Hank Rush, President & CEO
One of the most amazing things to witness is how God uses our collective prayers and your generosity to change lives. What’s more amazing is that I have the privilege of being a part of His wonderful work. When people come through our doors homeless and desperate for help, they need a new chance—sometimes a second chance—to build a better life for themselves and their families. That’s what we offer. So I am delighted to share my joy with you, and I am immensely grateful for your commitment as donors, volunteers and community partners. I hope that as you read about the day-to-day happenings and the miracles that are occurring in the lives of our clients, you will believe as I do, that Star of Hope is a place where the promises of God are realized.
The Big Picture
The most frequent response we get from Houstonians who visit and tour the Star of Hope facilities is this: “I had no idea Star of Hope did ALL of this in the community!” Everyone in Houston seems to know about Star of Hope and think well of it, but in many ways it’s a "best kept secret."
So, to help you with “The Big Picture” of all we do in our city for those who have reached bottom and are not able to sustain independent housing, we have prepared a short, 4 minute video tour of all that Star of Hope does. I invite you to view it right now, by visiting www.youtube.com/StarOfHopeMission.
And, if you’d like to see all this in person, I invite you to come join me for lunch and a tour…and see and be inspired yourself!
Blessings,
Hank
THIS JUST IN: Star of Hope has launched a new texting campaign. You can make a difference by giving a $10 gift to help Houston's homeless right now from the your mobile phone: Text “SOH” to 20222!
Visit Houston Non Profit Donations and discover other ways to give.
Are You Feeling The Summer Heat Yet?
At Star of Hope in the past few months, we have seen a significant slump in our contributions, which is very concerning to us. Summer time is THE biggest and most demanding family time of the year at Star of Hope! Many think it’s the Christmas holidays, which are huge, but in summer, ALL the kids are home for three months – that’s more meals, more activities, and higher operational costs! Yet, our donations are always lowest during the summer months, when vacations and family activities take many out of town.
This summer, we have a full slate of daily activities planned for the 200+ children living in Star of Hope facilities with their families, and it's "all hands on deck" for our children’s ministry staff to take advantage of this wonderful time to build a relationship with God into the life of our kids. God does amazing things in these young lives during the summer. Many find a new faith in Christ, and begin to see a vision for their own lives…God’s vision for how to survive and help their parents through their present difficulties, and to begin to make the choices that will help them succeed in finding a happy and productive life as soon-to-be-adults.
If you are able, would you take a moment and make a gift to help us with this incredible task? We need your support NOW, to catch up on the $400,000+ shortfall that has developed the past two months, and keep the food, clothing, counseling, and staff resources available to our families this summer. Just click donate online and give! Share this with your friends and help us make this a “Summer of Hope”, not a Summer of Heat, for the almost 1,000 men, women and children in our care right now.
Thanks for your faithful support, and I hope you have a great summer! Please keep us in your prayers.
Give Online at Charitable Donations Houston
Learn how your gifts are making this summer a Summer of Hope
Where Do You Find Your Hope To Go On?
I’ve just returned from the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions convention for all those in North America who serve homeless people in our communities. It has been a joyful three days, as our team experienced hundreds of like minded Christian missions from the U.S., Canada and Jamaica.
I want to share with you one of the stories we heard while there. I think this may speak to you in your daily walk today; I know it did to me.
Interviews are being done by national media of many of the survivors of the Storming of Normandy Beach on D-Day, World War II, to capture their stories while they are still living. One Marine was asked what was he thinking as he pushed toward the beach at Normandy, with bodies everywhere, the water red with blood, strewn with half alive broken bodies of his fellow soldiers. He told the interviewer, “I thought…we’re going to lose, we’re going to lose." Everything around him seemed to say that was so!
