportunities to more than 60 people. Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program (HPRP) referral processes are being improved, through expansion of the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). In addition, according to Teri Holtkamp and Chris Lazaro, City of Waco Housing Staff,
 
“Over the past five years, community stakeholders have…
 
 
·     Identified a viable location for the housing
·     Been in contact with a developer who is interested in building the property
·     Determined the number of units required to effectively serve the formerly homeless population without concentrating at-risk residents in one location (roughly 10-12 units per 100)
·     Completed a feasibility study with Mercy Housing, achieving favorable results
·       Already identified 60 units of veteran-specific supportive housing and 7 units of supportive housing for chronically homeless individuals/families (scattered site)
·      Learned from other PSH sites to develop best practices and ensure sustainability of the project
·      Located some potential funding sources to construct the project
·       Gained support for the project by residents of the Castle Heights neighborhood”
 

 

 QUICK LINKS

 
Videos
 
 
 
 
Local Resource

 
Heart of Texas Regional Access System

 

 

National Resources 

 
 
 

 

US Census information 
on the  City of Waco 
Join our Mailing List!
 
 
 

$400K Shelter Plus Care Grant Helps Stabilize Chronic Homeless 

   

The Shelter plus Care program is now able to provide Permanent Supportive Housing services to 12 more homeless individuals suffering from a documented diagnosis of a severe mental illness. According to Teri HoltKamp, Homeless Plan Coordinator for the City of Waco , a collaborative effort through the Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition resulted in the city receiving a $426,240 HUD grant for a program to be administered by Heart of Texas Regional MHMR.
 
Each participant in the program collaborates with his/her caseworker, to develop an individual treatment plan. “Goals in this program range from basic skills such as cooking, cleaning, budgeting, accessing public transportation, accessing physical and mental health services etc. to more complex issues such as dealing with loss, supported employment training, substance abuse counseling, interpersonal skill development etc…,” according to Tom Thomas, Division Director for Mental Health Services, “…One of the great things about this program is that it allows for longer term support and does not have unrealistic expectations as to how quickly a person may reach recovery or self sufficiency.”
 
Although success is defined differently for each individual, every participant exits homelessness into some form of housing. Many are now able to meet their basic needs through a sustainable income source. For some the income is derived from employment, while others obtain disability. Either way, meeting the consumer’s basic needs provides the opportunity to focus on more complex issues in their lives.  According to Thomas, “[Several] have used the training and supports needed to get on their feet and then selected to leave the program because they were able to manage without the financial support of the vouchers.” One has even managed to buy a home and is now living independently. 

 

Calendar of Events

  
Link to ActLocally Calendar of Events 
ActLocally is a community-wide Calendar of Events
 
 
Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition Calendar of Events (see below)

 

   

August 19  11:45 am
Project Homeless Connect Planning Meeting
MHMR Conference Room (12th and Austin)

Please RSVP to kallen@ci.waco.tx.us by 5pm Monday August 16

August 20   Noon
Permanent Supportive Housing Priority Group Meeting
City Hall in Downstairs Conference Room
Please RSVP to clazaro@ci.waco.tx.us by 5pm Tuesday August 17

 

August 19 & 20

SOAR Training

Norris Conference Center
2525 West Anderson Lane
Austin , Texas 78757

Contact:
Lori Kirchgatter
Texas Homeless Network
512.482.8270
 
August 26
Seminar – Homelessness Prevention Models: Effective Approaches for Vets
Technical Assistance Center

 
 
September 16   8:00 am

Non-Profit Network Meeting
Texas Life Annex
 
 

September 19       8:00a.m. – 10:30a.m

Mission Waco’s 8th annual “Walk for the Homeless” and “Shoes for the Homeless”
 
October 21    8:00 am
Non-Profit Network Meeting
Texas Life Annex
 
 
October 27 & 28
SOAR Training 
Center for Community Cooperation
2900 Live Oak Street
Dallas , Texas 75204
Contact:
Lori Kirchgatter
Texas Homeless Network
512.482.8270
 
 

October 28-30

“No Need Among You” Conference


Mission Waco, Baylor School of Social Work, Texas Baptist and Crestview CoC sponsor
Through the years, the Fall conference has continued to attract folks from all over Texas . This year should expand those borders! With plenary speakers like Steve Corbett, Amy Sherman, Noel Castellanos, Larry James and Chris Simmons, the content will be the best ever. Over 25 workshops dealing with issues from urban youth to global development will be offered. Exhibit booths will also be present. Brochures and website registration soon! Hold those dates.

 
Fall 2010
Salvation Army Opens New
Emergency Shelter for Men
 
November 4 & 5

SOAR Training 

Fort Worth Housing Authority
1201 E. 13th Street
Fort Worth , Texas 76102

Contact:
Lori Kirchgatter
Texas Homeless Network
512.482.8270
 
 
November 16    8:00 am

Non-Profit Network Meeting
Texas Life Annex
 
November 17-19
Third Annual Greater Waco Community Education Summit, 
Waco Convention Center on your calendar for your next e-newsletter
Fore More Information: 
Ashley Allison
Executive Director
Waco Foundation
900 Austin Avenue , 9th Floor
Waco , Texas 76701
254.754.3404
www.wacofoundation.org
 
January 27, 2011
Project Homeless Connect

 

 
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Heart Of Texas Homeless Coalition
Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition
Homeless Family
July 2010 Vol 3, Issue 7
 
Family and Children Housing
Next Meeting
THN and THEO Directors to Present at Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce
Children Experience Different Kind of Homelessness at the Family Abuse Center
New Administrator adds Brightness to Sunny Day Center
Calendar of Events
Service Provider Spotlight: StarryOnline.org

Next Meeting
                                     

Noon – July 16, 2010

 

Mission Waco

 

 Meyer’s Center

 (1226 Washington – Waco,Texas)

 

 

THN and THEO Directors to Present
Children, Homelessness, and Education:
Identifying Challenges, Creating Solutions
                                     

 A growing concern in Waco, and across the state, is the plight of homeless children. How do homeless children attend school? What defines a homeless child? What are the needs of homeless children? How do we fund such programs? Each of these questions and others will be addressed by Barbara James and Ken Martin, two of the state’s leading experts. 
 
Barbara JamesBarbara James is the Director of the McKinney Vento Homeless Education Program at Texas Homeless Education Office. Ms. James graduated Summa cum laude with a B.S. in Sociology and American Studies, and graduated Maxima cum laude, with a M.S. in Guidance and Counseling. She has also received numerous awards for public service and her work on homeless education issues. She currently manages 100 homeless education grants in school districts and education service centers, as part of her role, in the statewide effort to ensure that all children and youth in homeless situations are able to enroll in, attend, and succeed in school.
 
