27 the streets of Downtown, Harris and Ft. Bend counties to take a census of the homeless population. “Before 2009, many organizations were doing all their own work, trying to do everything: providing services, keeping up with federal paperwork. We manage those federal efforts now, and that helps partner organizations concentrate on providing services.” If it’s starting to sound like there are a lot of moving parts to the system, consider that there used to be many more. Since 2009 and the streamlining of resources, the process for getting people into a system that can help them end their homelessness has meant that more and more people have been helped. And as more affordable housing and single residency occupancy (SRO) options have come online, those listings are input into the HMIS, giving case workers more options to help those who need places to live.
C onnect i on is Ke y More than the data points, more than housing options, there is a vital human touch necessary for working to end homelessness. Organizations around Downtown provide badly needed services for those living on the streets, and their ability to reach out and help on the ground level is vital to the success of The Way Home. One of those is the Beacon, a 501c3 nonprofit started by Christ Church Cathedral in 2007. The organization provides showers, laundry services and hot meals to the homeless, Thursdays through Sundays. The Beacon’s day center allows those who need them to reserve showers in 15-minute increments. Volunteers staff the laundry services and meal distribution. Charly Weldon, executive director for the Beacon, says that the new streamlined system is vital to solving the problem of homelessness. “Working together with our partner entities puts the needs of our clients ahead of the needs of individual agencies,” she says. “And when you look at it that way, you see how, working together, we have a much stronger effort.”
Org a ni z at i ons a round D own t own p rovide b a dly needed servi c e s f or t h o se l i vin g on t he s t ree t s,
SE ARCH’S M OBIL E O U TRE ACH P RO GR AM RE ACHE S THO SE WHO L ACK ANY S UP P ORT SYS TEM .
and t heir abil i t y to re ac h o u t and hel p on t he gro und l e vel is vi tal to t he s uc c es s of T he Way H ome.