Being a vibrant mission is not just about caring for the homeless in our city, it's about serving our friends who support our ministry. One of the ways we do this is by sharing the wonderful things that are happening in our shelters to encourage and prepare our clients for re-entering society, with obtainable goals for self-sufficiency.
As you read the blogs written by our staff and guest bloggers, your heart will be touched by the stories about life in the shelters and the experiences of the men, women and children living in them. You will find ways to connect that meet your charitable ideals and many opportunities to deepen your involvement with Star of Hope Mission.
Thank you Star of Hope for adding us to your Community Partners page!
Trees of Hope volunteers feel so blessed to be helping you transform the lives of thousands of homeless people reenter society as productive citizens.
Gwen Koch
On a particularly hard day working at Star of Hope's Women and Family Emergency Shelter a few years ago, I paused in my day and prayed to God, "Please, Lord, let me see these people as YOU see them." Later, as I sat at my desk and wrote this poem, I knew it was His answer to my prayer...
Matthew 25:40
God spoke to me today, He said, "Give me shelter."
God spoke to me today, He said, "Clothe me."
God spoke to me today, He said, "Feed me."
God spoke to me today, He said, "Love me."
God speaks through all those around me--when they ask for something and I give it--I am giving it to my Lord.
Original Poetry by Erika Rae Wise
"The King will reply, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for the least
of these brothers of mine, you did for me." -- Matthew 25:40
Many Baby Boomers watched The Andy Griffith Show and were entertained by Otis, the town drunk. He lived from one cheap bottle of wine to the next before staggering into the Mayberry jail to sleep it off.
At twenty, I took a sabbatical from my studies at the University of Texas and worked for the City of Houston Municipal Courts. Every morning I went down to the jail to reconcile the bond money, and then, I worked in the court that handled all of the non-traffic Class C misdemeanors, such as petty theft, prostitution, assault and public intoxication. Otis would have been right at home – there were lots of drunks. These men weren’t criminals who purposely hurt other people. They were alcoholics who had nowhere else to go. Jail was the only place that met their most basic needs – food, clothing and shelter. Many of them listed the Houston police trustee dorm as their permanent home address.
Dressed in their white, numbered coveralls, trustees worked around the jail, courts and police department. Sometimes they earned a quarter, sometimes fifty cents, for sweeping the floor or shining shoes. Those quarters added up, and after two or three days in jail, there was the unmistakable jingle as a trustee walked by. Getting out, the men headed straight to the nearest convenience store for the biggest bottle of wine or malt liquor their change would buy. But freedom was short-lived. Just like Otis, they would finish the bottle as they staggered back to the jail, “I’m drunk! Lock me up!”
The men were familiar faces in Judge Ann Green’s court. They marched in each day for the morning docket. Dirty, disheveled and reeking of booze, it was obvious the night was spent sleeping it off in a jailhouse bunk. Judge Green was lenient, but jail was often their only home. “Give me longer, Judge. I haven’t learned my lesson.” During the holidays, when Judge Green sentenced them to time served, they were adamant about jail time. “You need to lock me up, Judge! For a long time,” they pleaded!
Each wasted life was heartbreaking and I never thought incarceration was the answer. These men were homeless alcoholics. Nothing was served by locking them up nor did their lives ever change. It was a bleak cycle of hopelessness.
That’s why I was so excited when I first learned about Star of Hope’s new partnership with the City of Houston Sobering Center. People can” sleep it off” in a safe, secure environment, and when one of them reaches out for help, Star of Hope will be there. Where there once was darkness, hopelessness and bondage, there will now be hope for a better tomorrow.
Alcohol and Drug Rehab Programs Houston
Star of Hope Mission
The true beauty of this job is that you get to love others. Unconditionally. Like God loved us. Love like this though, always comes along with pain. Because in loving, we must give of ourselves; and in giving of ourselves, we suffer and hurt and get disappointed. It is hard to love others and expect nothing in return. It is even harder to love knowing that you will never receive that love back.
I’ve been trying to counsel a girl that is suffering a lot. Her name is Kristy*. She gets in trouble in school all the time: she hits other kids to the point of injure; she yells and curses her teachers out—she was abandoned by her mom a couple of months ago. I know and see the other Kristy that no one else in school gets to see: the girl that is longing for someone to love her, that hurts every time she remembers how mean and abusive her mother was towards her, and whom, she swears, she will never be able to forgive.
