Houston Womens Shelter

People often ask me, “What causes homelessness?”   The answer is almost anything you can imagine, and sometime the unimaginable.   Case in point.   The other day, I met a woman who is living at our Women and Family Emergency Shelter, because she had quit her job.  Naturally, given the scarcity of jobs these days, she had my full attention.

As she began to unfold her story, it was clear she had not quit because of some egregious wrong in the workplace or a gross laxity in personal responsibility.   She quit in order to protect her 15-year old son from the perils of the street.  You’re probably thinking, what a desperate thing to do.  Well, it was.  Except that this woman was between the proverbial rock and a hard place.
 
Being a struggling, single parent, living in a rough neighborhood, she could not be both on the job and also at home monitoring her son’s activities and associates.  The hours between the close of school and the end of her work day were too many for her comfort.  There was evidence that the draw of the streets was stronger than the law of her household.  With her limited income, she could not afford a better neighborhood, and, as she said, “I had to get him out of there. The money I was making was not as important as his life.”  With nowhere else to go and homelessness as her option, Star of Hope was her only hope.

I have to tell you that I have great admiration for this mom.  She is a courageous, selfless woman who was willing to sacrifice everything she had to give her son an opportunity to live with honesty, decency, and purpose.  She took a leap of faith and found peace in the shelter, where she and he are receiving the help they need, now. and the preparation they need for the future.
 

Visit Star of Hope Mission and learn more about Shelters Houston Texas.

On any given night, nearly half of the homeless people in our Women’s & Family Emergency Shelter are children. Every afternoon, they gather with the Mission staff for “Daily Prayer Time”, where they write their prayer requests on little slips of paper. Then they sit in a circle, and a staff member leads them in prayer, reading each individual request.

Over the years, we have logged thousands of these prayer requests. Here are a few examples:

I want to pray for abused children everywhere.

I pray that my mom finds a house.

Thank you, Lord for a home.

I pray to go to the NBA.

I pray for good health, a job and a home.

I pray for everybody to get a place to stay.

Thank you God for giving me life!

I pray that I go to the NFL.

I pray that I get a house with a dog.

I pray I pass the TAKS test and become a lawyer.

I pray for a home and a car and a second chance. 

I pray that a homeless person gets a job.

I pray to God to help me stop having nightmares.

I pray to God to help me find my purpose in life.

I pray for my sister and my mom.

I want to ask you God for a home and a father.

I pray for my family to be ok.

I love you God!

If you get a chance to read Hank's blog from last week please do. I got a chance to sit in on the video interview and was struck by the two children that are part of this family living at the Women and Family Shelter .  They are such great kids and its heart breaking to think they could be homeless on the streets. I am also taken back by the giving heart of Houstonians, and the safety they provide for these kids and the rest of the families just like them staying in our facilities. (Check out the Youtube video) . 

Just a note: I just looked up the Most Giving Cities in the USA and guess where Houston ranked. 

Learn more about Houston Homeless Shelters and Charity Houston

Recently, we switched our Yellow Cab Ads. Have you noticed? We now offer ANOTHER option in our Ways to Give collection. You can now INSTANTLY donate $10 to help Star of Hope help the homeless in Houston. Just text "SOH" to 20222. It's that simple - and that important to us.

We call this campaign "The Summer of Hope" and we feature a cute little girl (an actual client) pretty in pink with a smile that would melt an iceberg. But if we showed you the hundreds of children without homes this summer - right here in Houston - you wouldn't see many smiles. You'd see frowns and sparks of panic and fear in their eyes.
 
Houston is without question, one of the most generous cities in America. But even Space City has communication problems. Folks don't realize that SUMMER is our busiest and most challenging time of the year. SUMMER is when homeless families that have been holding out in apartments without lights - give up and go to a shelter because of the heat. Or, a homeless family has been staying with friends or relatives to keep the kids in school but now its SUMMER and they're asked to leave - and live on the street - or in our shelter.

A few nights ago, IN ADDITION to the 1,000 homeless men, women and children sheltered in our facilities, 106 women and children slept in our atrium at the downtown  Star of Hope Women and Family Emergency Shelter. I believe that's a record - and a chilling sign of our times.