The event is titled, “Children, Homelessness, and Education: Identifying Challenges, Creating Solutions.” According to Barbara James the event will be, “…an inter-active meeting where we will provide information about various funding resources and then will ask the group to do work on prioritizing needs of children and youth experiencing homelessness followed by developing an action plan to address the major concerns.” 
 
If you are interested in attending, please RSVP to Alexis Weaver, at 254 – 757- 5638 or by e-mail at aweaver@wacochamber.com.

Workshop Invitation

 QUICK LINKS

Local Resource
 

Heart of Texas Regional Access System

Heart of Texas Regional Access System

 
National Resources 

 

 
 

Local News

 Imagine Waco Plan presents grand vision for future of city 
Join our Mailing List!
 
 
 

Children Experience a “Different” Kind of Homelessness at the Family Abuse Center

By: Sarah Viviani, LMSW
 
  

The term “homeless,” most simply, means a lack of shelter and exposure to the wind, rain, and in mid-summer, the unrelenting Texas heat.  The staff at the Family Abuse Center believes that home must be a safe place– too, and they work to maintain a shelter and an organization that advocates for each individual’s right to an abuse-free home-life.  When battered women and their children arrive at the Family Abuse Center, they have taken the first step towards a new life. While the safety and support of the Family Abuse Center offers a “home for now,” kind of feeling, home truly happens when victims move to a home of their own and cut off all ties from the abuser that brought her to the shelter.  In short, home can happen once a domestic violence victim calls herself  a survivor.
While life at a shelter is undoubtedly chaotic for women and their children alike, shelter-life can be most confusing for a child.  Women often come to the shelter after a highly abusive, “last straw,” incident. With a mother’s emotions running high, children are left to their own rationalizations that oftentimes sound like: “We left home because Daddy gets mad a lot and now we are here.”   Women are finally in a place where they feel enough support and freedom to experience painful emotions, yet grieving is never neat and tidy. Consequently, children become privy to their mother’s anguish, in a very public and emotionally-charged environment.  “Little caretaker” syndrome is a common one for the children of battered women, whom often neglect their own emotions in an effort to manage their mother’s. In counseling, a service offered to the child residents through the Family Abuse Center children’s program, one seven year old female explained: “telling Mommy I’m sad might make her cry more.”
Oftentimes, children seek the camaraderie of other children at the Family Abuse Center.  Sibling relationships typically enmesh, and strangers develop the kind of emotional closeness siblings might share.  Child witnesses to domestic violence share a unique experience, and on top of that they share school bus rides, meals, home-work time and a variety of other organized activities while they stay at the Family Abuse Center.  All of this closeness fosters intimacy quickly, and for siblings, the shelter environment both strains and strengthens their family tie.  While the youths’ companionship provides relational support and eases the anxieties that come with shelter-life, oftentimes it lacks needed parental supervision and guidance.
The Family Abuse Center staff provides  supportfor parents, whose healing is far more complex since it involves the hearts of their children in addition to their own.  It is important that mothers understand the effects of domestic violence on children, yet perhaps more importantly, staff empowers them to embrace their role as their child’s greatest advocate and teacher.  When families take on this kind of task, the emotional transitions are more difficult than they might be for a single woman with no children of her own.  Even so, the Family Abuse Center can be the first step in a long journey, and the larger the family, the stronger the spirit of survival once they finally make it home.
 

New Administrator Adds Brightness to Sunny Day Center

Kathryn Geller is the new administrator at Sunny Day Center, a for-profit provider of adult day services for mentally or physically disabled adults. In her previous position, Kathryn served as director of the Refugee Services Division for Lutheran Social Services of Michigan.
The Refugee Services Division provides a variety of services including; resettling services, employment services, foster care for refugee youth, refugee mentoring, translation services, preventative health services, and the refugee school impact program. Aside from providing housing and assimilation assistance, the program assists students, educators and parents develop the tools necessary for dealing with the unique circumstances faced by refugees. According to Geller, she is now working to apply the experience of working in such a program to the administration of Sunny Day Center.
“Sunny Day Center works with the state of Texas Hospitals, nursing homes, Adult Protective Services, mental health/ mental retardation centers (MHMR), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), assisted living personal care homes, Texas Department of Human Services (TDHS), and community social workers to enhance the quality of life for every qualified individual,” according to their website, “If you are a care facility that would like to expand the amount of activities and resources  to your clients or if your clients need social interaction with others outside your facility with daily professional supervision, you, too, can benefit from our program.”
Sunny Day Center is not a nursing home type facility that simply provides a supervised place to stay while family members go to work, according to Geller. It provides social interaction. It builds toward a sense of self-actualization. In order to enhance the lives of the clients, Sunny Day Center provides, Massage Therapy, Skilled Onsite Care and Supervision, Group and Individual Activities, Nourishing Meals and Snacks, Local Transportation, Life Skills, Recreational Activities & Exercise Programs, Field Trips, Counseling and Physician Coordination, and Health Monitoring & Education.
If you would like a tour of Sunny Day Center, contact Kathryn Geller at ph: 254.799.1099, or e-mail k.geller@sunnydaylp.com.
 

Calendar of Events

  
Link to ActLocally Calendar of Events 
ActLocally is a community-wide Calendar of Events
 
 
Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition Calendar of Events (see below)

 

 
July 14 & 15
SOAR Training 
Haven for Hope of Bexar County
1 Haven for Hope Way
San Antonio , Texas 78207
Contact:
Lori Kirchgatter
Texas Homeless Network
512.482.8270
 

July 16    11:45 am

Member Meeting
Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition
Location: Mission Waco
1315 North 15th
Lunch provided: RSVP by June 16
 
July 28 & 29

SOAR Training

United Way of Greater Houston
50 Waugh Drive
Houston , Texas 77007
Contact:
Lori Kirchgatter
Texas Homeless Network
512.482.8270
 
August 3           6pm-9pm

National Night Out
Heart O’ Texas Fairgrounds

For booth information call:  750-1761

 

August 13-14  Volunteers Needed
Texas Mission of Mercy Event
Provides Dental Care and other services to over 1,000 McLennan County Residents
For more information contact Debbie McElveen at Potter’s Vessel at: debbiemcelveen@sbcglobal.net

 

August 19 & 20

SOAR Training
Norris Conference Center
2525 West Anderson Lane
Austin , Texas 78757

Contact:
Lori Kirchgatter
Texas Homeless Network
512.482.8270
 

 
September 16   8:00 am

Non-Profit Network Meeting
Texas Life Annex
 
 

September 19       8:00a.m. – 10:30a.m

Mission Waco’s 8th annual “Walk for the Homeless” and “Shoes for the Homeless”
 
October 21    8:00 am

Non-Profit Network Meeting
Texas Life Annex
 
 