One afternoon, Kristy and I were talking about what it means to follow God. She had no idea what it meant to “accept Jesus”. We talked about the things that are right and are pleasing to God. We talked about the things she had been doing that did not align with God’s Word and what He expected from us. We shared things that we both knew we struggled with. We made a chart out of them and promised to hold each other accountable for putting our old-self “dead” and replacing it with our new selves. Our resolution looked something like this:
- Old Self: Lies—Replace with New Self: Being Honest
- Old Self: Being Argumentative—Replace with New Self: Being Submissive
- Old Self: Acting Out in Anger—Replace with New Self: Having Self-Control
Kristy understood how to replace lies right away. Almost every kid knows the difference between lying and telling the truth. She had no idea, though, what to replace being argumentative with, or what being submissive meant, or what self-control looked like. We talked about it for a long time, and she looked enthusiastic to begin this new journey and become someone new for Jesus. I was excited too.
Last week Kristy slipped back into her old ways and reacted in anger when a group of kids started to pick on her at school. Kristy was suspended for two days.
And this brings me back to the thought that prompted me to start writing this: I cannot imagine how much God loves us, that we sin against him once, and again, and again, and He is still there. He doesn’t give up on us. As humans, it is hard for us to love in this way. The minute we get hurt, we shut down doors; we remove what is hurting us or making us uncomfortable or scared; we send it away. I pray that God infects us with His love in such a way, that we are willing to love like He loved us. That we are willing to forgive despite of what others’ actions are, despite of their responses and their faults, and their wrong doings.
I ask that you join me in prayer for my friend Kristy as I meet with her today for the first time since her suspension. Pray that I am able to share with her the love that God has for her no matter what she does or fails to do. I believe that only then, will she be able to heal from her old wounds and find true joy and peace in His love.
*Kristy’s name has been changed
I am sure we can all look back on our school experience a little grimily. It was a time when we realized not everyone was our friend, we weren't perfect, our family might be a little and/or HUGELY awkward, sometimes we were downright ruthless, and most stressfully our pain was often mocked rather than nurtured. During this age the inward focus of self-happiness and self-preservation is so strong that we didn't recognize anyone else felt exactly the same way we did.
I believe adolescence is an ideal period to expose your kids, your students, your scouts to other's pain, other's suffering, other's joy, other's happiness, and other's differences. Volunteering at a homeless shelter gives you sympathy where there was otherwise none for the man on the street and gives you empathy when you had no idea you could vicariously feel so deeply for someone who was so dissimilar to you.
Second Baptist School recently volunteered with Star of Hope. They helped with chores and odd jobs. They were the hands and feet of Christ and brought rest to the weak. I know without a doubt that we were blessed by their presence. I just pray their world view was stretched that day forcing them to be more confident in Christ, more humble in their weakness, more empathetic to one another, and more gracious to everyone including themselves.
If you volunteered with Star of Hope and it had a big impact on your life share your story!
Before being homeless, a usual day for many of the women at Star of Hope started normally. As the sun crept through the window curtains, they would rollover stretch, wash their face to help fight the sleepiness,make breakfast and send their kids to school with the best foot forward, rush to take off the mommy clothes and put on something professional, head to work 5 minutes late, work hard, but happily go home and greet the kids with a big hug from school. Together they would make dinner and wait for daddy to get home. When he did their would be a chill in the air and his wife would try her best to lovingly greet him with a kiss. As she walked away she would breath a small sigh of relief because this time he didn't hit her.
Many of the battered women who are fleeing for their lives have the most admirable qualities. They are hardworking, loving, faithful, great listeners, and loyal. They are just married to someone who reciprocates all of those amazing qualities with physical abuse. Honestly, they might think this is normal. It could have been the "father and mother" relationship their families have witnessed for generations.
Thank God, one day they realize there is something better, they load the kids on the midnight bus, head states away to a shelter they have only seen on the internet, and pray their husband never finds them. Once they get to Star of Hope they are greeted lovingly and begin making a new life free of abusive relationships, breaking the generational bondage, all through much counseling and personal development programs.
The fleeing parent isn't the only one who gets emotional counseling and life advice at Star of Hope. The children do as well. Showing and telling kids what is acceptable in relationship starts at a young age. After all, one in three women in this country are abused and it isn't a matter to take lightly or keep hidden from kids.
In closing, I do know that ending violence against women has much support in the Houston community, as well as in the nation. The 2nd World Conference of Women's Shelters this past week had several big names such as, Reese Witherspoon, speaking on the urgency of ending violence against women. As well as, educating children on what constitutes as harassment not only in person, but on social media and different internet forums.