Help us make this a SUMMER of HOPE For these folks. Text your $10 or better yet - dig a little deeper if you can and assist us in overcoming what is now a $700,000 deficit this year.

God bless and inspire you - and thank you.

Learn about other ways to give. Visit Charitable Donations Houston

We all have our “wilderness” wanderings—much like the Israelites in the Old Testament. We have times in our lives when we have departed one place (Egypt) and are on to a new place (the Promised Land).  Many who enter the Drug Rehab Centers Houston or Battered Womens Shelter Houston are doing just that--moving from one place in their lives to another.  We hope and pray that there will not be a LONG wandering - 40 years - between our points of departure and arrival...but, truly, only God knows.  Sandra has been "wandering" for some time now...and, I want to share a bit of her story.

I met Sandra nearly two years ago. She was a resident of our Transitional Living Center and getting ready to move out after being there for fourteen months.  Sandra successfully completed the New Hope Program  , Personal Development , and the WorkFaith Connection Program. Sandra had a job, money in savings and was paying her bills consistently for the first time in her life.  She was ready for the next step.

Star of Hope's newest program (at the time), New Horizons, was exactly what Sandra needed.  Living in her own apartment, with her children, and the supportive services the program offered, Sandra was certain she would be able to begin her new life as a sober, loving mother who wanted a brighter future.

Sandra hit the ground running! She searched for better-paying jobs and was soon rewarded for her hard work. Not too soon after moving into her new home, she got a job as a housekeeper for a local hotel. She was making a higher wage AND, even before she completed her probationary period, they targeted her for management...enrolling her into Manager Training classes.  Sandra loved her work.  Then...tragedy struck...

Sandra, on her way to the bus stop to go to work, was hit by a car.  She was not injured badly, thank God. However, she was injured enough that she needed physical therapy and to be on "light duty."  Her supervisor told her there was no "light duty" assignments...and asked her to call when she was released to return to work.  But, they called her first--a month later, they called to tell her they were letting her go.  They had to fill her open position.  Sandra was hurt--physically from the car accident; and, now, emotionally from the loss of her job.

Thus began Sandra's "wilderness" walk.  In the Bible, the Lord was with the Israelites--a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night (Exodus 13:21). Sandra KNEW God was with her--because she had provision.  God provided for her through the New Horizons program which was able to come alongside her for a time with HER portion of the rent; the program was able to help supplement her food pantry through Food Donation Houston; and, she gained support and encouragement from the staff and other residents in the program through prayer, cards, and hugs when needed. 

Sandra's "wilderness" walk continues to this day (can you believe 15 months!!??)...she has searched and searched for jobs in Houston. She has applied in person, online and networked through several websites to find a position.  She has not been idle, she has not complained (different from the children of Israel), and she has not given up!!  During her time in the wilderness Sandra has accomplished the following:

*started her own cleaning business--SGH Cleaning Services (all that is left to do is obtain the bonding)
*served others by making sandwiches and cupcakes and taking them to Soup Kitchen Houston (at SEARCH Homeless Program)
*involved herself in the lives of her children (visiting their schools, attending counseling programs with them)
*attended Recovery Meetings, Bible Studies, and other meetings to offer HER testimony and provide encouragement to others
*helped several other families get into the Transitional Living Center when they found themselves homeless and in need of help
*recognized a desire to help others who are addicted to drugs and alcohol--she wants to be an LCDC

Sandra has been "wilderness" wandering--but, she has NOT been idle or lazy.  She has times of depression--when rejection overwhelms her--but, the "manna" comes again in the morning (Exodus 16:14) and gives her the strength to continue.  She has times when she wants to GIVE UP, but the water comes from the rock (Exodus 17:6) and refreshes her so she can fill out another application and go on another interview.

As I offer encouragement to Sandra, I keep telling her, "God has something GREAT coming to you." Sandra's Promised Land is out there...Sandra hears the Lord saying to her (just as he did Joshua) "Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9b) 

And, so we wait by the Jordan River for God's command to cross over (Joshua 3:14)...Sandra's Promised Land is waiting for her AND, while she is waiting--she finds "Hope in the Wilderness."

