One Man's Vision is Another Man's Hope

Business and civic leader, Bill Greehey watched a documentary on San Antonio’s homelessness that aired on a local television station in December of 2005. Inspired to transform and save the lives of San Antonio’s homeless, Bill Greehey worked closely with Mayor Phil Hardberger and other city leaders such as Councilwoman Patti Radle and former Mayor Ed Garza’s Council to End Homelessness.

In 2006, because of one man’s changed heart, Haven for Hope was officially established as a 501c private organization. Eighteen months of research around the U.S. and over 200 shelters later, Haven for Hope’s vision was born. The Capital Campaign and the 15 buildings that are located on 37 acres west of downtown San Antonio were completed in early 2010.

By April of 2010, the very first members moved onto the Campus. Currently the Transformational Campus provides housing and programming to over 900 men, women and children. Prospects Courtyard, an area of safe sleeping for the chronic homeless population, sleeps approximately 500 men and women per night.

Haven for Hope will begin construction on Phase II, “The Terraces at Haven,” a 150 unit supportive housing complex, during the 3rd quarter of 2011 with expected completion in 2013.

Haven for Hope is a private non-profit organization dedicated to transforming and saving the lives of homeless men, women, and children by addressing the root causes of homelessness through job training, education, and behavioral health services.

• On any given night there will be roughly 1600 individuals residing on the Haven for Hope Campus.
• 25,000 people in San Antonio experience homelessness during each year in San Antonio.
• Between 3,500 and 4,500 individuals experience homelessness each night in San
• Antonio.
• 25% of the homeless are children, half of which are under age 5.
• Family homelessness in Texas has increased 15.9% since 2008.
• 23% of the homeless are Veterans.
• 60% of the homeless experience severe substance abuse and/or mental illness.

At my last visit to the homeless shelter I was able to speak with some of the men and women there. When asked "How has Haven for Hope impacted you?" They would all say something along the lines of without Haven for Hope I probably wouldn't be where I am; I may not be alive; I wouldn't of been able to get off the streets; and some people said that Haven for Hope didn't do anything that they did it all on their own. Every life that comes through Haven for Hope has a story waiting to be told to anyone that will listen. I am glad I was allowed to open my ears to them and I pray that anyone who reads this will open their ears and eyes to things that are often unseen and when they are seen nothing is done. No matter who you are you can make a difference just by listening to someone's story and sharing it so others may be moved to make a difference.