October 27 & 28
SOAR Training 
Center for Community Cooperation
2900 Live Oak Street
Dallas , Texas 75204
Contact:
Lori Kirchgatter
Texas Homeless Network
512.482.8270
 
Fall 2010
Salvation Army Opens New
Emergency Shelter for Men
 
November 4 & 5

SOAR Training 

Fort Worth Housing Authority
1201 E. 13th Street
Fort Worth , Texas 76102

Contact:
Lori Kirchgatter
Texas Homeless Network
512.482.8270
 
November 16    8:00 am

Non-Profit Network Meeting
Texas Life Annex
 
January 27, 2011
Project Homeless Connect

Service Provider Spotlight: StarryOnline.org

 This month’s topics focus on Family and Children’s housing. In close relation is Children’s counseling. That is what StarryOnline.org does. According to their website, “STARRY’s goal is to be a beacon of light for children, youth and families in the midst of crisis, no matter how big or small.” Although the Waco office only provides counseling, emergency shelter, foster care, SAFE, and mentoring services are available at other locations.
StarryOnline.org arrived in Waco in November 2009, providing services to families with children under 17 years of age. They provide family counseling, depending upon needs, one time per month – with additional counselling for the child available. Services are free. There are no income requirements. However, there are limitations. An open CPS case, or if the child is being adjudicated for a crime, would exclude the family from services.

 
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Heart Of Texas Homeless Coalition
Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition
Homeless Family
June 2010 Vol 3, Issue 6
 
Applying Research to Project Planning
Next Meeting
Seven Residents Graduate from Compassion Ministries
Behind the Scenes with the Vista – Benefits of Listening to the Voice of the Customer
Research Builds Success for Campus Kitchens Project
Bringing it all together: A Kaizen Exercise
Calendar of Events
Behind the Scenes With The VISTA (Continued): The HOT Market Potential, and How Publicly Subsidized Insurance Was Started In Memphis

Next Meeting
                                     

Noon – June 18, 2010

 

H.O.T. Regional MHMR

 (12th and Austin – Waco,Texas)

 

 

Seven Residents to Graduate from Compassion Ministries’ Life Skills Program 
                                     

Seven residents will be graduating, from Compassion Ministries’ Life Skills Program, 6 p.m. Thursday, July 1st at Austin Avenue Methodist Church Fellowship Hall. The graduation is a celebration of resident accomplishments. Successful completion of the program is defined as achieving each of six rigorous standards. Among the standards are completing the Life Skill requirement, 12 credited budget/employment sessions, permanent full-time employment, obtaining permanent housing, on-time rent payments, and compliance with program policies/procedures. 

 QUICK LINKS

Local Resource
 

Heart of Texas Regional Access System

Heart of Texas Regional Access System

 
National Resources 

 

 
 

Local News

Subsidized Waco Complex Boosts Inspection Score

  National News

 

  
Join our Mailing List!
 
 
 

 Behind the Scenes with the VISTA – Benefits of Listening to the Voice of the Customer

 
Serving as a VISTA is a unique learning experience. Addressing the different challenges presented by building the capacity of a functioning organization that is lead by volunteers, combined with adapting to a shared living environment, requires constant creativity. It also reqires frequently seeking the advice of experts. Sometimes, that results in identifying highly effective techniques.
I recently e-mailed Dr. Fred Childs for suggestions on how to maximize the impact of a public relations campaign. In part, he responded, “I would propose using the Kaizen (and also 6 Sigma) concept of listening to the voice of the customer, and work back from that.”  
Dr. Childs has over 25 years of corporate management and executive experience. He is an author and publisher, keynote speaker, consultant and training specialist. He has trained over 2,000 professional corporate teams, and served in Senior Management for several Fortune 200 companies. Teams trained by Dr. Childs have documented corporate savings totaling hundreds of millions of dollars. 
 
To understand how the concept of listening to the voice of the customer is being applied in Waco, I interviewed Baylor’s Director of Business Affairs, Rosemary Townsend.
Aside from being the director of Baylor University Campus Kitchen (BUCK), Rosemary is also the director of Waco’s only Open Table program. It is one of only two tables in Texas, and is operated through St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.
 

“Open Table is important because it helps people develop thier own strategy to exit poverty into self-sustainability,” Townsend stated, “There is a huge portion of the population that can become self-sustaining tax-payers.”
Open Table uses Kaizen, listens to the voice of the customer (VoC), and provides the nearest example to 6 Sigma provision of services I have been able to identify. While assisting Open Table’s first client, the founder and CEO, Jon Katov, led a group of volunteer advisors to write and implement a customized LifePlan for the client’s life. In total, 10 – 12 volunteers with expertise in specific areas join forces for about a year to guide one family out of poverty.
Townsend describes the experience as one that changes people dramatically – not just the recipient of services but also the perspectives of all table participants. What it does is allow one to see challenges faced by impoverished people. Helping overcome those challenges forces volunteers to view poverty from a different perspective. Because the volunteers are actively involved, and personally committed to the success of the client, processes are constantly evaluated – as is proposed in Kaizen. The only one with veto power is the client, which empowers the voice of the customer. Solutions are proposed and discussed by the entire board, greatly reducing the likelihood of a missed opportunity – as is the goal of 6 Sigma.  
The result is a powerful set of outcomes. According to Townsend, Waco’s first Open Table resulted in a person that went from being supported by society to one that contributes to society and has a heart for service. When the client entered the program, she was nearing the end of her employment, had no drivers license, had no car, had many health and legal issues, was displaced from her home, and had difficulty obtaining employment because of criminal history.Today, that same individual’s health and legal issues have been corrected. She has a stable job. She has a driver’s license and a car, and she has bought a house.   
Imagine the impact when implemented accross an entire community. According to Open Table’s website, Kaizen is also being implemented to the organization’s capacity to do just that. The website states, “Open Table’s Neighborhood Roots System (NRS) equips and mentors faith communities to develop and implement business plans to revitalize their neighborhoods. Piloted in South Phoenix, the NRS unites faith community assets with collaborative partners who provide volunteers, intellectual capital, and networking to resources required for business plan implementation. While in the earliest stages of development and phased rollout, the NRS is already impacting the lives of families in poverty in South Phoenix.” 

 Research Builds Success  For  Campus Kitchens Project

 
October 8-10, Baylor Poverty Summit and the Campus Kitchens Project will be hosting the Hungry for Justice Conference at Baylor University. The educational conference is geared toward college and university students, with academic and project papers scheduled to be presented by national experts, faculty, graduate student, and undergraduate students.
  

