Event connects homeless to services
‘Love Does’ initiative draws many providers
of service providers gathered Tuesday at Christian Assistance Ministry downtown to offer support to people who are homeless amid concerns that a large tent encampment under Interstate 37 was about to be removed again.
About 150 people — not all of whom live at the camp near the CAM offices on Mccullough Avenue — attended the “Love Does” event, grabbing some chicken fried steak, coffee, snacks, Tshirts and new shoes while interacting with street outreach specialists.
“We want to actively participate in offering new options,” said Dawn White-fosdick, president
and CEO of CAM. “We recognize that there are barriers to getting off the streets. It’s hard for someone who’s suffering from a mental health issue or a
substance abuse issue or who’s been on the street for 13 or 15 years and just mentally can’t see how it could be different.”
Usually about 200 people visdozens it CAM in the mornings Monday through Saturday for food, White-fosdick said. The service provider put up signs announcing Tuesday’s event and passed out information in sack lunches to get the word out.
Service providers such as CAM had heard indirectly that the camp could be removed as early as today but that it was later canceled.
On Feb. 3, about 85 people were displaced when the site, which is owned by the state Department of Transportation, was cleared of all tents and any personal belongings that were left behind.
From June 2020 to February, the city’s Department of Human Services and Public Works cleared 151 encampments, 116 of which were recurring sites, according to city officials.
The city does not plan to clear
the area today or have any time scheduled to do so, said Melody Woosley, director of the Department of Human Services. The city had not received any communication from TXDOT as to when the camp would be removed, she said.
At the event Tuesday, case managers spoke with clients to figure out possible housing arrangements. Morgan Handley with Corazon Ministries set up a plan with a man to meet him Thursday to get him into Haven for Hope.
“When we engage the clients, we’re coming to them,” Handley said. “We’re trying to come to them where they’re comfortable, where they can hang out, eat, get some food, and it’s not such a formal experience.”
“They can come to us and talk to us if they want to, it’s not us approaching them. “It’s much more relaxed and it takes some of the pressure off. If they don’t want to, they don’t have to.”
At least 75 people were connected to services Tuesday that could lead them to housing solutions, shelters, veterans care, possible employment or medical treatment, said Valerie Salas, director of homeless services at CAM.
A 47-year-old man who calls himself Snyper was looking for housing Tuesday. Being homeless on and off for about 20 years, he said he needed affordable housing or a job.
“Being out here, it’s hard,” Snyper said.
Other participating nonprofits and organizations included First Presbyterian
Church, SA Hope Center, KRL, SAMM Ministries, Yanawana Herbolarios, Corazon Ministries, Street to Feet, 210Streetreach, the San Antonio Street Medicine Team, Thrive Youth Center, Haven for Hope, the city’s Department of Human Services and the American G.I. Forum.