Then later another Air Force helicopter pilot was interviewed. He was at Normandy too, but up in the air in a reconnaissance helicopter. When asked what he was thinking as he surveyed the bloodbath below, he said, “I think we’re going to win, we’re going to win!” You see, he saw the failures of the landing boats and the many lives lost, but he could also see that some Allied Soldiers were making it up the hill to the bunkers and they were knocking out the machine gunners. Others were closing in from the back side of the bulkhead behind the enemy forces, and great progress was being made toward a victory!
In your life and in mine, we each must find our own “Hope to Go On” with our journey. I served professionally in the business community in Houston for 35 years, and I know what that daily challenge is like. Similarly, here at Star of Hope, those of us who are called to bring Hope to helpless people every day, face a personal challenge to find not only hope for ourselves, but for each of them.
So I was reminded and encouraged this week by three things…..God loves you and me very much. He has provided eternal Hope with Him through a personal relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ. And finally, he wants us to love others, bring them to Him, and help them with their daily need!
If you’re looking for something extra meaningful to do for others, I invite you to come and serve with us for a day here at the Star of Hope. I guarantee you will be blessed, you will make a difference in the life of someone very special to God, and you will leave thanking God for all your blessings…with a new Hope to Go On!
Explore volunteer opportunities at Volunteer Jobs Houston.
They Couldn't Hide From Love
It is never easy for an adult to walk away from everything and move into a homeless shelter. Much harder for children. This was certainly true for these girls. Upon arrival, their minds quickly filled with thoughts of the unknown and the fear of strangers. So they tried to be invisible by not looking at anyone, talking to anyone, or moving from mom’s side.
But at the Women and Family Emergency Shelter, they couldn’t hide from the love that surrounded them. They had one-on-one attention and counseling from the staff, daily. And the things they had to leave behind were replaced. They received fresh clothing to wear, nutritious meals and snacks to eat, a clean room where they could sleep in safety, and a protected playground for outdoor fun. After school, there was the arts and crafts program at the House of Hope, located on the shelter grounds, and tutors to help with homework. In no time, the girls were blossoming—smiling and laughing out loud. The change was dramatic. Today, they are thriving, happy children who see a bright future for themselves and their mom.
The Star of Hope Children’s Critical Care Fund is the primary resource that makes it possible to support children living in our shelters and provide for their needs. It’s that fund that is the centerpiece of the annual Haute for Hope Celebrity Luncheon and Fashion Show, which takes place this year on Friday, May 7. Proceeds from this event go directly to the CCCF, for the benefit of all children at Star of Hope.
What Can Your Faith Do?
I got off the phone with a lady who called from St. Louis. Her name is Tyra, and she proceeded to thank me for all we did for her a year ago. She graduated from Star of Hope and is now living independently in her hometown, and guess what, she wants to start a homeless ministry there to help give back and serve others!
She asked how to get it started, and my thoughts immediately went to how I felt the first few days after joining Star of Hope in 2008. I realized really quickly that this is God’s Place, and He ordains all that goes on here as we serve the least and the lost in our community. So I encouraged her to go to Him immediately and turn her dream over to Him.
Then I thought, wow, what an undertaking! Can she really accomplish this? Does she have the faith to move that mountain?
Well, I’ve learned more than ever, over the past couple of years here at Star of Hope, that God can do ANYTHING He wants to, and he uses us who come to Him with surrendered, trusting hearts, to do HIS WORK.
Is your faith big enough for your challenges?
Take a look at this #1 Hit song/video…I hope it inspires you TODAY:
And please pray for our faith to be strong and vibrant as we serve here at Star of Hope, so that many in our community find new life, a new faith, and a great joy in living!
Learn more about Star of Hope at Charitable Organizations Houston
How's This For A Great Spring Break?
My family and I had a great Spring Break this past week, so glad to have time together and no homework! Have you ever wondered what Spring Break might be like for a homeless teenager living in a shelter? Well, here’s what Star of Hope’s teenagers did last week. Below is a short summary by Chad Smith, one of Star of Hope’s Teen Ministers, of the fun and educational week they had together with our “Stars of 2Morrow”:
“To summarize what we did for spring break, Tuesday morning we went to Carino’s Restaurant. One of the servers took them on a tour of a working restaurant. They were able to meet all of the staff of Carino’s and ask questions. After that, they went to the tables and made their own personal pizzas starting from the dough adding any topping they wanted. Then, of course, when they finished the pizzas, they baked them and ate them! It was a lot of fun."