Get together 120 bags filled with toiletry items, six sets of clothes, two towels, a bathing suit, and load them on three buses filled with 120 excited, yet nervous kids and teenagers and what do you have?... One of the greatest experiences of a young child's life. You have camp! One of my favorite weeks of the year as a Youth Minister at Star of Hope's Women and Family Shelter is being able to get my hands dirty and make this week of camp happen for these youth. Every youth that is able to go receives brand new sets of clothes for camp. Even more than the clothes they receive, they also get the experience of a lifetime (swimming, canoeing, blobbing, hiking, fishing, etc.), that some will never get again. But even more than the experience of a lifetime and clothes, they receive the "good news" of Jesus Christ and the chance to begin that relationship with Him. This camp is so crucial for these youth!

As I said before, the week of camp is one of my favorite weeks of the year. And now that camp has passed yet another year, I can reflect on all that God has done. But none of it could've been possible without the financial and prayerful support of those who sent us. For five years it has been a blessing for me to be apart of what God does with these youth at camp. I am so grateful for those who supported it. So, the countdown has begun! 50 weeks and a camping we will go... again! If you would like to give of your resources to support this or another aspect of Star of Hope, visit Ways to Give and learn more about Supporting Houston Ministries.

What would you say if you had the opportunity to share a few words of encouragement with a child receiving care at Star of Hope? This is an opportunity for you to do just that.

Next month children from Women & Family Emergency Shelter, Transitional Living Center and New Horizons will head back to school.  Thanks to the generous support of friends and donors, every one of these children will step onto the bus and into their classroom with everything they need to succeed. New school uniforms, new shoes and a backpack full of supplies!

You can add to their excitement and joy by writing a short note of encouragement for the school age children at Star of Hope. Please take a moment and “Leave a comment” on this blog. We will print your note, along with others we receive, and give them to the children before the first day of school.

Thanks for caring and making a difference in these children's lives!

School Donations Houston: Ways to get involved and help a child succeed:
- Send a note of encouragement to a child on this blog.
- If you receive our July Newsletter in the mail, write a note on the enclosed backpack tag and send it back to us.
- Donate financially to provide needed items and continued care throughout the school year.
- Coordinate a drive for school supplies or other urgent needs.
- Spread the word! Tell your friends about all of these opportunities to change a child’s life.
 

It was a typical Sunday afternoon. Everyone in my family-of-five had gone their own way after getting home from church and having lunch. I was in the living room, downloading a few songs from my laptop onto my iPod, when a loud pop came from somewhere outside. The power was instantly gone and the house filled with overwhelming quiet.  

This was the second time within a few weeks we found ourselves without electricity on a Sunday. As we gathered to discuss the unpleasant reality, we vividly remembered the 12+ hours it took to restore our power the previous Sunday. 

My youngest son, Josh, said if power was not back on by bedtime that he was going to sleep on our porcelain tile floor. The porcelain typically stays very cool, but the floor is extremely hard. The thought of Josh sleeping on a rock-hard floor to find a little relief in an otherwise sweltering night broke my heart. I thought about the many homeless mothers who struggle and anguish over the often dangerous, uncomfortable and dirty places their precious children will sleep. The thought brings tears to my eyes….and I can’t even begin to grasp the helplessness and hopelessness they must feel as they look into the questioning eyes of their little ones.

My family is very fortunate, very blessed indeed.  Although inconvenient, we had the means to find a comfortable waiting place and air conditioned cars to get there.   But what about the many homeless men, women and children in our city who live on the streets and don’t have those options? Where do they go to escape the treacherous, life-threatening heat that beats down on the sizzling pavement day after endless day?  There’s not even the relief that old, vacant buildings provide during the cold of winter. Stale, stagnant air scorches the lungs and sweat steadily drips from every pore until dehydration sets in.

I praise and thank God that long ago He made provision for a place called Star of Hope Mission. Today, Star of Hope reaches out to the homeless in our city with safe, welcoming shelter and so much more. Thanks to generous donors and volunteers, Houston’s homeless men, women and children find refuge from the blistering heat of the summer and meet a Savior who will provide for every need.

