Haven for Hope in San Antonio is commemorating a significant milestone with the one-year anniversary of its Young Adult program, which has been designed to support individuals between the ages of 18-24 who are facing homelessness. In its initial year, the program has provided assistance to nearly 200 young adults, and has been critical in helping 38 achieve the milestone of securing permanent housing, as reported by KENS 5.
Noticing a gap in engagement and successful outcomes for the younger demographic, Haven for Hope intentionally created a space to better cater to their specific needs. In a statement obtained by KENS 5, David Huete, vice president of Transformational Services at Haven, explained that young people "wouldn’t stay very long, they wouldn’t engage and we wouldn’t see good housing outcomes for them." Following the program's establishment, the focus on individualized needs has helped to ensure that each young adult can strive to attain their personal housing, employment, or educational objectives.
The program doesn't just provide a bed; it offers tailored case management services, including helping some participants to receive their GED. According to News 4 San Antonio, Jessie Burdon, Senior Director of Case Management at Haven, emphasized the importance of responding to the expressed need for a designated space for young adults, stating, "We found that really we need to bring the services into their space."
A success story among these young adults is Cody Mitchell, 23, who has been part of the program for the last seven months. He told KENS 5, "Continued to talk to a case manager and got my way through the Courtyard all the way to the Young Adult program, and as I’ve arrived here, it’s been significantly better for me." Mitchell is now on the verge of moving into his own apartment, illustrating the impact and potential of Haven for Hope's initiative to give these young adults a fresh start.
The Young Adult program highlights Haven for Hope's commitment to addressing homelessness through specialized and responsive services. With community partners like SAMMinistries and Thrive Youth Center, Haven for Hope intends to continue this critical support, helping young adults to transition not merely into housing but towards a future of greater stability and hope.