The Campus Kitchens Project brings student volunteers, unserved food, and people in need of nourishing meals together to form resourceful anti-hunger programs. The process has become known as food rescue. Since 2001, 26 communities across the country have provided more than 1 million meals to needy people. According to Maureen Roche, National Director of The Campus Kitchens Project, Auburn University recently opened a Campus Kitchen and in the next few weeks she will be visiting locations in New York to conduct community needs assessments for even more locations.
Although the project started as an idea the DC Central Kitchen wanted to try, according to Roche, ”…the key to the success of CKP is our ability to serve each community how best suits their needs and utilizes their resources. We would not be able to do that if a community was not researched prior to a Campus Kitchen opening and if the program was not flexible enough to be modified to suit each city.  No two Campus Kitchens are alike because no two cities or their needs are alike and we would not be able to help if we did not research a community to find out what residents really need.”
The methodology follows Voice of the Customer, 6 Sigma, and Kaizen research approaches. The National Center solicits campus involvement. Each recruit is provided with an application, a feasibility form, an on-site community needs assessment from the National Director, assistance in forming a survey specific to the needs of the community, and training that teaches students to conduct community needs assessments. The guiding question, according to Roche, is “Why are people needing food?”
During a visit to Auburn University, Roche noticed that everyone was walking. It alerted her to a potential obstacle to the end-user benefiting from the service. When she inquired about transportation issues, she discovered that transportation is a key reason people do not have access to food. In order to amplify the voice of the customer, the needs assessment for Auburn includes questions specifically aimed at bridging the transportation barriers.
Quality of the products are also of critical importance. In the style of 6 Sigma, monitoring to avoid problems with the product is frequent. According to Townsend, safety of the rescued food is key to success of the program. There is a clear chain of custody and clear procedures for food delivery. The procedures include, but are not limited to, students checking the temperature of the food upon receipt, placing it in temperature controlled containers, and checking the temperature again at the delivery location.  
Kaizen is also important to the program. According to Bethel Erickson, VISTA for HOT Urban Gardening Coalition, “This past year, students from Baylor University Campus Kitchen (BUCK)program have started a relationship with the Calvary Baptist Community Garden in town to provide more fresh vegetables in the meals BUCK provides to Salvation Army, and in the meals Family and Consumer Science students serve at Family Abuse Center.”
In the spirit of Kaizen, they are already planning for expansion. According to Erickson, a meeting was held at Baylor to discuss a community garden on Baylor’s campus. The proposed garden would be maintained by students from BUCK and Baylor’s Environmental Science program. If the garden is approved, vegetables produced there will be used to supply BUCK programs.

Bringing it all Together: A Kaizen Exercise 

 
Last years’ member survey indicates 87.5% of members joined in order to network with other service providers. The results also indicate 81.3% of respondents desire to learn more about other member activities. This Kaizen exercize allows you to refine your voice. The goal is to improve your networking potential and create opportunities to communicate about community activities.
First, I will provide two examples of networking approaches. Then, you will be provided a writing exercise that will help you focus on what you want to communicate about yourself/ your organization. The aim is to improve your networking skills in any environment, using the Kaizen method of improvement.
At VISTA training they suggest using a process of three questions to stimulate interest in your project through conversation. Those steps are: 1) Tickle their interest with a 3 – second statement, 2) Pique their interest with another 3-second statement, and 3) Captivate their interest with a 30 second statement.
Alternatively, an inductive method is considered a best practice of online social networking. An example of an inductive introduction is, “My name is Kevin. I am with the Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition. Please let me know how I can help you provide (the name of their product or service) to your clients.” 
Either approach requires that you concisely describe what it is you do. So, this month’s exercise is to improve your introduction.
1) Write a 150 word introduction about yourself, or your organization.
2) Have it critiqued. Will it provoke more interest? Will it provoke action?
3) Re-write the article.

4) Have it critiqued by someone else. (Repeat the process until improvements can no longer be made.)

5) Place with it an image (photo or logo) that communicates the image you want to present to the public. (Have the image and message critiqued, to see how they work together. Repeat.)
6) If you would like it to appear on our website’s member roster, send it to Kevin at: kallen@ci.waco.tx.us 

Calendar of Events

  
Link to ActLocally Calendar of Events 
ActLocally is a community-wide Calendar of Events
 
 
Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition Calendar of Events (see below)

 

Part-time job available at World Hunger Farm

 

 

June 16
RSVP for

Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition

Monthly Meeting  

 

June 17    8 am – 10 am
Monthly Meeting
Non-profit Network
Texas Life Annex
1000 Wash. Ave.
 
 

June 17     6PM – 8PM Thursdays 
New series of Financial Literacy Classes
Waco Community Development (17th and Colcord)
For more information please call 235-7358.
 
June 18     11:45 am
Member Meeting
Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition
Location: HOT Regional MHMR
Lunch provided: RSVP by June 16
 
June 18    11 am
Board Meeting  
Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition
 
June 24      7 p.m.
Habitat for Humanity Informational Meeting (11th and Columbus)
Phone: 254-756-7575
 
July 14
RSVP for

Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition

Monthly Meeting  

vista@heartoftexashomeless.org

 

July 16    11:45 am

Member Meeting
Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition
Location: Mission Waco
1315 North 15th
Lunch provided: RSVP by June 16
 
 
August 13-14  Volunteers Needed
Texas Mission of Mercy Event
Provides Dental Care and other services to over 1,000 McLennan County Residents
For more information contact Debbie McElveen at Potter’s Vessel at: debbiemcelveen@sbcglobal.net

 

September 19       8:00a.m. – 10:30a.m
Mission Waco’s 8th annual “Walk for the Homeless” and “Shoes for the Homeless”
 
Fall 2010
Salvation Army Opens New
Emergency Shelter for Men
 
January 27, 2011
Project Homeless Connect

Behind the Scenes with the VISTA  (cont’d) How Publicly Subsidized Insurance Was Started in Memphis

