Society Of St Vincent De Paul Archdiocese Of Galveston-Houston

THE SOCIETY, PART OF AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION, SERVES THE POOR THROUGH 56 PARISH VOLUNTEER CONFERENCES. FOOD, RENT & UTILITIES ASSISTANCE, CLOTHING, FURNITURE/HOUSEHOLD GOODS & OTHER FORMS OF DIRECT ASSISTANCE ARE PROVIDED THROUGH PERSONAL CONTACT.

VINCENTIAN SERVICES: VINCENTIAN SERVICES INCLUDE THE HOME VISIT AND FOOD ASSISTANCE MINISTRIES CONDUCTED THROUGH CONFERENCES. THE HOME VISIT MINISTRY PROVIDES HOME VISITS TO PEOPLE IN NEED TO DETERMINE THE EXACT NATURE AND DETAILS OF HELP REQUIRED. THIS INCLUDES DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AS WELL AS EMOTIONAL AND SPIRITUAL SUPPORT. THE FOOD ASSISTANCE MINISTRY PROVIDES FOOD TO PEOPLE IN NEED THROUGH PANTRIES OPERATED BY 20 CONFERENCES. THROUGH THE HOME VISIT AND FOOD ASSISTANCE MINISTRIES, THE VINCENTIANS IDENTIFY THOSE ISSUES CRITICAL TO PEOPLE LIVING IN POVERTY WHILE RAISING AWARENESS SO COMMUNITIES AND ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES CAN DEVELOP STRATEGIES AIMED AT REDUCING OR ELIMINATING POVERTY.

RESILIENCY: THE RESILIENCY PROGRAM INCLUDES BRIDGES OUT OF POVERTY AND THE NATIONALLY KNOWN "GETTING AHEAD IN A JUST-GETTIN'-BY WORLD." THIS PROGRAM IS A 16-WEEK INCENTIVIZED PROGRAM THAT HELPS IMPROVE PEOPLE'S LIVES BY ASSESSING THEIR OWN LIVES AND CIRCUMSTANCES AND DEVELOPING TOOLS AND SKILLS AS PART OF THEIR MOVE TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY. GETTING AHEAD PARTICIPANTS CREATE THEIR OWN PLANS TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE LIFE, BUILD HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS, SET SHORT- AND LONG-TERM GOALS, AND DEVELOP A STEP-BY-STEP PLAN TO ACHIEVE THOSE GOALS. IN ADDITION TO THIS PROGRAM, THE SOCIETY HAS DEVELOPED A GRADUATE PROGRAM WHERE PARTICIPANTS AND MENTORS TACKLE EVERYTHING FROM BUDGETING AND NEGOTIATION SKILLS TO HOW TO COPE WITH DAILY LIFE AND BUILD HOPE FOR THE FUTURE. RIGHT RELATIONSHIPS CAN BE A POWERFUL AID TO HELP PEOPLE ALONG THE JOURNEY OUT OF POVERTY.UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES: THE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES PROGRAM GOAL IS TO CREATE HEALTHY, VIBRANT CONFERENCES SERVING AT-RISK AND DISTRESSED AREAS OF GALVESTON-HOUSTON. THIS PROGRAM WAS DESIGNED UTILIZING THE DISTRESSED COMMUNITIES INDEX (DCI) TOOL, WHICH CONTAINS SEVEN METRICS TO CAPTURE DISTINCT ASPECTS OF ECONOMIC DISTRESS -- EDUCATION, HOUSING, UNEMPLOYMENT, EMPLOYMENT INSTABILITY, POVERTY RATE, INCOME RATIO, AND BUSINESS GROWTH. OFTEN THESE COMMUNITIES HAVE THE GREATEST NEED BUT ARE LIMITED IN RESOURCES. THIS PROGRAM IS INTENDED TO BUILD CAPACITY, BOTH HUMAN AND FINANCIAL. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS PROVIDED BY THESE CONFERENCES TO INDIVIDUALS NEEDING ASSISTANCE WITH HOUSING, UTILITIES, AND OTHER BASIC NEEDS BESIDES FOOD.

FOOD NETWORK:FOOD NETWORK SERVES TEN COUNTIES IN THE GALVESTON-HOUSTON AREA BY PROVIDING ADMINISTRATIVE AND OPERATIONAL SUPPORT TO THE TWENTY FOOD PANTRIES OPERATED BY THE CONFERENCES AS PART OF VINCENTIAN SERVICES AND ONE PANTRY OPERATED BY THE COUNCIL. ALL FOOD PANTRIES SUPPORTED BY THE COUNCIL ARE AUTHORIZED TO DISTRIBUTE FOOD COMMODITIES FOR THE EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND PROMOTE HEALTHY DIETS BY PROVIDING FOOD ITEMS, SPECIAL DIET ITEMS AND HOUSEHOLD GOODS, SUCH AS PAPER PRODUCTS, BABY ITEMS AND HYGIENE NECESSITIES.

THRIFT STORES AND VOUCHER MINISTRY:THRIFT STORES AND VOUCHER MINISTRY FOCUS ON ADDRESSING NEEDS BY FOSTERING A DIGNIFIED FAMILY ENVIRONMENT. THE SOCIETY'S THRIFT STORES OFFER LOW-COST GOODS TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND THRIFTY SHOPPERS. EVERY DAY, THE STORES DISPLAY VINTAGE, GENTLY USED, AND OCCASIONALLY UNUSED MERCHANDISE. THERE ARE OFTEN SALES, SPECIAL EVENTS, AND MARK-DOWNS THAT MAKE THE MERCHANDISE EVEN MORE ACCESSIBLE. FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO LACK THE RESOURCES TO PURCHASE ITEMS FROM ONE OF THE STORES, THE SOCIETY HAS A VOUCHER MINISTRY THAT INCLUDES GIVING VOUCHERS TO INDIVIDUALS TO REDEEM FOR CLOTHING, FURNITURE, AND HOUSEHOLD ITEMS AT THE TWO RESALE STORES.