HAVEN FOR HOPE

All summer long, KSAT has reported on how San Antonians from different walks of life have dealt with the extreme heat.

Pete Barrera stocks his pickup truck with food, water and supplies Monday through Saturday each week. He drives by encampments across San Antonio dropping these off to people without shelter.

Thursday was another scorching day across San Antonio, but some local families experiencing homelessness are getting some much-needed relief from the heat.

The economy's downturn and rising housing prices have left many senior citizens homeless, and Haven for Hope is seeing a spike in older clients.

Three teens in three exceptionally tough situations have risen above. The students separately ended up at Haven for Hope alone this past year, without family members to accompany them. Now, they are high school graduates.

Haven for Hope is helping the homeless community during high temperatures beat the heat.

Haven for Hope is preparing some of San Antonio’s most vulnerable for potentially dangerous weather.

Despite cold weather, rain and closures, the City of San Antonio and Bexar County did not open warming centers this week because officials said that conditions did not meet the threshold.

The City of San Antonio and several partner agencies are working on getting people off the street – creating the Homeless Response System to address homelessness in our community.

San Antonio nonprofits that serve the homeless community are ready to receive the gently used coats, sweaters and blankets taking up space in your home.

Kenneth Anderlitch struggled almost his whole life with alcoholism and addiction, finding it difficult to break the cycle landing him without shelter, or in prison. Then he found the program Pay it Forward. It saved his life, and he's raising awareness in a way bound to get the program national attention.

Kameron Rhys's experience with homelessness at 22 taught him what gaps need to be filled when it comes to unsheltered youth. He's using his voice to make big plans come to fruition.

A haircut seems so simple, but for those experiencing homelessness, a physical makeover can make big goals become reality.

Haven for Hope aims to raise more than $75,000 through Big Give to support safety and security on campus.

Haven For Hope has more than 180 partner agencies in Bexar County that help provide services to it's clients, a big focus of that is mental health.

Currently, there are close to 1,600 people staying at Haven for Hope, but some are sleeping in other non-dorm areas, including the chapel and classrooms.

They're a family of ten who are without a home and staying at Haven for Hope. That isn't stopping seven of their kids from getting excited to go back to school. It's an adjustment, but they're getting help from Haven for Hope staff.

With temperatures hitting record highs this summer, Haven for Hope needs water to distribute to those experiencing homelessness.

More people experiencing homelessness in San Antonio are going into shelters, according to a recent report from the South Alamo Regional Alliance for the Homeless (SARAH).

San Antonio Food Bank staff and volunteers spent Wednesday morning making Thanksgiving meals for shelter residents at Haven for Hope.

Kim Jefferies was named Friday the new president and CEO of Haven for Hope, a nonprofit aimed at helping and transforming the homeless in San Antonio.

To help the community during this difficult time, KSAT12 recently donated $25,000 towards the Let’s Help SA fund. By donating $25,000 to the “Let’s Help SA” project with Morgan’s Wonderland, we can help the city get back on the road to healing. These organizations are SAMMinistries, the San Antonio Food Bank and Haven for Hope. Haven for Hope provides, coordinates and delivers an efficient system of care for people experiencing homelessness in San Antonio. AdThe Let’s Help SA emergency fund will be open for donations through 11:59 pm this Sunday, February 28.

These organizations are SAMMinistries, the San Antonio Food Bank and Haven for Hope. The San Antonio Food Bank provides food to those in need. AdHaven for Hope provides, coordinates and delivers an efficient system of care for people experiencing homelessness in San Antonio. To help the community during this difficult time, KSAT12 recently donated $25,000 towards the Let’s Help SA fund. By donating $25,000 to the “Let’s Help SA” project with Morgan’s Wonderland, we can help the city get back on the road to healing.

SAN ANTONIO – Even as the snow fell and the temperatures dropped even lower, Valerie Salas was among a small army of outreach workers still out there trying to convince the homeless in San Antonio to seek shelter. Rogers said of the 25 to 30 homeless people they spoke to, only about half agreed to come to Travis Park Church or other shelters. Salas said it has been a community-wide effort, in coordination with the city of San Antonio, involving churches, nonprofits and others. “Yet, everyone’s coming together to help.”AdEven as more frigid weather bears down on San Antonio, Salas said probably like many others, she’s exhausted, but remains determined to do what needs to be done. “We’ve just been kind of hitting over and over and over again, just trying to get them out of this weather,” Salas said.