While serving as Volunteer Coordinator for The Convergence Project, we had 28 projects accross the United States and overseas. One extremely successful project was lead by a volunteer that served The Convergence Project, in Memphis. Her name is Laura Keon.
Laura, is that volunteer we all dream of having. She was on the Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack basketball team when they won the national championship. She also founded a corporation that was traded publicly on the stock exchange. All I had to do was allow her to go through her paces. The only concern she ever expressed to me was, “The project has taken on a life of its own.” I felt like dancing. What had happened was that she motivated the participants so well, they took ownership of the project. When that happened under her guidance, success became inevitable.
The proposed project seemed impossible. She desired to bring together members of a housing project together with city leaders to identify a common goal. The goal became publicly subsidized insurance, at a point in time congress could not agree on what to do about the healthare issue.The result was state subsidized health insurance and corporately subsidized life insurance for every qualifying child in Memphis Public Schools. Approval and planning of the project took less time than, and was completed before, congressional approval of our current health care legislation. Enrollment of approximately 110,000 qualifying families will begin during school enrollment processes this September.
To identify how we might use her techniques in our public relations plan, I e-mailed her and requested an interview. According to Laura, she started by approaching city officials with the idea of implementing a Convergence Project. She was directed to Memphis Housing Authority. Working with the Memphis Housing Authority, Laura approached the residents of the housing authority to ask their input about their needs. During the public meeting portion of planning the project, she asked open ended questions. Among the questions were, according to Laura, “What are your needs?” and “What are the greatest challenges of the community?”  Then they allowed open discussion among the residents.
The biggest issue was a matter of building trust between residents and the Memphis Police Department. To accomplish the task required providing residents with something they needed and wanted. They wanted insurance and a chance to improve the lives of their children. According to Laura, research indicates that 98% of Memphis public school students live in abject poverty.It is also the largest school distict in the country.
There was already a program, called “Cover Kids,” provided by the state of Tennessee that city council members pulled into the process. Under the program, insurance for children is completely paid by the state. Laura connected with representatives from Mass Mutual. They provided subsidized life insurance to benefit qualifying children. Uner this part of the program, Mass Mutual provides $50k worth of life insurance on qualifying parents of school age children, with the children listed as the beneficiaries. If a child’s parent, or parents, die before the child is 18 the money may be used to cover funeral expenses and the remainder may be used to pay for educational expenses. In order to qualify, the participants can not have a felony conviction, the participants must pass a drug screen, and fall within the specified income range. To ensure equal opportunity to access the program, enrollment will take place as part of the School District’s enrollment package.
More programs are in the planning stages, and I will keep you updated on her efforts as opportunites for discussion arise.
My contact information is listed below. Please keep in touch with your needs and activities. I look forward to serving your needs during the next year.
 

Kind Regards,
VISTA
Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition
Phone: 750-5967  

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]]> http://www.heartoftexashomeless.org/2010/06/07/june-2010/feed/ 0 Welcome to the brand new Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition website! http://www.heartoftexashomeless.org/2010/05/24/welcome-to-the-brand-new-heart-of-texas-homeless-coalition-website/ http://www.heartoftexashomeless.org/2010/05/24/welcome-to-the-brand-new-heart-of-texas-homeless-coalition-website/#comments Mon, 24 May 2010 17:02:05 +0000 admin http://www.heartoftexashomeless.org/?p=3 Dear Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition Members (and visitors!),

We welcome you to the brand new website for the Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition (HOTHC). We are all very excited and enthusiastic about what this new site will mean for the coalition as it builds it’s mission online, by strengthening the coalition’s already strong presence in the online community with an increased level of awareness being presented out in to the inter-web, through use of essential social networking media and an increase in information found on the site, as demonstrated through an increase in news related to homelessness and the activities of the Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition, which can be noted shortly and additional information begins to be added to this new and exciting web-page.

This improved online presence will also help to streamline activities of the coalition by creating a more dynamic level of member communication. The HOTHC can now also participate in it’s own online fund-raising through this new site: we will be able to accept online donations shortly and membership dues can be sent electronically through Paypal, allowing members a new and easier way to continue involvement with the coalition.

Things are about to get a lot more interesting online. There are obviously quite a few new features to explore, and more will be added on a regular basis. Take a look, and see for yourself why this new website will be an important source for Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition news and related information.

With Best Regards,

Neil D. Lumbard

]]> http://www.heartoftexashomeless.org/2010/05/24/welcome-to-the-brand-new-heart-of-texas-homeless-coalition-website/feed/ 0 May 2010 http://www.heartoftexashomeless.org/2010/05/07/may-2010-2/ http://www.heartoftexashomeless.org/2010/05/07/may-2010-2/#comments Fri, 07 May 2010 14:25:39 +0000 admin http://www.heartoftexashomeless.org/?p=56  

 
 
Heart Of Texas Homeless Coalition
Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition
Homeless Family
May 2010 Vol 3, Issue 5
 
In This Issue
Salvation Army Expansion
Public Awareness Resource – Lesson Plans Based on The Clara Barton House: Birthplace of the Red Cross
Bringing it all together: An awareness exercise
Calendar of Events

The Waco Salvation Army – Providing Help, Hope and a Hand-UP!

                                      By: Kate Jauch
 
Homeless ManIn 2007, The Waco Salvation Army was operating a community feeding program out of one side of its newly vacated thrift store building, and had been providing a men’s shelter for many years in the yellow house located behind the old thrift store building.  After visiting with city and community representatives, the Salvation Army began the “Women and Women with Children Gap Program”.  This program was specifically designed to “fill the gap” in immediate emergency shelter for women and children, that exists in the Waco/McLennan County community.  It provided short-term, emergency stays in local hotels until the women could be directed to agencies and/or programs that could provide more long term aid and solutions towards achieving Housing stability.
 

The feeding program, operating 365 days a year, began serving an average of 100 meals per day to those in need, growing to the current level of  over 50,000 meals per year – with a significant increase in meals provided to children and seniors.   The men’s shelter was called upon on a regular basis to provide extended stay shelter for veterans until space was available at the Veterans Administration, and it became apparent, that the need for the “gap” program for women and women with children  was increasing and needed more residential stability than hotel and meal vouchers could provide.  In 2009 The Salvation Army met with the City of Waco, The McLennan County Hunger Coalition, The McLennan County Homeless Coalition, private individuals, corporate and other agency’s representatives to discuss how The Salvation Army in Waco, could most effectively utilize its current facilities, programs and services, to respond to the increasing need in our area for food and shelter for the homeless and severely at risk population.   In response, the vision for a fully operational Salvation Army Community Kitchen, Red Shield Men’s Lodge and Sally’s House – Shelter for Women and Women with Children, was conceived and set into motion.

 
The Salvation Army has worked diligently to insure that we address the most critical needs identified in our community, with the most efficient and effective use of resources.  The final renovation project and Salvation Army Food and Shelter Programs will provide a fully operational Community Kitchen to operate on one side of the old Thrift Store, while the other side will provide 32 Dormitory Men’s beds for emergency shelter, and two rooms with 4 beds each for veterans referred through the Veterans Administration for extended stay.  
 

In addition, upon completion of the Red Shield Men’s Lodge, the current men’s shelter will be designated “Sally’s House” and be able to immediately provide emergency shelter for Women and Women with Children.  Up to 17 individuals housed in four rooms will be able to receive shelter, with two rooms dedicated to Women with Children, one room dedicated for extended stay for up to five female veterans, and one room reserved for up to five emergency stay women.  Future plans for Sally’s House include renovations that will create 4 extended stay, private entrance apartments for Women and Women with children.

 

The current anticipated timeline for completion of the Community Kitchen and Red Shield Men’s Lodge is early in September 2010.  At that time “Sally’s House” will immediately be able to house emergency stay women, women veterans, and one family.
Behind the Scenes with the VISTA
 

Since the April meeting, Chele Samaniego has moved on to new challenges. She has left behind a wonderful legacy on which to build upon. She has also made the transition into the VISTA position very pleasant. I look forward to the opportunity of working with her, as she becomes engaged in her new assignment at Compassion Ministries.   
 