I thank those who are willing to speak on the issue, as well as, praise the ladies who have gotten out of those relationships. In adding, to their admirable qualities they have courage the size of a tree.
Star of Hope serves as a shelter for battered women. Interested in volunteering?
I Volunteer at the Women and Family Emergency Shelter on Wednesday evenings. I brought books to share a couple of months ago, and recommended one in particular to an elderly lady. Last week she told me how much she was enjoying the book, and I mentioned that if I ever saw it again I would buy it for my home library. She approached me last night with something in her hand....it was the book. She had wrapped it, using a toilet paper wrapper as gift wrap. She fashioned a rose out of toilet paper and affixed it to the package. She also gave me a card, which reads,
Dear Mam,
I would lke to "thank you mam" for letting me read "Shadow Divers", very much. I laughed and cried with the characters. It is a great book! Thanks from the bottom of me (sic) heart.
Sylvia
Needless to say this is a gift that I will cherish for a very long time. I will probably never take the wrapping paper off of the book.
Mary Peldo
Returning from vacation, I was greeted by a Manager who said, “Have you seen X? She’s changed!”
X is a guest who had come to the Shelter for 6 years off and on. She was always just at death’s door when she came to us – a result of a life in bondage to sin and degradation. Staff could not put her in a room due to both her physical condition and her violent disposition. Each time she came, they would put her in a special place, care for her and nurse her back to health. Once healthy, she would reward staff’s kindness by cursing them out and leaving to continue her life of bondage. Not having seen her for some time, the consensus among staff was that she was most likely dead.
“What’s changed?” I asked.
“I’ll let her tell you.”
Crossing the street at noon to get some lunch, I heard X call my name.
“Mr. Black, you heard I was back?” she said as she came to speak with me.
“Yes”
“Heard about how I changed?”
“Yes. What happened?”
Tears began to role down her cheeks, and she lost her voice. Her eyes were full as she pointed up at the sky and then to her heart.
“You met Jesus?”
She nodded, overcome by emotion and unable to speak. She didn’t have to speak, the smile on her face told it all.
For the first time, we were able to move her into a room and then into permanent housing. The last I heard, she was still clean and sober and living for the One who set her free and gave her a brand new life!
Last week I was able to attend our monthly graduation program here at Star of Hope’s Transitional Living Center, here in Houston. This program is for women and families who have encountered hard times and found themselves homeless.
Unfortunately, we have more single moms than dads. It is just hard, when life turns its back on you and nothing seems to go right for you or even worse, for you and your children!
At the Transitional Living Center we have 45 single women rooms and 66 one, two and three bedroom apartments for our families. They come here when they are ready to step up to life change. Star of Hope offers a good, safe, dry bed, meals, as they try to learn more about some of the skills they have missed along the way.
It is a miracle to attend a graduation service, where the ladies get dressed in caps and gowns, as they participate in a graduation. Their friends and family come to encourage them; after all, a few months previous, they had been homeless, maybe even a resident of the Star of Hope Women and Family Emergency Shelter.
Last week we watched as nine ladies were recognized for completing program segments. The smiles on their faces, the heartfelt joy that was evident, and finally, the testimonies that they offered reminded me that our Creator loves each of us with an everlasting love! Now as they are going through the program, they have that faith which is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see (Hebrews 11:1). Please say a prayer for the less fortunate right here in our community…May God richly bless you and your family.
Her body language was angry and defiant as she paced back and forth in the lobby. Her hand gestures punctuated her angry words. A staff member stood at a safe distance speaking gently and softly to her in Spanish.
“What is she saying?” I asked.
“Basically, she is cursing me, and I am blessing her.”
“Well, keep a safe distance just in case.”
“She is not in reality. She thinks I am a family member from her past.”
She stopped, cleaned out her bag, became compliant for only a few minutes, then returned to nervous pacing and defiance. Her behavior had reached the point where she was a danger to herself and others at the Shelter, and she rejected all attempts by staff to reach her. CIT officers came and transported her to the hospital for observation and possible stabilization on meds.
Like so many others, she was trapped in a troubled past – but unwilling to receive from those who loved her, the freedom she so desperately needed.
Only Jesus can truly heal a troubled past, and He will if we will let Him. He came to set prisoners free and to proclaim freedom for captives. This freedom, however, is a gift that must be received by grace through faith in the person of Jesus Christ. Not everyone wants it, or values it, but those who find Christ find freedom unlike anything this world has to offer – freedom of the soul.
