San Antonio on track for more than 1,000 homeless camp cleanups this year
There have already been 520 cleanups in San Antonio between October 2023 through March 2024, and the cityโs director of human services estimates that could reach โprobably 1,000 to 1,100โณ by the end of the 2024 fiscal year.
Nonprofit allows foster, trafficked youths to receive new clothes after they are pulled from crisis situations
When you walk into the shop, it feels like you're in a nice clothing store. While the clothes are brand new, they're not for sale. The shoppers are at-risk, foster, trafficked or homeless youth.
โI started doing drugs when I was 8โฒ: Now-sober San Antonio man helping people at shelters get into recovery
As the homeless shelters pack with people escaping the cold, substance use recovery teams are seeing an opportunity. Volunteers can now offer resources to a larger network of people at Corazon Ministriesโ Day Center.
Dignowity Hill residents, social service groups divided over how to help homeless population
This East Side neighborhood is home to an ecosystem of social service organizations. With more than five of these groups catered to helping the homeless population, some neighbors worry the number of people without shelter in the neighborhood will only climb.
Dignowity Hill: A neighborhood with history on every corner struggles to define itself
The view of downtown from many of the homes in the Dignowity Hill neighborhood is second to none, but they also have a front-row seat to some of the cityโs biggest issues: homelessness, gentrification and rising property taxes.
โGrave oversightโ: San Antonio childcare center slams plans for low-barrier homeless shelter next door
Just days after San Antonio City Council members approved a $15.9 million plan to use a downtown hotel as a 200-room, low-barrier homeless shelter, the childcare center next door says it is โoutraged.โ
'No such thing as impossible': 3 teenagers who live alone at Haven for Hope shelter graduate from high school
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.
Austin shelters werenโt prepared for outages despite lessons from 2021 winter storm, advocates say
Activists who work with unhoused people noted improvements in the cityโs planning and coordination, but said shelters were difficult to reach for some and couldnโt accommodate families with children.
Chainsaws and dry socks: Austinites step up for neighbors during ice storm
Friends in North Austin removed downed trees from neighborsโ roofs, while closer to the city core, volunteers rushed to meet the immediate needs of people without homes โ those most severely impacted by the freezing temperatures.
One year after homeless man was shot at a gas station, family frustrated with lack of charges
A year after William Hawkins, 35, was shot in a downtown gas station parking lot near McCullough Avenue and U.S. 281, his family is frustrated by what they see as a lack of justice. The Oct. 14, 2021 shooting happened in broad daylight, and was captured on camera, but the shooter is not currently facing any charges.
City struggling to keep homeless outreach team staffed
Started in 2021 following some smaller-scale pilot programs, the outreach team has 11 positions - one for each city council district and another for downtown. But in the little over a year-and-a-half since the first team members started, the city says it has had five resignations from the team.
In fight for Congress, Eddie Rodriguez targets Greg Casarโs record on Austin homelessness, police funding
Casar has impressive progressive endorsements, from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders. But he also is tied to some of Austinโs most progressive policies, which have attracted powerful enemies and turned off some moderate Democrats.
Unsheltered community remembers one of their own killed last week
Friends and family of 35-year-old William Hawkins were comforted by song, poetry and prayer and by the words of tribute and remembrance by those who knew and loved him during a memorial service Thursday at Christian Assistance Ministry.
Austinโs homeless residents left with nowhere to go amid camping crackdown
Months after Austin voters reinstated the cityโs public camping ban, authorities are clearing many of the largest encampments. Their former residents are going โanywhere itโs safe and out of sight, out of mind,โ one man said.
Businessesโ issues with homeless spur BCSO patrols on San Antonio River Walk
Downtown businessesโ issues with people experiencing homelessness have spurred the Bexar County Sheriffโs Office to send deputies on patrol along the River Walk -- though not in great numbers nor with the ability to enforce all the local laws.
โThere are no quick fixesโ: Bravoโs plans on camping at San Antonio District 1 field office remain uncharted
Under Mario Bravoโs predecessor, Roberto Treviรฑo, the District 1 field office near IH-10 and Vance Jackson, next to the Westfall Library, had been a safe haven for people experiencing homelessness to camp out. The situation has exasperated neighbors in the surrounding area, though, who hope the new councilman will get rid of the camp.
Haven for Hope prepares to provide shelter amid major temperature drop
SAN ANTONIO โ 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. โWe want to be able to offer even under these incredible services with COVID every service and thatโs Havenโs services and our partnerโs services,โ she said. Haven for Hope will also offer cold weather clothing, warm jackets, and gloves. New clients should appear at Haven for Hopeโs 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.