My name is Kevin Allen, and I am the new VISTA. If I have not yet had an opportunity to speak with you, expect to hear from me soon, Barbara Tate, has asked that I spend the first month or so focusing on getting to know the needs and expectations of coalition members. The process is going well, and I am meeting alot of great people.
 
For those whom I have not met, I will provide a little background. In 2005, I earned a BA in Public Relations with a minor in Forest Recreation Management. In 2009, I completed a course in Conflict Analysis from the US Institute for Peace, and a Master of Science in Resource Interpretation. 
 
Since there are fewer than 50 people in the United States with a MS in Resource Interpretation, I suspect many readers are wondering what that is. A better term for resource interpretation would be leisure-time education. It is an excellent tool for public education, because it engages a non-captive audience in a leisure setting.  
 
Through the course of this newsletter, I will demonstrate as many facets of resource interpretation as is possible within the limitations of this newsletter. The Public Awareness collumn, the Bringing it All Together exercise, and many of the quick links furnish examples of what interpreters do. Each also ties back to homelessness or poverty in some way.

 

Other facets include guided tours at parks/museums, exhibits of artifacts or art, and living history exhibits.

 
(For a sneek peek at planned additions to the newsletter, and what is happening with the website, be sure to read the closing article at the bottom of the page. )

Public Awareness Resource – The Clara Barton House  
 

 
Clara Barton’s House, birthplace of the Red Cross (NPS photo)
 

 The Mayor’s 10 year Plan to end Chronic Homelessness in Waco calls for an increase in awareness of homelessness. The following is an example of how Red Cross has used a historic site to promote public awareness of their organization. As a National Landmark associated with service, it also serves as a means of generating interests in local service organizations. Subsequently, we can use the lesson plans and service learning activity to generate understanding, among school age children, of what the Homeless Coalition does in Waco. 
However, we need more programs similar in design to effectively increase awareness of homelessness in our community – especially among adults. Stimulate your creative processes and provide some input/ideas. Please interact with this article, rather than just read it. Click on the blue links. As you follow them through the process, consider different activities you have participated in during leisure-time experiences. Have you ever noticed a theme, while viewing an art exhibit? While reading a piece of poetry? While reading a novel? Did the experience communicate a message, without a lecture?

One facet of resource interpretation is communicating the significance of a resource, such as Clara Barton’s house. Through the process one will want to create emotional and intellectual connections. These connections are intended to provoke a prescribed response from the audience. The response could be awareness, understanding, concern, action, or commitment. 

In 1991, the National Park Service began developing lesson plans for the Teaching with Historic Places project. These lesson plans are intended to provide a fun supplement to traditional learning. The lesson plan associated with Clara Barton’s House is an excellent match for the Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition. It provides an interactive opportunity to learn about one of the most recognized service organizations in the United States. It also, provides service learning activities that will generate understanding of organizations within the coalition.
In strictly leisure settings, interpretive programs attract audience members who are at least curious about the subject. As a result, individuals are likely to participate. Just keep the program is light and enjoyable. When lesson plans are conducted in educational or employment settings, the inherent incentives make them even more powerful. Instructors, trainers, and employers have the ability to attach merit rewards. Action is, therefore, more likely to result.   
Before engaging in the lesson plans, be sure to go on a virtual tour of the house. Within this tour one will be able to virtually walk through the house, and see each room from a 360 degree angle. It even has points to click on, as you walk. Those points accompanied by a headset icon allow one to hear “Clara” describe the significance of the object as you look at the room. 

The NPS also has a list service learning activities to accompany many of the lesson plans. In the activity, titled Local Assistance Groups, which is designed to accompany the Clara Barton House Lesson Plan, the NPS suggests, 

“Have students investigate organizations in their area which offer assistance; research them to discover their history, similarities, and differences; and look at them in comparison to the Red Cross.  Brainstorm ideas for assistance within their own community and discuss ideas with an organization representative.  Work with the organization representative to design a project that would allow the students to assist the organization.”
In Waco, students can investigate member organizations of the Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition, brainstorm ideas for assistance within the community, and discuss ideas with the member organization’s representative. From that, the students can work with the representative  to design a project that would allow students to assist the organization.
An example of how this might benefit a local program is the Eat Free for the Summer program. The program provides breakfast and lunch to school age children all summer. According to Alexis Weaver, program organizers seek to identify programs that will interest children they are trying to feed. The hope is that the activity will encourage children to stay at the feeding location from breakfast to lunch. A process similar to the service learning activity associated with the Cara Barton House, could be used to design those activities.  
 
Using a fundamentally different approach, interpretive programs may also be designed to increase public awareness of homelessness in an adult audience. The approach for adults includes delivering the message through poetry, short stories, art exhibits, music, historic sites, outdoor recreation areas, outdoor events such as picnics, and more…
We would like your input. Forward your ideas to kallen@ci.waco.tx.us. They might become an article in next mont’s newsletter.

Arise

© 2009  

Silent desparation
Sitting in the darkness
Hidden Bruises
A battered life

A world torn apart
Distrusting the unseen other
Scarred memories
Hatred and Strife

Introversion is your friend
Longing for the storm to cease
For pain to decrease
For peace to begin

Risk being touched again
Dreamers awaken, in silence sit no more
Peace is knocking
Just open the door
Q  
Quick Links

 
Local Resource

Heart of Texas Regional Access System

National Resources

 

US Census information 
on the  City of Waco 

National News

 
“Meet the Unemployable Man” by Dan Wessel – The Wall Street Journal
Audio
“Sometimes” by Ed Thomas, reflects on different things that impact lives.

A Reading of

Our Beautiful New Home written and read by 2007 Nobel Prize Nominee Dr. Ada Aharoni, Ph.D. Lit. (used by permission) 


Audio of “Happiness,” written by Dr. Ada Aharoni. Listen to how a pair of artists bridge the language barrier with this inspiring song, presented in the Hebrew language. (used by permission) 
 
Video
 
 
Kilna bil Hayy - A peace video produced by Search for Common Ground. The phrase means “All of us are in the neighborhood.” English subtitles are included.
 
Homelessness in U.S. History
 
Colonial Williamsburg

 

 

Richman, Poorman, Beggarman, Thief: Down but Not Out in Colonial Virginia by Martha W. McCartney, Colonial Williamsburg Journal, August 2000

 

Lusty Beggars, Dissolute Women, Sorners, Gypsies, and Vagabonds for Virginia by Bruce P. Lenman, Colonial Williamsburg Journal, Spring 2005

 

Podcast - Lloyd Dobbins of History.org interviews Jan Gilliam from Colonial Williamsburg about the beginning and evolution of mental health care in the United States.