"Wednesday morning we took them to the University of Houston and met up with the soccer team staff and a few of the players. They told us about the athletic department in the University of Houston and then they gave us a tour of the facilities where the athletes train and play. At the end of the tour, the staff answered more questions and then they gave us U of H t-shirts. On Wednesday evening, the teens went to the Rodeo. The seats were amazing and the food was incredible (hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken fried steak). They were able to see the cowboys lasso the bulls and other typical rodeo events followed by the musical performance of Gary Allen. Overall the teens had an amazing day."
"The neat thing about Wednesday is I have a 13 year old girl who loves soccer and has wanted to do nothing this month but go to the rodeo. And she has diligently tried to go with family or friends, but with no success. And let’s just say Wednesday was a very special day for her. She was able to interact with the UofH soccer team and then head to Rodeo for an amazing evening! It was kind of a dream come true for her."
"Friday, we took the teens on a hiking trip. They love those trips and they are always so surprised the places you can get good exercise around the city."
"Saturday evening they went to a Hope for Youth event where they enjoyed barbecue and fellowship with other teens and volunteers from Second Baptist. So that was our eventful spring break."
We are very thankful for Chad and our Teen Team, and especially thank the very special sponsor organizations mentioned above, and so many of you in our community who offer your time and resources to positively impact the lives of our Clients!
Christian Ministries Houston.
Jobs For Hope - Putting Star Of Hope Graduates To Work
All of us know how difficult the job market is in the United States at this time. And for someone who is recovering from homelessness and is preparing to re-enter the job market, the prospect of finding gainful employment is daunting to say the least. But I am excited about new initiatives, led by our Board of Trustees, to build the network of employers who will put our Star of Hope graduates to work! Our goal is to increase the number of jobs found in 2010 by 30% over 2009, and to double that number in 2011. Is this ambitious? Yes. Is it impossible? No!
Finding meaningful work is so essential for all of us. It is especially important to the success of an individual or family who fall into homelessness, to achieve normal living capability once again.
If you have job openings and would be willing to consider Star of Hope clients, please contact Dick Druary at ddruary@sohmission.org. “For nothing shall be impossible with God.” Luke 1:37
Learn more about Star of Hope programs and family of ministries
by visiting Christian Ministries Houston.
Is There Hope For Homeless Youth?
A car is pulling up with a family inside. The car stops and after yelling and some tears, a 13 year old jumps out of the car screaming and runs as fast as he can away from his family. The parents park the car and the dad chases after his son. They hug and return to the car. The dad then drives another block to the homeless shelter where they will be staying. With his son and two other children, he and his wife enter.
This episode occurred in front of a shelter a few months ago and relates how traumatic and embarrassing it is for a family, and especially their teenage children, to face homelessness.
I am more committed than ever to work to expand Star of Hope’s services to families in our community who become homeless. As you may know, with the help of Humana Houston Benefits last year, we began expanding our Teen Ministry. Stars of 2morrow helps young victims of homelessness to know that God loves them and has a great plan for their lives, while we work with their moms and dads.
Our new Star of Hope Vision 2015 includes exciting new initiatives and partnerships for the homeless teens and children in our city, and we look forward to seeing more of these lives successfully helped out of their current plight. We believe there IS HOPE! Please keep us in your prayers!
Learn more about Star of Hope’s ministry to teens and families at Supporting Homeless Shelters Houston.
How Can I Help The Homeless?
This is one of the most frequent questions I hear from friends and folks around the community! "How can I help the homeless?" Everyone feels compelled to help when they see someone on the streets, or when they see news stories on TV showing the great needs of homeless individuals and families. But the homeless world seems so far away from so many of us, and we just don’t know what to do.