City crews clear another downtown homeless camp within the same week
SAN ANTONIO โ The City of San Antonio dismantled another downtown homeless camp Friday at Main Street and I-35, just two days after they cleared out a camp at Brooklyn Avenue and I-37. โWeโll leave a camp in place if thereโs no health or safety concern. Outreach crews from the city and its partners had been by the camp several times in the previous weeks, Steck said, offering assistance connecting with various services. Steck said out of everyone in the camp, three people accepted help with getting shelter services. RELATED: Homeless encampment will stay outside councilmanโs office as city continues outreach efforts
City unveils new, 5-year strategic plan to fight homelessness
SAN ANTONIO โ City staff presented a new five-year strategic plan on Wednesday to deal with homelessness in San Antonio and Bexar County. They said they are also planning for a possible wave of newly homeless residents from COVID-19-related evictions. The strategic plan was developed by California-based nonprofit Homebase and includes recommendations such as increasing the investment in outreach teams and community-based housing and services. RECOMMENDATION #5: Develop detailed prioritization policies and targeted interventions to most effectively connect persons experiencing unsheltered homelessness to stable housing. RECOMMENDATION #6: Increase focus on consumer engagement and equity throughout the homelessness response system.
Some California counties winding down hotels for homeless
But counties say that with some federal relief funding expiring soon or its status uncertain, it's time to transition residents from expensive hotel rooms to cheaper, more stable housing. California is one of several states, including Washington, that turned to hotels to shelter homeless people as the virus took hold. The department has said it plans to move homeless people out of all 29 hotels by June. Russ Heimerich, spokesman with the state's Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency, says counties have resources to continue housing homeless people in hotels. They say hotel residents have flourished with regular checkups and meals.
Pandemic puts downtown homeless encampments in plain sight
Tomanique Grant is one of several people who recently took to living in a tent, right alongside a busy downtown street. (KSAT 12 News)He bunks down each night in a fenced off parking lot near N. Main, alongside people in more than a half dozen other tents. (KSAT 12 News)They not only live together, but share chores and any food they can find. Grant says the closures related to the coronavirus left him and many other homeless people without any assistance. On October 15, San Antonio police moved in and shut down the encampment, not long after KSAT 12 News spoke with the cityโs Department of Human Services about it.
Study shows direct cash transfers may help solve homelessness
VANCOUVER, British Columbia โ A recent study concluded that cash transfers provided to recently homeless individuals had a direct impact on financial stability and provided relief to the shelter system by empowering individuals. The organization calculated that, on average, the cash transfer recipients saved the shelter system $8,100 per person over the course of the year for a total savings of $405,000. Claire Williams, CEO of Foundations for Social Change, said the organization wanted to illustrate the viability of direct cash transfers to impact change. โOur research shows that cash transfers allowed people to access housing faster, improving stability and lowering the risk of trauma.โJiaying Zhao, the studyโs principal investigator and a UBC professor, said that the study was based on people who received direct cash transfers and individuals who did not receive outside support. โTo receive a direct cash transfer, participants had to meet criteria that showed no misuse or abuse of substances,โ Zhao said.
WATCH: San Antonio City Councilman Pelรกez hosts virtual town hall on cityโs homelessness response
SAN ANTONIO โ San Antonio City Councilman Manny Pelรกez, with District 8, is holding a virtual town hall to discuss the cityโs collective community response to homelessness. The virtual town hall is scheduled from 5:30- 7 p.m. Thursday on Facebook Live and can be viewed in the video livestream below. Homelessness Town Hall: A Collective Community Response Join us for a deep-dive into San Antonio's homelessness response network! For more information on the event, or to learn more about the cityโs initiatives combatting homelessness, click here. RELATED: KSAT Community virtual Mental Health Town Hall
Massive homeless tunnel town uncovered in San Antonio
The City of Hollywood Park is trying to figure out how to clean-up an underground town of homeless people uncovered this week. The underground tunnel was uncovered when an officer saw a homeless person crawl in to a drainage tunnel. โAnd it really is like a small little town down there.โThe tunnels are covered with trash, shopping carts, food, feces and furniture. Since the tunnel town was uncovered, officers have check on them at least twice a day to clear people out. The tunnel crosses 281 underground, which is TxDOT jurisdiction, and exits into San Antonioโs jurisdiction.