 
 
1906 Earthquake
 
1906 Earthquake: The U.S. Army’s Role Presidio of San Francisco Golden Gate National Recreation Area
 

Great Depression

 

 

The Great Depression (1929-1939) Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site

 

Arthurdale- Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site

 

First Lady of the World:Eleanor Roosevelt at Val-Kill Lesson Plan - A service learning activity to accompany this lesson plan, suggested by the NPS, is “Local Volunteer Organizations:” Ask students to make a list of the volunteer groups and programs in their community and while working in small groups, have the students write and essay on one of the organization’s history and structure.  Hold a class discussion and consider volunteering for the organization.”

 

Lesson Two: Eleanor Roosevelt, A Leader Who Helps People - A lesson plan for 2nd grade students visiting Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site
Join our Mailing List!
 
 
 

Bringing it all Together: an awareness exercise 

  
The following exercise is designed to provide you with additional resources, and hopefully bring together various elements of this months newsletter.
 
 
1) While on the site, register your homeless shelter /food pantry / soup kitchen / rent assistance program / affordable housing program. Registered shelters obtain volunteer inquiries and are placed on a donations list.
 
2) Identify 10 non-emergency shelters for single adult males without addictions, anywhere in the United States. What groups do shelters commonly serve?  How would you feel if you wee in an excluded group?  

 
3) Return to the home page. Locate the map, and click on Texas. Explore the different services available in the state, such as food pantries and other resources. Do you feel you can refer your 

clients with this service?

Calendar of Events

  
Link to ActLocally Calendar of Events 
ActLocally is a community-wide Calendar of Events
 
 
Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition Calendar of Events (see below)
 

May 14-16                                                    
Waco Civic Theatre presents “Gypsy”.
 
May 15 
Veteran’s Memorial Service 10 am – 3 pm 
 

May 19

RSVP for

Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition

Monthly Meeting  

 

May 19 at 10 am

Round Table Discussion
Cooper Room
Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce
 
May 20
Present the Hunger Coalition’s Fundraising Flyer
at Pizza Hut and the Hunger Coalition recieves
20% donation

 

May 21 at 11am
Board Meeting  
Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition

 

May 21 at 11:45

Member Meeting
Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition
Location: HOT Regional MHMR
Lunch provided: RSVP by May 19

 

May 21-23
Waco Civic Theatre presents “Gypsy”.
 
May 22     9am-Noon
McClelland County Hunger Coalition’s
Block Walk to Raise Awareness
 
May 27
Present the Hunger Coalition’s Fundraising Flyer
at Pizza Hut and the Hunger Coalition recieves
20% donation
 

May 28
Sul Ross Elementary End of School Celebration
NEED:  Volunteers to help serve the food between 9:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
 
June 4
Last day of fund availability for in-care Veteran ex-offenders.
 

June 5 at 7pm

Art Center Waco presents
Art View 2010, a gala and orginal art auction.
Proceeds from the event benefit 
Art Center Waco educational programs. 
Phone 752-4371
 
June 7    Noon
Housing Coalition
Monthly Meeting
at NeighborWorks
922 Franklin
 
June 10    Noon
McClennan County Hunger Coalition
Monthly Meeting
Lunch provided
 
June 3
Deadline for information
to be placed in June Issue of
Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition Newsletter
 
June 11
Recieve HOT Homeless Coalition
June Newsletter
 
June 16
RSVP for

Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition

Monthly Meeting  

 

June 17    8 am – 10 am
Monthly Meeting
Non-profit Network
Texas Life Annex
1000 Wash. Ave.
 
June 18     11:45 am
Member Meeting
Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition
Location: HOT Regional MHMR
Lunch provided: RSVP by June 16
 
June 16    11 am
Board Meeting  
Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition
 
July 14
RSVP for

Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition

Monthly Meeting  

vista@heartoftexashomeless.org

 

July 16    11:45 am

Member Meeting
Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition
Location: Mission Waco
1315 North 15th
Lunch provided: RSVP by June 16
vista@heartoftexashomeless.org

 

Fall 2010
Salvation Army Opens New
Emergency Shelter for Men
 
January 27, 2011
Project Homeless Connect

Behind the Scenes with the VISTA  (cont’d)

 

I hope this new format has been thought provoking and enjoyable. In the June issue, there will be no need for introductory material. I hope to replace those articles with items like monthy meeting minutes, member spotlights, current issues, and member spotlights. So, be sure to let me know your opinions. 
I would also like to include a more comprehensive calendar of events. Neil Lumbard has advised that it is tecnically possible to furnish a link back to the webpage, if we need more space for the calendar of events. He is currently working on upgrading our website, to include alot of new bells and whistles. Other new features, recently suggested by members, are also being considered. Who knows? We might consider a human resources page and/or resource mobilization page. Anything is possible.
Once Neil completes the site, I am sure that the coalition will feel more connected than ever. So, it is an exciting time. To keep up on the latest developments, please subscribe to the RSS feed that Neil has provided.  
By letting me know at the earliest stages of event planning, or confirmation, your projects will gain maximum exposure. The additional lead time generated will allow other member organizations to plan to attend, and even collaborate with you when possible.   
My contact information is listed below. Please keep in touch with your needs and activities. I look forward to serving your needs during the next year.
 

Kind Regards,
VISTA
Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition
Phone: 750-5967  
E-mail:

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]]> http://www.heartoftexashomeless.org/2010/05/07/may-2010-2/feed/ 0 April 2010 http://www.heartoftexashomeless.org/2010/04/07/april-2010-2/ http://www.heartoftexashomeless.org/2010/04/07/april-2010-2/#comments Wed, 07 Apr 2010 14:28:34 +0000 admin http://www.heartoftexashomeless.org/?p=58  

 
The Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition
Official logo
Working to end homelessness in Central Texas
 April 2010
 
 
 
Greetings!

It seems like only yesterday I was introducing myself at the May 2009 Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition as the new VISTA. It was at Compassion Ministries, and Kenneth told me I had to introduce myself and tell a room full of strangers about myself, my work and what I planned to do as the VISTA.

It’s been a year of education. I learned that the homeless are not nameless faces wandering our streets. They are men and women who, due to numerous reasons, are surviving the best way they know how. They are sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, and men and women who served our country. They have names and stories just like all of us, and deserve the respect and love that all human beings deserve. I learned that a person’s efforts do matter. And, that every little bit furthers awareness and compassion.

It’s been a year and now my time here is over. As of April 23rd, I turn over this newsletter and my duties to our new VISTA, Kevin Allen. Kevin hails from Lufkin, Texas, and from our conversations, has a heart and passion to serve the homeless in Waco. Kevin will be joining us at our April 16th meeting to introduce himself before he heads to his VISTA training orientation.

