Organization: Visitation House MinistriesInc
Mission: Visitation House enables mothers and their children to live in safety and security and provides supportive services to those who are experiencing homelessness or at risk.Total Donated Services (In-Kind) for 2019 is as follows: Program Services $39,856 Fundraising 8,209 Administration 2,760 _______ Total In-Kind $50,825 ======
Activities: Transitional Housing & Education Program:Transitional Housing Program:The Transitional Housing component offers a two-year residential program that provides stability for homeless single mothers with young children and assists them in gaining the education and skills needed to move out of homelessness into permanent housing and sustainable economic independence. All families receive intensive (weekly/daily) support services, including case management and referrals, life skills training, counseling, educational tutoring and academic advisement. In 2019 Visitation House provided transitional housing, education and comprehensive support services for five (5) homeless families consisting of five (5) adults and ten (10) children for a total of 4,811 days in residence. The transitional housing program is designed to bring about transformational change. Our goal is not limited to providing social services and subsidized housing, but to offer the support necessary to help women make changes in their lives that will move them towards self-sufficiency. It challenges their internal motivation - believing that further education and a better job are not impossible dreams - and then offers them the resources and encouragement to achieve those dreams. During the Spring and Fall semesters of 2019 four of the women were full-time students and one was a part-time student at San Antonio College (SAC). One of the women earned her Certification in Early Childhood Studies and continued toward an Associate Degree in the same field. The other participants are working toward Associate Degrees in Kinesiology and Social Work, and one participant will be earning Certification as a Legal Administrative Assistant. One woman exited the program at the end of the Spring semester and continued her studies toward a bachelors degree in education. Every one of of these women are the first in their families to go to college. They are passionate about being role models for their children. We know that the impact on their children and future generations is immeasurable. In addition to being students, all of the women also worked part-time. Three worked at SAC, in the work-study program and two held part-time jobs in the community. They received Pell grants that covered their tuition and books. All of the families paid a minimal rent calculated at 30% of their part-time earnings minus deductions for the number of children. They also paid for their utilities and had them under their name. All of this is part of the program to help them develop budgeting skills and build their credit. Visitation House, through its donors, supplied the families with hygiene and cleaning products that they were not able to purchase with their SNAP benefits (formerly known as food stamps). Participants in the program received weekly case management and referrals as necessary, as well as weekly individual counseling. Medicaid covered the childrens health needs and the case manager referred the adults to area clinics that care for uninsured patients. Participants also received assistance with health related costs such as eye and dental care. A key element of the transitional housing program is Children Services. Over 30 years of professional experience has taught us that the children will be the change agents to break generational cycles of poverty and/or homelessness. An important part of our childrens services is our after-school tutoring program. The goal is to address and mitigate factors that place the children at risk of poor academic outcomes. These factors include migration from school to school and high rates of absenteeism due to financial barriers, residential instability and family violence. The after-school coordinator is an education specialist that manages the tutoring program with the help of volunteer tutors from the area Universities. She also acts as liaison with the schools as well as engaging the mothers in becoming active advocates for their childrens education.In 2019 the after-school program for school age children served eight (8) children. Each child received approximately 4-6 hours a week of one-on-one tutoring with a focus on reading and math. The childrens report cards showed a grade improvement in one or more subject areas and commendations for honor roll, citizenship, and/or perfect attendance.Donated Services(In-Kind) for 2019 amounted to $35,213.
Adult Learning Center:The Outreach Education Program, offers GED classes in Spanish and English and ESL (English as a second language) classes to Hispanic women and Spanish speaking immigrant women. In 2018 we decided to expand the Outreach Education Program by moving away from a facility based educational model to offering educational services in the parts of the city where they are most needed. We pursued collaborations with agencies serving the Hispanic and immigrant population in zip codes characterized by lower educational attainment. In January 2019, we initiated a pilot project with the Presentation Ministry Center located in one of our designated zip codes. The Presentation Ministry is a non-profit organization that functions as a neighborhood center offering programs and classes serving the needs of the neighborhood. They were already offering ESL classes but wanted to add GED classes in Spanish. Beginning in January, Visitation House teachers offered GED classes at the Presentation Center four days a week during the spring and fall semesters. The Presentation Center provided classroom space, computer access, and childcare. The goal of the Outreach Education Program is to give women both the tools and the confidence to take the next step in their advancement. Earning a GED is a launching pad for getting into college or earning an advance certification in a profession, finding employment or getting a promotion. Whatever their personal goals may be, earning a GED will ultimately empower them to pursue a better quality of life for their families. In 2019 the Outreach Program served fifty (50) women. Of this number, forty (40) were new students who logged in 3,371 hours of class time. Twenty of the new students attended GED classes in Spanish at the Presentation Center. The remainder, eighteen (18) GED students and sixteen (16) ESL students, attended classes at the Visitation House Learning Center. The overall program attrition rate was 36%. Instructors work to help counterbalance the life challenges, which beset the demographic we serve. Most students identified family demands as an obstacle to participating consistently, which in turn causes a delay for students in achieving their goals.The majority (97%) of the GED students studied in Spanish. They were at varying academic levels, and consequently at varying milestones in receiving their GED certificates. The teaching methods are designed to cater to the individual rather than the group, the instructors worked with each person to offset these differences. This included individual tutoring when needed. *100 percent of the GED students increased their computer literacy skills. *100 percent completed GED pre-tests. *23 percent passed one or more of the GED tests in one of the four subject areas. *15 percent passed all four GED tests and received their certificates.The Visitation House Education Outreach program is one of the few resources in the San Antonio area, which provides face-to-face, one-on-one, GED instruction in the Spanish language. In 2018 the Visitation House Board and staff embarked on developing a strategic vision to move the ministry into the future. The programs were evaluated and adjusted to respond more effectively to current needs. The education component in the transitional housing program was affirmed and strengthened by committing to a two-generation approach. The outreach education was expanded by moving from a facility based model to taking educational services to the areas where they are most needed. In 2019 we begin implementation of the strategic vision. We have made changes based on the learnings we identified and the core tenets we articulated and are guided by. Board and staff continue to work on developing plans for the future growth and development of the Visitation House Ministry.Visitation House Ministries Core Tenets Throughout this planning process leadership worked to identify the ministrys Core Tenets, those things that help to define VHM and its approach to ministry. The vision and strategy that results from this planning process should carefully consider these core tenets as guideposts for any future form this ministry may take. We believe in the power of co-ministry; as we work to serve the women of Visitation House, we learn from them and are transformed with them.We are a community, not an agency; we offer hospitality and housing to women with children who are ready and willing to make a sustainable change. Education is foundational to sustainable change but not sufficient. Families need access to a broad menu of social services, navigation support and time to make lasting changes.Homelessness among families is a solvable problem. Women with children are the most motivated to make a sustainable change and can do so with the right resources, support and time.Our culture, programming, services and network support women in the creation of stable and loving homes for their children.We are most effective when we work with women who are willing and ready to make a change. When our expectations are high, women rise to meet them.We are demanding because we care and because it works.We are small in size, independent and non-bureaucratic, which allows us the freedom to create deep and long-lasting relationships with those we serve and to respond nimbly and effectively to the needs we see.We are part of a vast network of committed people, programs and resources that, when leveraged effectively, strengthen our ministry and those we serve.To be a sustainable ministry, we must have more than a financial plan, we must also have the skills and ability to set the right direction, make good decisions, provide valued services, grow and offer an excellent ministry. The spirituality and charism of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word are foundational to the relationships we forge and all that we do.Donated Services(In-Kind) for 2019 amounted to $4,643. .
NTEE category: Housing & Shelter
Secondary category: Human Services