Homeless shelters look for ways to help, protect some of the most vulnerable during COVID-19 crisis
San Antonio โ Some of the most vulnerable members of our community have no place to take shelter during the COVID-19 pandemic. Haven for Hope CEO Kenny Wilson says exceptions will be made for families with children, veterans and a few through selected targeting outreach. The City of San Antonio is also leading an effort to help the high number of people who are on the streets. In the next few days, the city plans to launch a hotline to help people reach social services. Both Haven for Hope and the city are looking at what funds are available federally and at the state level to help with homelessness.
Coronavirus isnโt stopping churches from feeding the homeless
During a time of crisis for the whole community, San Antonio church members are spending their time helping their homeless neighbors. Services inside San Antonio churches have stopped and have been transferred online, but the mission continues on the streets. โNormally, the church serves around 400 to 600 homeless a week through medical clinics, through hot meals, clothes, showers. โWe work with the San Antonio Food Bank and whatever we get from them, we get creative,โ he said. Rogers and Chadwell will be passing out hot food again Wednesday evening at different parks and bridges in the downtown area.
Homeless outreach pilot program recommended for expansion
Juarez, a licensed clinical social worker, is the heart of a homeless outreach pilot program that could be set for expansion. As a family support coordinator for the cityโs Department of Human Services, Juarez has been going out with SAPD SAFFE North officers since June to visit homeless encampments in District 10. Homeless Strategic Plan taking shapeWhen she gets a โyes,โ Juarez follows up. She arranges transportation to meetings, helps get people into programs and suggests other services or help they might want to consider. She said the SAFFE officers help with the outreach, by visiting encampments and handing out Juarezโs card to homeless people.
Youth homelessness crisis addressed at Education Service Center event
Youth homelessness crisis addressed at Education Service Center eventPublished: February 20, 2020, 1:11 pmLocal education leaders and advocates gathered Friday to develop school-based action plans to address the growing child and youth homelessness crisis in San Antonio and nationwide.
Consultant shares preliminary recommendations for curbing homelessness in SA
San Antonio โ A California-based nonprofit hired to create a plan to reduce homelessness in San Antonio has unveiled some preliminary recommendations. Homebase was contracted by the city in October to create a homeless strategic plan for the City of San Antonio. However, she also noted that San Antonio appears to be doing many things well already. โWeโve heard over and over again that San Antonio has a culture of compassion, empathy,โ Lehmer said. Whatever Homebase addresses in its final plan, Lehmer said it will focus on realistic achievements for a five-to-10 year period.
Community leaders conduct โsweepโ to try to fix homeless problem in Dellview neighborhood
SAN ANTONIO โ Park benches, bus stops, streets and sidewalks are just a few of the places Dellview neighborhood residents say are being taken over by homeless vagrants. They brought undercover agents patrolling, regular patrol agents,โ said Jeroen Zijlema, with the Dellview Citizen on Patrol group. He said the neighborhood is nothing like it used to be because of the growing homeless population. While some were directed to shelters, others living on the streets who were found to have active warrants were taken to jail. So what weโre trying to do together with the sheriffโs department is make this a reoccurring activity,โ Zijlema said.
Homeless Strategic Plan taking shape
San Antonio โ The cityโs Homeless Strategic Plan is beginning to take shape as the contractor hired by the city nears a pivotal phase in the process. Homebase deputy director Patrick Wigmore says that has consisted of looking at data and conducting numerous interviews and meetings. WATCH: โIn the ShadowsโWigmore said San Antonio has been getting good outcomes from its services, but thereโs a growing demand for them. And this is a nationwide issue that communities are struggling with.โThere is already $560,000 available in the cityโs fiscal 2020 budget to be put toward the plan Homebase presents. โSo in regards to carrying out this plan, I mean, weโre very serious about this, which is why we invested in it,โ said Morjoriee White, the cityโs homeless administrator.
Woman finds deceased brother through KSAT story, receives award on his behalf
Brittโs sister, Nikki Clark, used to keep in contact with him through social media, but several months ago, he stopped responding. โI was looking for my brother and I found the article from KSAT,โ Clark said. Homeless men plagued by mental, drug issues get help at transitional homeWe featured Britt in a story last April. He was rehabilitating at the Behavioral Health Transitions Program through Crosspoint, which helps homeless men plagued by drug addiction get back on their feet. On behalf of Britt, Clark proudly received her brotherโs award for graduate of the year.
In DreamWeek event, homeless youth help people recognize bias
In DreamWeek event, homeless youth help people recognize biasPublished: January 16, 2020, 9:22 amDreamWeek 2020 features a spoken word event with the experiences of homeless LGBTQ youth in San Antonio. "When You See Us" will take place Thursday evening at Esperanza Peace and Justice Center.