I’ll never forget the time several years ago, when my children then 12 and 9, first saw a homeless person on the streets while running errands one Saturday. Their reaction was, “Dad, stop the car, aren’t we going to help them?...We need to help them!” It was a compelling moment, and my wife and I began searching for answers to the question: “How could WE help the homeless we encounter in our daily life?”
If you’re wondering the same thing, take a look at wecarehouston.org and you’ll get some easy tips we have developed at Star of Hope that you can use to make a difference!
While many of our homeless on the streets have complex mental, emotional and physical problems, they all have one thing in common. They each are God’s creation. Because of that, they need love, human interaction, help onto a path to overcome their problems and to achieve a life of joy and fulfillment!For ways to Help The Homeless Houston, visit We Care Houston at wecarehouston.org.
God Moves In Dramatic Ways Through Your Support
Looking back on 2009 probably makes us all a little jittery, as we remember the uncertainty we have experienced individually and collectively, due to the economic downturn. But I hope you feel the same satisfaction and excitement that I feel, knowing that, in spite of the difficulties, God moved in dramatic ways to touch and change the lives of thousands of homeless men, women, and children, living at Star of Hope. It was a year of abundant blessing for our Clients, with new records of service being given through our ministries around town, resulting in many great outcomes.
Did you know we served a record 6,319 individual clients during 2009? Among other new records are total meals served…668,385, up 24% from 2008, night stays at 295,921, up 9%, clients finding independent housing up 17%, adults enrolled off-site in school or job training at 815, up 19%, clients graduating from a Star of Hope program up 44%, and the list goes on!
THANK YOU HOUSTON, for your generous support: for volunteering and contributing your time, resources, and monetary gifts, on behalf of our brothers and sisters who were suffering. THANK YOU for letting God use you to work in the lives of those whom He has brought our way.
Most importantly, that 6,319 number is not just a statistic, it’s people of all ages in our community who were in crisis and needed an intervention, immediate needs met, and a loving environment in which to plan a new future. And along the way, Star of Hope saw a total of 5,332 of these precious ones surrender their lives to Christ, and commit to live for Him.
Every client has his or her own story, but I thought you might want to take a look at this one, because it is representative of so many stories, that sum up 2009….what it’s like to be homeless unexpectedly, and how it feels:
So as we begin 2010, please remember, whatever our own struggles, that God is doing great things at the Star of Hope, and YOU are needed to partner with us in His service here!
Learn more about giving your time by visiting Community Service Volunteers Houston or give an online gift today at Supporting Homeless Shelters Houston.
Warm Houston Hearts Rally For Houston’s Homeless
What an amazing week we just experienced here in Houston… with below freezing nights, stores out of stock of insulation and heating equipment… as everyone rushed to prepare their homes for the cold.
But warm hearts abounded, as hundreds of Houstonians felt touched to reach out and help our Homeless population find shelter and warmth. Star of Hope’s two emergency shelters ramped up to sleep hundreds more on the floor, safe and warm from the weather and streets. Houston’s media organizations spread the news of the need for more blankets, sleeping bags, gloves and socks… and our great city responded!
The individual stories abound… family after family, companies, individuals, deciding to make a difference, and bringing carloads of these items to the Star of Hope. Some went to multiple retailers to find items when they encountered stores that were sold out. One donor who wanted to help was sick at home with the flu and just couldn’t get out, so he went online and made an emergency gift through our website to help the cause financially!
Our “Love in Action” van was out several times every day handing out blankets, sleeping bags, socks, sandwiches and drinks to those on the streets, and bringing in all who were willing to take shelter. And though our rooms were all occupied, everything worked smoothly for the 100+ men, women, and children in overflow, sleeping on the floor each night on mats and sleeping bags so many of you brought. Once inside, they were fed hot meals, shown God’s love… and hopefully given new Hope!