The other day a little girl named Hayden visited Star of Hope with her mom. She wanted to give all of her birthday presents away. Incredible!
I'm excited to see kids helping and sharing with other kids. I know that children who come to Star of Hope with their moms and dads will enjoy the toys. Thanks Hayden!
Star of Hope -- you are a lifesaver! Last year, when I was stranded in Houston (no car, no money, no roof over my head), you took me in -- fed me, sheltered me, provided a temporary home base. I took your Bible Study class and loved it.
Finally, when a member of my family came to get me (I live in Los Angeles), you greeted my driver and guided us home.
I'll never forget Star of Hope, and I hope that you serve as a model for emergency shelters worldwide. Hope I can pay you back somehow, in some meaningful way.
All the best to all of you!
Caryn
I was living the American dream. I had a good job, a family, a home with a white picket fence and a dog. By the standards that I grew up around, I was supposed to be happy and complete. But that was not the case. I went from living the American dream to chasing it, making more money, getting larger homes, moving up the corporate ladder, needing more external things to make me feel whole.
By the time I reached my forties, material things were not working any more. I had thoughts like, “Is this all there is to life?” I had reached the annual salary that I thought would make me content, but it didn’t. I had the job title that I thought would bolster my self-esteem, but it didn’t. And I had a big home and the right kind of cars that I thought would increase my self-worth, but they didn’t.
I became increasingly unhappy, and there seemed to be nothing that would fill the emptiness within me. Medication helped my symptoms but didn’t take care of the root problem. I soon became more reliant on the drugs to numb the way I felt and, of course, they, too, quit working.
My American dream was crumbling. Depression had taken hold and was affecting me as a husband, father, employee, and so on. Then my father passed away and a close cousin committed suicide.
I began a downward spiral into deep depression and heavy use of prescription medication. I lost my job, got divorced, and my family moved away. Finally, I lost my home and, along with it, my will to go on.
A friend of my sister suggested the Star of Hope. I arrived at the Men’s Development Center a beaten man. I felt like a failure. I could not forgive myself, and from my limited knowledge of God, I believed He would not forgive me either.
But at Star of Hope, I had Christian role models around me teaching me about the Bible. I came to understand that God promises to care for all my needs, and I have seen that God keeps His Word. He gave me food, water, shelter and an opportunity to develop a relationship with Him.
I will never forget the night in Chapel, when I decided to submit my life and will to God, by asking Jesus to be my Lord and Savior. It was the start of a new beginning for me. I experienced the most peaceful moment of my life, and I felt whole, again. But this time I didn’t have money, the job, the family or any of the things of the world. All I had were the things God provided for me: a few articles of clothing, food and water, a bed, His love and His promises—promises like, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” And “I know the plans I have for you; plans for your welfare and not calamity; to give you a future and a hope,”
At Star of Hope, I was always encouraged by the staff. I have learned to do the same for others. I can give back to Star of Hope by helping those coming through the program and encourage them to finish it. I am involved in the alumni group whose purpose is to continue to build our community, be spiritually transformed, and to give back through service work.
Today, my family is being restored, I am employed, again, and I have my own place. I am a new man, complete, lacking in nothing. Today I am the father, son, brother and christian man God designed me to be! I give back to the Star of Hope by being a volunteer in ACTS Ministry which is the alumni program. I am eternally grateful to the Star of Hope for being a part of my recovery, and making it possible for me to be where I am, living the great American dream through Jesus Christ.
Vance Letbetter
The Lent season is one I cherish. I feel that during this period of sacrifice and intentionality we acknowledge God more often and therefore become more intimate with him. Just as the Israelites, I am a forgetful person and every day I forget who provides for me. I not only forget who provides for me, but how well I am provided for, which is one reason I love having my Church family participate in this holiday season. They act as a pillar to remind me of God's faithfulness during this season of sacrifice.I also begin to recognize it isn't just about me... that we all suffer. And amazingly, we have all been redeemed by the same sacrifice and therefore even in life after death we are STILL taken care of by our provider!
There are those in your backyard that are suffering, that can't provide for themselves or their family. As a family of Christians in Houston, I pray that God creates a passion within the community to not only acknowledge the poverty and suffering in our city, but to seek out opportunities that Star of Hope offers to help those in need. Two wonderful ways to get involved with helping Houston's homeless are volunteer or donate!