I leave my term not in a room full of strangers, but in a group of friends with a common goal — to love and serve those living in homelessness in Waco. I hope to serve alongside you all in the future and to see you at the May coalition meeting, where I will have to remind myself to RSVP!

Until then,

Chelle Samaniego
2009 – 2010 VISTA
Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition
972-998-8640
254-750-5967
 
 
 
 

Next HOTHC Meeting – April 16th

Have you seen the new Goodwill Learning Center? Here’s your chance! Our April meeting is this Friday, April 16th, hosted by H.O.T. Goodwill located at 1700 S. New Road (corner of New Road and Bagby). The meeting begins at 11:45 a.m. Lunch is provided, but please RSVP to chelles@ci.waco.tx.us to secure your reservation.

This is our most important meeting of the year as we will set our priorities for 2010! Come and cast your vote!

 
 
 
 

TANO membership

Don’t forget! All members of the HOTHC are members of the Texas Association of Non-profit Organizations (TANO.org). TANO offers trainings, funding information and updates, and resources to assist you in every level of your non-profit formation. Trainings are free or at a reduced costs to members. Visit their site today to learn more! www.tano.org

Upcoming classes are listed here.

Want to work in the non-profit sector? Visit the TANO Job Bank

 
 
 
 

Poverty Awareness in the News
Battling poverty has been a hot topic in the Waco Tribune Herald lately. To read the recent articles, visit the links below.

EDITORIAL: Waco leaders must invest in battling decades-old problem of poverty

Waco City Council looks at plan to combat poverty

Compassion in the depths of despair: Q&A with Jimmy and Janet Dorrell on their efforts to help Haiti

Baylor Pizza Hut raising money to help feed children
 
 
 

 

Calendar of Events


Non-profit Network Breakfast
4/15 @ 8 a.m.
Texas Life Annex
1000 Washington Ave.

Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition Monthly Meeting
4/16 @ 11:45 a.m.
H.O.T. Goodwill
1700 S. New Road

Homebuyer Education Class
by Waco CDC
4/17 from 1-6 p.m.
1624 Colcord

Panel Discussion: Ending Hunger in McLennan County
(part of One Book One Waco)
4/20 @ 6:30 p.m.
MCC – HPE Lecture Hall


For more events, visit
www.actlocallywaco.org

FACEBOOK

The HOTHC is now on Facebook! Become our fan today by clicking here. 

Contact Information
Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition
Chelle Samaniego
VISTA
254-750-5967
chelles@ci.waco.tx.us

Learn more about the HOTHC at www.heartoftexashomeless.org

 
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Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition Newsletter
 
Working to end homelessness in Central Texas
 February 2010
 
 
 
HOTHC logo 1 Greetings!

Spring is almost here and there is snow covering the ground. I love Texas weather! It’s in these times that our shelters see the greatest need as those who wouldn’t ordinarily come in off the streets decide to seek shelter. Thank you to all you who work and volunteer at our area shelters for going the extra mile.

As you noticed, we did not have a meeting this month. Our next meeting is March 19th hosted by the Greater Waco Chamber located at 101 S. 3rd Street in Waco. Our meeting begins at 11:45 a.m. and lunch is provided. Our numbers are growing so please be sure to RSVP for our lunch to chelles@ci.waco.tx.us. Additional reminders will be sent out prior to the meeting.

March’s meeting is crucial to our work at the HOTHC. We will set our priorities for 2010 not only to focus this year’s work, but also to include them in our upcoming HUD Continuum of Care grant application.

Also this month, you will receive reminders from me regarding our annual membership renewals. Please know your membership is important to us. It not only shows your support for the coalition, but your involvement greatly increases our standing with receiving funds from HUD’s Continuum of Care grant. This funding keeps our shelters open, our programs operating, and gives our neighbors who live in homelessness the help they so desperately need. Please consider renewing your membership or becoming a member if you have not done so already. We need your assistance in keeping our programs going. Thank you for your support!  To view our membership forms, please visit http://www.heartoftexashomeless.org/about.htm , and if you have any questions, please call or e-mail me anytime.

Thank you so much for your ongoing support of the Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition.

Chelle Samaniego
VISTA – HOTHC

Join us on Facebook! Become a fan of the Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition!
 
 
 
 

PHC 2010 serves 109 partipants

This year’s Project Homeless Connect was our largest event ever! We served 109 people currently living in homelessness in Waco, and offered expanded services including pet care; medical, dental and vision screenings; and job skills assessments and assistance; along with the same great services from years past. Special thanks go to our more than 40 service providers who attended and to Acts Christian Fellowship for hosting us for another year. Thank you!
 
 
 
 

 
HOTHC receives Walmart Grant

The Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition recently received a $1,000 Walmart Community Grant to use toward Project Homeless Connect 2011. Special thanks go to Walmart Waco for this generous gift to help our work toward ending homelessness in Waco.
Pictured: Diana Baker (Walmart Community Involvement Coordinator), Anita Farrish (HOTHC Board Vice Chairperson), Walmart Manager, Chelle Samaniego (HOTHC VISTA), and Mike Ormsby (PHC 2010 Committee Chairperson)
 
 
 

County Indigent Care Now Includes Dental

Clients in McLennan County’s indigent health care program will now be able to receive dental services. To read the recent article in the Waco Tribune Herald, please visit http://www.wacotrib.com/news/84537937.html
 
 
 
 
 
 
E-mail Chelle now to renew your membership or to join the
Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition.
 

 
In This Issue
PHC 2010
Wal-Mart Grant
Indigent Care Update

Upcoming Events

Shane Claiborne, proceeds benefit
Mission Waco
February 28, 7 p.m.
www.missionwaco.org

Compassion Ministries Graduation
March 4th, 6 p.m.
www.compassionwaco.com

Caritas’ Feast of Caring
March 4th, 6 p.m.
www.caritas-waco.org

McLennan County Hunger Coalition Monthly Meeting
March 11th, 11:45 a.m.
at Caritas

HOTHC Monthly Meeting
March 19th, 11:45 a.m.

One Book One Waco Events for The Summer Kitchen,
based on the Gospel Cafe
Ongoing through the spring.
http://www.wacochamber.org/onebook.php

Upcoming Events
Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition Monthly Meeting

Friday, March 19, 2010

Greater Waco Chamber
101 S. 3rd. Street
Waco, Texas 76701
www.wacochamber.org

Meeting begins at 11:45 a.m. Lunch is provided.

Our numbers are growing! Please RSVP to chelles@ci.waco.tx.us to ensure we have the correct count for lunch. See you there!

Contact Information
Heart of Texas Homeless Coalition
Chelle Samaniego
VISTA
254-750-5967
www.heartoftexashomeless.org

P.O. Box 23025
Waco, TX 76702
 
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