One member of the media, Susan O’Donnell of KSBJ, spent Saturday afternoon touring Star of Hope facilities and riding in the Love In Action Van; and was profoundly moved. She saw staffer Charles Williams "putting the gloves on Jesus’ hands." And she spoke frequently on the radio over the weekend and Monday about her experiences. After looking in their eyes and hearing their stories, she stated she’d never think of them the same again, when she encounters one of these precious ones on the streets. Ones whom our Lord loves, and asks us to serve!
Thank you Susan, and each and every one of you great Houston folks, members of the media, donors, volunteers, and prayer partners… your Warm Houston Hearts made a difference in the lives of so many this past week!
Want to know more about how you can help those you encounter on the streets? Click on wecarehouston.org and see how you can help!
Catch up on other Star of Hope news in our News Room at Help The Homeless Houston.
2009… What A Year!
As the New Year fast approaches, I want to extend a sincere and heart-felt “Thank You” to you, for all your support and help this past year! 2009 has been a rough year for most all of us in some way or another, and has seen unexpected severe hardship on many individuals and families in Houston and around the country, due to the major economic crisis we have all faced.
Star of Hope has been a true shining light in this darkness, and I can joyfully say that EVERYONE at this Mission has stepped up and worked extra hard this year to serve the huge numbers of men, women and children who have come to us for help. I am so proud of our staff! And I am personally grateful to you for supporting and partnering with us this past year, to provide the resources to serve as we’ve been called to serve. We could not have done it without you!
As we face 2010, we know going in, that there are many who are at the brink and will deal with financial crisis, loss of home or apartment and job in the year to come. With your continued help… in the many ways you partner with us… we will seek to continue to meet these lives at their crisis point, and help them on their journey to a new life of faith, work and home for them and their families.
Blessings to you, our dear partner, and best wishes for a joy filled New Year for you and yours!
Such A Little Manger
I love Christmas time! And I love seeing live Nativity scenes in local church front lawns, during the week just before Christmas. It always brings my thoughts back to God’s incredible plan for us. Do you see it? God’s profound message to me every time I see a manger is that He loves us without any of our pretenses, things or earthly treasures. He loves us as He loves His Son, Jesus, whom He sent to be born without a home, things or earthly treasures — or even a bed to rest in on His first night on this earth! Such a little Manger, but God used it to change the world, reveal His Plan for Mankind and change history forever.
Well, when Star of Hope began over 100 years ago, it was like that little manger: a small, unpretentious place where men in our city who had lost their way in life and were struggling with addictions, sin, and bad choices -- or just hard luck, could come and find healing, refuge and Hope. Such a little Mission, and look at what God has done with this Ministry over the past century! Star of Hope now serves nearly 1,000 homeless men, women and children every day. Our focus is still the same as God’s focus was 2000 years ago, in that Bethlehem manger... to shine the Light of The World, Jesus Christ, into the lives of those He came to seek and to save.
You can go by the live Nativity scenes around town and be reminded of the Baby Jesus’ birth this Christmas. You can also come and be a shepherd in the Star of Hope “Manger”, and help bring His Life and Light into the lives of many who desperately need Him today! Come and join us during this season or in the New Year with your heart, time, talents and gifts… and be a part of the work that God is doing for the least and lost in Houston!
Glory to God in the Highest, and on Earth, Peace, Goodwill toward Men!
Get involved and share your time and talents at Volunteer Programs Houston.
Visit Supporting Houston Ministries to donate online, provide current needs and prepare us for another strong year of ministry in 2010.
The Heart of Houston
Just last week, our city showed its HEART once again, with a great Thanksgiving Parade and meals galore around downtown for Houston’s families in need. Check out Houstonians flock to Turkey Day events in Houston Chronicle and you can see how wonderfully our city reaches out to all in our community! This spirit of generosity goes on every day of the year. I know… I see it here at Star of Hope on a daily basis. Houstonians call us, wanting to learn more about the work of the Star of Hope, and they come and see all that God is doing here with His People… those who’ve lost their way and need someone to come along side of them and help. It’s truly amazing to see!