Are you a Houston area chef and would like to help the homeless in our city? Be a guest chef with Star of Hope Mission. Contact Star of Hope to get started today.
Thanks Kevin King of Riverbend Country Club and Ben E. Keith for providing a wonder meal for the residents of Star of Hope’s Transitional Living Center for Women & Families.
I wanted to tell you about one of our volunteers, Peggy*. On three separate occasions she has baked over 400 cup cakes and brought them to Star of Hope. We served over 600,000 meals last year; one of the things that many times gets over looked is the “dessert.”
Our clients have so many homeless service needs, we are always looking for ways to help make them feel at home. These cupcakes have been so awesome! I watched the little children eat the cupcakes. Of course they are messy but they are so good and they add so much to our client’s lives here at the shelters.
We have such an active volunteer program at Star of Hope… everything from sorting clothes to serving meals to tutoring children is included…even making cupcakes! Thank you, Houston, for being such a giving community. When we volunteer to help others, we really make a difference for our community! Thank you, Peggy, for taking time to provide such wonderful cupcakes for our clients and their children, right here at Star of Hope!
*Peggy wishes to be anonymous and we have changed her name.
Volunteer Jobs Houston
Homeless Shelters Houston - Star of Hope Mission
A child’s mother enters the classroom with tears of joy, celebrating and thanking staff that since her son has been in our program he has learned about God, what God’s purpose is for his life, his behavior in school changed from all Ss to all Es, he was awarded student of the week, and his grades have vastly improved. This is what I love about working at Star of Hope. Every child and every family enters the doors for different reasons and with different life circumstances, but there is hope of healing and true life change for each of them. Working at Star of Hope, you not only get to experience and witness God’s grace in the lives of the guests, but you get to be a part of God’s work in their lives.
Proverbs 3: 5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” At Star of Hope…
• I have seen families reunited.
• I have seen mothers stop using drugs.
• I have seen children go from being suspended for fighting on a weekly basis to receiving student of the month behavior awards.
• I have seen angry and hurt children become healed and hopeful.
• I have seen children who would say I know I’m going to end up in jail, leave Star of Hope with better grades, better behavior and a new purpose in life.
• I have seen children and families put their trust back in Christ and their life change.
I am very proud and humbled to be a part of a ministry that works to put God first and trusts in the Lord knowing that true life change can only occur in us and in those we serve with God in your heart.
Elizabeth Quintal
Manager of Children's Services
Visit Careers at Star of Hope Mission
Homeless Shelters Houston
I am so happy that I love and am loved my by family. I certainly hope and pray the same for you and yours. However, I received a call yesterday from a friend of a friend, who had exhausted his financial resources and was having to move out of his hotel… and had no place to go.I called a staff member here at Star of Hope, a Houston homeless shelter; we were able to get him into the shelter. He didn’t have any transportation so we had to work that out…he asked about what kind of place it is…and I told him that Star of Hope is a place where people go when they need help and healing. Star of Hope is one of the best providers for homeless services in Houston. I told him that he would receive meals, a good dry bed, and a change of clothing, if he needed. I told him that he would get to work with some of our staff to determine if he wanted to get into a program, where he can change his life. That is what happens at our Men's Development Center… it is a good safe place and it can be even more valuable, if a person wants.
I hope that you will join me in prayer for my new friend, Danny (not his real name), that he can find the way out of addiction, to a new life in Christ and His purpose for Danny’s life! Stay tuned, I will provide continuing information, if possible! Thank you for your support for the less fortunate within our community. We all need a hand up, sometimes!
When I came to Star of Hope, I was looking for a company that cared about people and wanted to help those who had lost their way. That is exactly what I found. Star of Hope has invested in my career by providing leadership training, internal and external training, and a mentor.
Here you can find a friendly, family oriented group of individuals that share a genuine love for God. It has always been a delightful gift to come to work and have the ability to freely worship God.
Michelle Jones
Client Case Manager
Visit Careers at Star of Hope Mission
Homeless Shelters Houston
God's clear calling brought me to serve at Star of Hope near the end of 2006. In fact, God had been revealing Star of Hope to me from the early 1990s when I was an intern at Channel 26 and had helped a reporter cover a story on homelessness.
God has given me joy that comes from ministering to men, just as other men along my life's journey have ministered to me. When I see men reunite with family, God places a peace and clarity of purpose in my heart.
Ricardo Grimaldi
General Services Support
Visit Careers at Star of Hope Mission
Homeless Shelters Houston
Powered by Compendium