As San Antonio braces for another night of frigid temperatures, city officials and local nonprofits have rallied to protect the city's homeless by opening seven temporary shelters, as reported by KENS 5. With the weather forecast indicating a dip into the 20s, the city's most vulnerable are offered respite from the cold, complete with transportation services available until 10 a.m. earlier today from the city's human services department.
In response to the urgent need, shelters have opened at various locations including Church Under the Bridge and San Antonio Metropolitan Ministries Shelter, residents in need of daytime warmth have city libraries and park centers at their disposal, brought to light by the aforementioned source. These efforts come alongside those of Haven for Hope, San Antonio's largest homeless shelter, which has recently seen its numbers swell beyond its 1,712 capacity on consecutive nights with counts of 1,734 and 1,711, according to an interview with KSAT.
Haven for Hope has been strenuously working with other local nonprofits to accommodate anyone unable to find space there by transporting them to available shelters. "It was so cold, nothing to eat. It was very ugly for me," shared Rachel Garcia, who described her ordeal on the streets before finding shelter at Haven for Hope where she aims to secure permanent housing for her and her daughter within a three-month span.
The shelter's struggle to meet the demands of the city's homeless population is accentuated by a surge in seekers of refuge from the cold; when questioned about expanding the shelter's capacity, Terri Behling, director of communication at Haven for Hope, articulated an ongoing dialogue with city and county officials for a solution and the upcoming Point-in-Time count, a significant data collection measure intended to help understand and address homelessness in the city, both statements were obtained by KSAT.
With a consistent need for resources especially during these colder months; Haven for Hope encouraged the community's support through donations, inviting those who wish to contribute to visit their website for more information.
