Vistation House Ministries

VISITATION HOUSE MINISTRIES 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 2021 IS AS FOLLOWS: PROGRAM SERVICES $14,731 FUNDRAISING 5,905 ADMINISTRATION 0 _______ TOTAL IN-KIND $20,636 ======

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 2021, VISITATION HOUSE MINISTRIES PROVIDED TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, EDUCATION AND COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT SERVICES FOR FIVE (5) HOMELESS FAMILIES CONSISTING OF FIVE (5) ADULTS AND NINE (9) CHILDREN FOR A TOTAL OF 1,825 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.EACH MOM PURSUED A DISTINCTIVE EDUCATION GOAL, PARTICULAR TO HER LEVEL OF EDUCATION ATTAINMENT. DURING THE SPRING AND FALL SEMESTERS OF 2021, ONE PARTICIPANT ATTENDED SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE (SAC) TO EARN AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE IN SOCIAL WORK, ONE PARTICIPANT COMPLETED HER GED, ONE PARTICIPANT CONTINUED WORKING TOWARDS EARNING HER GED, AND TWO PARTICIPANTS BEGAN THE PROCESS OF ENROLLING IN SAC. EVERY ONE OF THESE WOMEN ARE THE FIRST IN THEIR FAMILIES TO ATTEND COLLEGE. ALL PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS WERE ENCOURAGED TO SEEK EMPLOYMENT. HOWEVER, LIMITED CHILDCARE AND SICKNESS MADE THIS OPPORTUNITY DIFFICULT. ONE PARTICIPANT SECURED EMPLOYMENT THROUGH WORK-STUDY. TWO OTHERS WERE ALREADY EMPLOYED UPON ENTERING THE PROGRAM AND WERE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT DURING THE YEAR. THE WOMEN ATTENDING SAC RECEIVED PELL GRANTS THAT COVERED THEIR TUITION AND BOOKS. PARTICIPANTS WHO HAVE INCOME PAY A MINIMAL RENT UP TO 30% OF THEIR PART-TIME EARNINGS MINUS DEDUCTIONS FOR THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN. TWO PARTICIPANTS WERE ABLE TO PAY THE HIGHLY SUBSIDIZED RENT AND UTILITIES. TWO PARTICIPANTS WHO JOINED LATE IN THE YEAR WERE UNDER THE SUPPORT OF OUR PROGRAMMING WHILE ONE OTHER WORKED TO FIND EMPLOYMENT. WHEN PARTICIPANTS ARE ABLE TO PAY FOR UTILITIES, IT IS PLACED IN THEIR NAME. THIS IS PART OF THE PROGRAM IN HELPING PARTICIPANTS DEVELOP BUDGETING SKILLS AND BUILD THEIR CREDIT. VISITATION HOUSE MINISTRIES, THROUGH ITS DONORS, SUPPLIED THE FAMILIES WITH HYGIENE AND CLEANING PRODUCTS THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO PURCHASE WITH THEIR SNAP BENEFITS (FORMERLY KNOWN AS FOOD STAMPS). PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS RECEIVED WEEKLY CASE MANAGEMENT AND REFERRALS AS NECESSARY, AS WELL AS WEEKLY VIRTUAL 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 36 YEARS OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE HAS TAUGHT US THAT 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 ENRICHMENT PROGRAM (EP). THE GOAL OF THE EP 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 A PAID INTERN EARNING A DEGREE IN PSYCHOLOGY. THE LATTER CARRIES OUT THE DAILY WORK OF PROVIDING ACADEMIC, INSPIRATIONAL AND MOTIVATIONAL SUPPORT FOR THE CHILDREN. WE WERE ABLE TO WELCOME BACK VOLUNTEERS TO ASSIST WITH THE AFTER-SCHOOL ENRICHMENT PROGRAM.IN 2021, ALL CHILDREN (EXCEPT FOR THE INFANTS) PARTICIPATED IN THE ENRICHMENT PROGRAM. THREE (3) SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN PARTICIPATED IN EACH EP SESSION. EACH CHILD RECEIVED APPROXIMATELY 2-3 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. THOSE THAT WERE NON-SCHOOL AGE PARTICIPATED, AS THEIR SCHEDULE PERMITS, IN ACTIVITIES THAT WERE NON-ACADEMIC E.G., CREATIVE PROJECTS, PLAY AND EDUCATIONAL GAMES, AND STORY TIME. DONATED SERVICES(IN-KIND) FOR 2021 AMOUNTED TO $14,731.

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. WITH THE INITIATION OF A PILOT PROJECT IN 2019 WE EXPANDED 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. ONE SUCH COLLABORATION IS WITH THE PRESENTATION MINISTRY CENTER LOCATED IN ONE OF OUR DESIGNATED ZIP CODES. THE PRESENTATION MINISTRY CENTER 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. VISITATION HOUSE MINISTRIES CONTINUES THIS PARTNERSHIP BY PROVIDING TEACHERS OFFERING GED CLASSES TO PRESENTATION CENTER STUDENTS FOUR DAYS A WEEK ONLINE. THE VISITATION HOUSE MINISTRIES 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.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. DUE TO THE PANDEMIC ALL GED CLASSES WERE MOVED ONLINE VIA ZOOM AND VIDEOS POSTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA. ESL STUDENTS WERE REFERRED TO THE PRESENTATION MINISTRY CENTER. IN 2021, THE OUTREACH PROGRAM SERVED TWENTY-FOUR (24) WOMEN. 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. ONE HUNDRED PERCENT 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. THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE VISITATION HOUSE MINISTRIES HOUSING AND OUTREACH EDUCATION PROGRAMS IS MEASURED BY THE LEVEL OF CHANGES IN LEARNING, CHANGES IN ACTION, AND CHANGES IN CONDITION OF THE PARTICIPANTS.100% OF HOUSING PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS EXPERIENCE CHANGES IN THEIR LIVES THAT ARE MOVING THEM TO SELF-SUFFICIENT AND INDEPENDENT LIVING.100% OF CHILDREN EXPERIENCE RESIDENTIAL STABILITY, A NURTURING ENVIRONMENT AND A SOLID EDUCATIONAL START.100% OF OUTREACH PARTICIPANTS EXPERIENCE A CHANGE IN OVERCOMING HURDLES THAT HAVE PREVENTED THEM FROM ACHIEVING SUCCESS IN THEIR PAST EDUCATIONAL ENDEAVORS SUCH AS LOW EDUCATION LEVELS AND LOW LITERACY, LACK OF PHYSICAL ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY, AND DIGITAL ILLITERACY AND AND/OR THE INTIMIDATION WROUGHT BY SUCH HURDLES.IN LATE 2021, WE INITIATED A PILOT PROJECT TO EXTEND THE OUTREACH EDUCATION PROGRAM BEYOND EDUCATION SERVICES. THE PILOT WILL PROVIDE SERVICES WITH A PREVENTATIVE FOCUS FOR WOMEN IN THE COMMUNITY TO INCLUDE REMOTE CASE MANAGEMENT, PROVIDING SOCIAL SERVICES NAVIGATION SUPPORT TO HELP THEM GAIN ACCESS TO A WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES FOR WHICH THEY MAY BE ELIGIBLE, (MEDICAL, BEHAVIORAL, HEALTH, AND EMPLOYMENT, SOCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL). EXPANSION OF SERVICES ALSO INCLUDES THE DELIVERY OF PRODUCTS TO HELP THESE WOMEN MEET THEIR INDIVIDUAL, FAMILY AND HOUSEHOLD NEEDS. DONATED SERVICES(IN-KIND) FOR 2021 AMOUNTED TO $0.