This year, Star of Hope has ministered to over 5,500 homeless people, and two thirds of these are women and families! With the souring of the Houston job market and the effects of the broader economic downturn, this number is 1,000 people higher than just last year — or, in other words, 1,000 new faces arriving at our doors we’ve never seen before. God’s provision and your generous donations of food and clothing, have made it possible for us to operate with about the same budget as we had in 2008.
This is a huge blessing for which we are very grateful, because caring for so many in a difficult economy has its challenges. In fact, serving the extra 1,000 new faces… men, women & children… has cost incrementally about $500 per person on the average over our base budget.
And while we have experienced record levels of in-kind donations, we have been facing a shortfall in cash donations over the past few months. So, as we head into the Christmas season, if you’d like to help us in a uniquely special way this December, how about sponsoring one of these 1,000 new souls who have come our way this year? Visit Charitable Donations Houston to make a $100, $250 or even a $500 gift… knowing it’s a truly special gift for one of these in need!
Christmas time is a wonderful time at Star of Hope. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we work this Blessed Season to make Christmas 2009 a Blessed Memory in the lives of those we are serving now!
Thanksgiving... Yours, Mine & Ours
Thanksgiving is coming in just a week… and if your family is anything like mine, you travel to be together and thank God for all His blessings. We always gather around a traditional Thanksgiving table, complete with family and friends, with a feast of turkey and all the trimmings, dressing and giblet gravy, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie.
Remind you of your home at holiday time? It is also for hundreds and hundreds of homeless men, women, and children, here at Star of Hope. As soon as you step into the facilities, you are instantly aware that this is a day that the Lord has made! There is so much gladness and joy, as volunteers rush about hanging decorations around the dining rooms, and the cooks put their last minute touches on the sumptuous meal.
One of the most precious sights is found at the Women and Family Emergency Shelter. Every table has displayed on it hand-written notes from our clients themselves. Some of them are meaningful Scriptures, some personal thoughts… each are sweet words of gratitude for the blessings they have received. Our clients pause in the midst of their storms to acknowledge, just as we all do, the grace of God in our lives, and the many blessings we have received.
Perhaps you will join me this Thanksgiving in having family members make such a "Thanksgiving card" for the table, and read them to each other. And then, for just a moment, we can ask God’s special blessing for those at the Star of Hope, during our Thanksgiving prayer!
My family and I are thankful for every moment that we have been given to be part of this great ministry, and the opportunity to partner with so many of you in this work. It is by God’s grace and your generous gifts that we are able to serve so many of Houston’s homeless, give them rest from their struggles, a home for the holiday, and best of all, a day to just be thankful. I am truly thankful for you and wish each of you a Thanksgiving that is rich in HOPE!
Women's Shelter Donation Houston
Why Shouldn’t Homeless Kids Have High Hopes?
Recently, CNN aired a touching story about an honor student whose ambition is to be a Harvard grad, with a Ph.D in medicine. It’s not the kind of story you expect to see making national headlines, except this student is poor, homeless, highly intelligent and living in a California shelter with his mother and sister.
I thought of Kelsey, one of our teens who lived at the Star of Hope Transitional Living Center with her mother and brother, before moving into our New Horizons community. When she first arrived at Star of Hope her morale was low. Homelessness is difficult for adolescents. The staff loved her through her distress, and the structure of our teen program bolstered her confidence and fueled her hope of going to college one day. Kelsey’s dream now is to study engineering and become an Air Force pilot!
Kelsey is a straight-A student and, recently, was nominated to attend the week-long National Youth Leadership Forum in Washington, D.C. The NYLF is a prestigious program for helping exemplary students prepare for professional careers.
You can imagine her excitement when she was nominated, but immediately, her heart sank, because she knew she wouldn’t be able to afford to go. But after a little help from staff, she was astonished to learn that a generous donor made her dream-trip come true! This is what she wrote to her donor.
“Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to be a part of what will be my future. It just brightened my Mother’s eyes when she found out that I would be able to go to Washington. She has always wanted the best for me and couldn't give it to me. This will never be forgotten."
Kelsey has just returned from this amazing experience… and her dream and HOPE are alive… in God’s grace and in her future! At Star of Hope, we want all our homeless kids to experience the fact that God has a great future planned for each of them!
How Do You Respond When You Are Approached
When speaking to a group, the question I get asked more than any other Is “should I give money to a homeless person? I want to help but I don’t know the right thing to do.” Well, we are working on a short video to help you with the answer to your questions. It’s sort of a “Homeless 101” course. We’ll pose the questions and show you the answers in a quick and easy tutorial that you’ll want to share with your concerned friends. The working title is “Ways to Help the Homeless” and we begin shooting it on the streets of Houston this week.
Meanwhile I‘d be interested to know how you typically react to homeless people on the streets of Houston. Maybe you have a homeless person that is regularly standing on the intersection asking for money. How do you normally react? If you have a special way of helping a homeless person I would love to know your thoughts. I can’t wait to read your comments.
No Place Like Home
I just spent the last week moving into a new home for my family. During these past few weeks as we have been finalizing and moving into our new home, my thoughts have especially been on what "home" means for our Star of Hope men, women and children.
Our clients have each lost it all… gone is their apartment or their home. They’ve worn out their welcome with friends where they can stay a while, family members willing to take them in. As I watched my daughter and son excitedly explore their new rooms and begin to unpack, I thought of a family at our Women & Family Emergency Shelter who won’t be returning to their home. Their daughter will not be safe and happy in her own room this Thanksgiving or Christmas. The loss of mom’s or dad’s job, or worse, alcoholism or abuse has forced them out to the streets and onto Star of Hope’s front doorsteps, seeking help.
Well, the good news is we’re here to catch them! Star of Hope is the temporary home, family, and community that will keep them safe, clothed and fed while they begin to rebuild. We’ll be the shelter that surrounds them with God’s love as they start their journey toward a new life. Our goal at Star of Hope is not only to lead God’s children to an apartment or house – but to a home, full of love and caring and a true joy in living that comes from our Lord.
Because of your generosity, Star of Hope continues daily to provide the tools for this family and many others to move on to their new future and their new home. The holidays are right around the corner – and “home for the holidays” sounds pretty good to me. I invite you to visit us at www.sohmission.org right now to discover ways to help us be “home” during the holidays. Thank you for giving your time, talents and gifts for so many through Star of Hope!
Donation Opportunities Houston - Volunteer Opportunities Houston
Houston loses 95,100 jobs in past 12 months
...Could you or your neighbor become homeless one day?
Every day is an education for me. After spending my first official year with Star of Hope, I can honestly say that I’ve learned more than I ever thought I would about the homeless in our great city. But I’ve only scratched the surface.
As you might know, Star of Hope cares for about 1,000 homeless men, women and children everyday. This is a constant battle that we fight and win for many with your generous and continuous help.
However, a new enemy is in town. This enemy is “the unstable economy.” Its victims are often caught unawares, making some of our neighbors and co-workers vulnerable to becoming prisoners of homelessness.
This past Sunday, the Houston Chronicle ran a story about major job losses in Houston, in the past 12 months.
We believe it. So far this year, Star of Hope has served close to 5,000 individuals who have become homeless, many due to the economy. Our client numbers rose significantly in the first 8 months of 2009, compared to the same period in 2008 -- an indicator of the crisis many in our community are facing. They may stay with us a week or enter a long-term program lasting a year or more, depending on their needs.
But, as they come, we pray that a spirit of generosity will continue, so that we can meet every need now and in the months ahead for shelter, food, counseling, job placement, medical care, and programs for the teens and little ones, to keep them healthy and stable.
If you or someone you know is in this situation, click on “Get Help Today” or send an email to hope@sohmission.org, to learn more about how to help those in this painful, critical circumstance.
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