Learn how you can get involved. Visit Volunteer Jobs Houston to find an opportunity of interest to you.

Help make this a Summer of Hope for the homeless in our city.

Donate $10 by safely texting SOH to 20222.

Yesterday, I was entering a CVS store to purchase batteries when I noticed sitting down away from the front entrance a homeless person. In all my years I had never seen someone so affected by the streets , she was covered in dirt, torn dirty clothing, barefoot and both her arms were in casts. Someone had bought her an ice cream which she was frantically trying to eat as the Houston heat melted it away, I was crushed at the site.

I have been in similar situations where I was preoccupied, disconnected and maybe thought my giving a dollar or two would provide help, but not this time.  I approached her and told her that I was torn up on the inside and that I wanted to help her anyway I could .  She turned and looked at me with the biggest eyes I have ever seen and said "Mr., I am just waiting on God to get me out of this mess. If He is real I know He will save me." Obviously, that response spoke to me and put the responsibility back on me as a child of God to be the hands of Christ. I sat down and had a conversation with this sweet soul and found out about her journey from cheerleader in Jacksonville Florida where she grew up. “I was pretty back then,” she exclaimed several times as she reflected on a life of tragedy and brokenness. She told me the way I could help her was to get her to the Star of Hope where they had helped her in the past. This blessed me to no end because I had not told her that I worked for Star of Hope and it confirmed in my heart that the Good Shepherd was still actively protecting and growing the flock.

I called the Star of Hope Women and Family Emergency Shelter where I made arrangements to get Robin to the shelter and as soon as we walked in the door the attendant at the desk  made immediate arrangements for shower, food and fresh clothing. I left her in good hands and said my goodbyes to Robin who is forever etched into my heart.

Please join with me and pray for Robin and the thousands just like her all over Houston. They aren’t a group of people called "The Homeless",  they are individuals, consciously or unconsciously waiting for God to get them out of this mess.

I’ve often heard that for kids a week at summer camp is equal to a year’s worth of Christian education. Many dynamic Christians have shared testimonies of how Jesus first became real in their lives while attending camp. The children at Star of Hope are no different. Amidst horseback rides, canoeing and the many new challenges of the great outdoors, they learn about a Savior who loves them and will never leave them. There, around the glowing embers of the campfire, a yearning for His purpose in their lives is powerfully and forever ignited. So how awesome is it that Star of Hope sends about 120 children to summer camp each year?!?! 

Of course, the kids don’t simply hop on the bus and ride off to their cabins in a wooded paradise. Getting 120 children ready for camp is a HUGE job that could not be accomplished with the generosity of our donors and volunteers. Since most of our children do not have the essentials for a week at camp, we pack and send each camper with everything he or she needs – shorts, t-shirts, socks & underwear, swimsuits, tennis shoes, flip-flops, towels, toiletries, and most important, a Bible. 

This week, volunteers will be at our Women & Family Emergency Shelter to pack a duffel bag for each child.   This is not a fast job – packing must be done with care and an eye for detail. Not only is it important for campers to have the items they need, it is very important they have the right sizes. Volunteers from the Doubletree Hotel – Houston Downtown will kick-off the packing party and donate travel-size toiletries. Rick & Carole Wilcox, Harry Kirkpatrick, Melvin Jackson, Nellie Zarate, Durwood South and Vivian Busquet , along with a few more volunteers, will finish the job long before the first bus arrives. The ride to Camp Good News will be filled with joyful camp songs and happy hearts.

Please pray for our children and counselors as they travel to and from camp. And pray as our children experience God’s amazing creation in a new way, they will open their hearts to His love and accept Him as their personal Lord and Savior. As they come to know the boundless love of Christ, our children will truly experience a Summer of Hope!

Learn more about Houston Volunteer Opportunities and Donation Opportunities for Summer of Hope.

Throughout the community, an exceptional group of young people are learning the skills needed to become our future leaders. These young men and women are part of the Boy Scout and Girl Scout programs. What an honor it is to work with Scouts who select Star of Hope as the site for their Eagle Scout and Girls Scout Gold Award projects!  