SAN ANTONIO – A community-wide response is underway in San Antonio ahead of the frigid weather expected over the next few days to assist the city’s homeless population. SARA has been a five-year-long community effort to better serve the city’s homeless population. She said in a time like this, at least 10 churches and nonprofits have stepped up to do their part. The city also has a homeless hotline, 210-207-1799, for more information, including how to help and where to volunteer. RELATED: City of San Antonio, partner agencies to provide shelter to homeless during frigid nights

SAN ANTONIO – Haven for Hope has been preparing for the upcoming cold weather. President for Haven for Hope, Molly Biglari said an indoor space will be used for sleeping. “We want to be able to offer even under these incredible services with COVID every service and that’s Haven’s services and our partner’s services,” she said. Haven for Hope will also offer cold weather clothing, warm jackets, and gloves. New clients should appear at Haven for Hope’s Intake (currently operating out of the Donation Center at 1 Haven for Hope Way) between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.

SAN ANTONIO – With a cold front forecasted for San Antonio this weekend, the City of San Antonio and its partnering agencies are providing access to shelter and services to the homeless community. City officials made the announcement Friday. The shelter will provide cold-weather sleeping accommodations and cold-weather kits, which will include sleeping bags, hand warmers, snacks and hygiene products. The Salvation Army Dave Coy Men’s Shelter will also provide overnight shelter for those in need as the cold front sets in. Clients will have access to restroom and shower facilities, hygiene products, a bed with clean linens and meals, city officials said.

SAN ANTONIO – The San Antonio Indian Nurses’ Association will be visiting homeless camps in downtown San Antonio on Wednesday to deliver about 250 blankets to those without homes. “During this holiday we thought of helping our unfortunate neighbors and this is our kind gesture of giving something from our association to the homeless people,” said SAINA President Dr. Pressanna Parackal. Nurse volunteers along with coordinators from Haven for Hope will be delivering the blankets. It’s happening from 1 to 4 p.m.On Saturday, SAINA will hold its second annual Conference & Gala with the theme “Celebrating superheroes.” During the virtual event they will be donating another 1,000 blankets to various groups including Haven for Hope, Child Advocates of San Antonio, Endeavors, and South Alamo Regional Alliance for the Homeless. Several esteemed guests are expected to attend the event including Dr. Anita Kurian, Assistant Medical Director, City of San Antonio Metropolitan Health District along with nurses from 14 different countries.

SAN ANTONIO – A 48-year-old man at a bus stop outside Haven for Hope was stabbed by a woman early Friday morning, San Antonio police said. The incident occurred around 6:45 a.m. near Frio Street and Haven for Hope Way. According to police, the man suffered non-life-threatening stab wounds when he was attacked by the 39-year-old woman, identified by police late Friday afternoon as Amanda Kay Smith. Amanda Kay Smith (SAPD)Police said they do not know what prompted the stabbing or if the pair even knew each other. A resident at Haven for Hope said Smith usually sleeps on the street near the shelter but did not appear to be staying inside.

SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio-based USAA has donated $5 million to nonprofit organizations across the country as support during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a large chunk of that going to seven local programs. USAA on Thursday announced $3.5 million will go to local organizations like Haven for Hope, the San Antonio Food Bank and Meals on Wheels “to address needs exacerbated by the ongoing pandemic.”“Since the pandemic began in March, many families across the country have experienced hardships related to food insecurity, limited access to technology and connectivity for remote schooling, lack of childcare and sometimes even homelessness,” Harriet Dominique, chief diversity, inclusion and corporate responsibility officer, said in a news release. “Aligned with our mission, we hope this continued support that we are able to provide to key nonprofit organizations helps with some of the burdens families are experiencing.”AdThe seven organizations included in the distribution include:Boys & Girls Clubs of San AntonioHaven for Hope of Bexar CountySan Antonio Food BankSan Antonio Metropolitan MinistriesUnited Way of San Antonio and Bexar CountyMeals on Wheels San AntonioTexas A&M University-San Antonio to help “close the digital divide”The remaining funds will be donated to more than a dozen nonprofit locations across the country, USAA said. The latest report from the Labor Department shows that the number of Americans seeking unemployment aid rose to 742,000 last week. More coronavirus coverage:

SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio’s East Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will hold a clothing drive for new pants and shorts for residents at Haven for Hope. Shorts and pants of all sizes for men, women and children are needed, but the greatest need is for men’s pants and shorts. The collection will take place from 8:30 to 9:45 a.m. on Sept. 26 at the following chapels:8801 Midcrown Drive15200 Judson Road13201 Forum RoadFor more information, click here.

'Life in the Shadows' Segment 2: 'Families On The Street'Published: October 24, 2019, 11:31 amMeet a woman who tries to get families off the streets and into Haven For Hope.