The project requirements are stringent. Scouts must submit a comprehensive plan - containing a detailed description of the project, the necessary supplies and materials, how the project will be funded and how the project will benefit Star of Hope - that goes through many levels of approval in the Scout organizations before work can begin. 

This month, Scouts Mark Camero and Kevin Sweat will complete the projects they first proposed last year. Mark designed and is coordinating a team to build shelving units for a storage area at Star of Hope’s Women & Family Emergency Shelter. Kevin designed and is coordinating a team to build a seating area and improve the area around a playground at our Transitional Living Center. Scout Brian Howell is working on a project that will include a new seating area and beautification of an area around Star of Hope’s administration building. From drawing plans to material take-offs, these young men have covered all the bases. Scouts Tyler Barron and Matthew Salazar recently hosted donation drives for pillows, towels, socks and underwear and collected several thousand items! As we work with these young men over many months, nothing is more awesome and inspiring than when the invitation arrives to their Court of Honor ceremonies! 

Girl Scouts Madeline Bowser and Kelsey Pearson developed Gold Award projects that enriched the lives of the elementary-school-age children at our Transitional Living Center. Madeline organized and hosted three fun-filled monthly theme parties and also collected children’s socks and underwear. Kelsey, who lived in China for several years, shared her love for international cultures by organizing and hosting three international festivals that included arts & crafts, food and games. Not only did our children benefit from these unique experiences, Madeline and Kelsey were excellent role models.

In addition to these wonderful young people, Boy Scout leader Shana Montgomery has been a special blessing. While working through the demanding Wood Badge program, which teaches advanced leadership skills, Shana selected Star of Hope for her community service project. She helped get our children ready for summer camp by collecting flip-flops in all colors and sizes. 

We are so proud of our Scouts and grateful for the many ways they bless our mission! Each Scout demonstrates a tremendous work ethic, dedication and compassion for those less fortunate. Their commitment and service truly gives Houston’s homeless men, women and children hope for a better tomorrow.

"We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield." Psalm 33:20

Summer has officially arrived for the families at Star of Hope’s Women & Family Emergency Shelter and the Transitional Living Center! Thanks to our amazing friends at Key Energy Services, Star of Hope families kicked off a “Summer of Hope” with a fun-packed fajita fiesta!  This was the 4^th year Key Energy has hosted the end-of-school celebration and no detail was overlooked!

This morning, both courtyards at the Transitional Living Center were filled with sombrero-topped smiles, giggles and laughter as our families played carnival games, posed at the photo booth, scored points at the huge, inflatable basketball throw and jumped in the always-popular moonwalk.   Popsicles of every flavor, buttered popcorn and luscious paper cones of pink and blue cotton candy were just a few of the delectable treats. Face painters created custom works of art as they created tigers, butterflies and superheros. Not only were there pony rides, but our families also visited the petting zoo with sheep, billygoats, a brown baby llama and a 45-year-old, 80+ pound box turtle.  

There was even a very special time of pampering and relaxation for our moms, including manicures and chair massages. Make-up artists from Macy’s at Baybrook Mall generously volunteered their time again this year to delight our moms with professional makeovers and goodie bags.

While everyone enjoyed the festivities, a team of Key Energy volunteers took charge of the kitchen to prepare a spectacular feast! At noon, volunteers served fajitas with all the trimmings along with ice cream bars for dessert. Muy delicioso!

We are grateful for the incredible generosity of Key Energy Services and the many hours of creative planning their volunteers spent to make this morning such a whopping success. It gave our families a time to celebrate the hard work and accomplishments of the past school year as they shared some south-of-the-border fun. However, the importance and significance of this event reaches far beyond the few hours of today. Many families at Star of Hope don’t have those special, happy memories that bond your family and mine together. Often their lives are filled only with the memories of abuse, addiction, poverty and bad choices. But today that changed. Key Energy volunteers created fabulous memories that will forever bond Star of Hope families together, touch their hearts and give them hope for a better tomorrow! Today was truly a fiesta de esperanza – a Fiesta of Hope!

Give Houston's homeless families hope for a better tomorrow.
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