West Houston Assistance Ministries Inc

TO GIVE SHORT TERM ASSISTANCE TO THOSE IN NEED AND MINISTER TO VARIOUS OTHER HUMAN NEEDS

WEST HOUSTON ASSISTANCE MINISTRIES PROVIDES LIFE-CHANGING WRAP-AROUND PROGRAMS THAT HELP THOSE IN NEED DURING THEIR IMMEDIATE CRISIS, WITH THE GOAL OF HELPING THEM GET BACK ON THEIR FEET TO ACHIEVE SELF-SUFFICIENCY IN THE INTERMEDIATE TO LONGER TERM. WE PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR RENT/MORTGAGE TO PREVENT EVICTIONS AND HOMELESSNESS; HELP WITH UTILITIES TO AVOID DISCONNECTIONS THAT MAY BE LIFE-THREATENING; PROVIDE CLOTHING AND OTHER ITEMS DEPENDING ON THE NEED; AS WELL AS SEASONAL PROGRAMS PROVIDING SCHOOL SUPPLIES, HOLIDAY TOYS/GIFT CARDS FOR CHILDREN, AND HOLIDAY MEALS FOR FAMILIES; SPIRITUAL COUNSELING (WHEN REQUESTED); AND ONSITE SERVICES BY PARTNER AGENCIES (PUBLIC BENEFIT ENROLLMENT, INSURANCE, ETC.), AS WELL AS REFERRALS TO OUTSIDE PROGRAMS NOT OFFERED BY WHAM. (CONTINUED ON PG. 58)(CONTINUED FROM PG. 3) WE HELP HOUSEHOLDS AFTER COMPASSIONATE, ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEWS WHERE WE LEARN HOW TO BEST MEET THEIR SHORT-TERM BASIC NEEDS AND ESTABLISH A PATH FOR LONGER-TERM FINANCIAL STABILITY. TO THIS PURPOSE, WE PROVIDE EDUCATION AND JOB TRAINING TO PROMOTE INDEPENDENCE AND CONNECT CLIENTS TO TOOLS THAT WILL IMPROVE THEIR LIVES. CLIENTS HAVE ACCESS TO JOB LEADS, WORKSHOPS, RESUME BUILDING, MOCK INTERVIEWS, OFFICE SUPPORT, CLASSES IN COMPUTING, FINANCIAL LITERACY, ESL, GED, AND CERTIFICATIONS, LEGAL CLINICS, JOB FAIRS, TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE, AND INTERVIEW-APPROPRIATE PROFESSIONAL ATTIRE. WE HELPED OVER 9,200 CLIENTS IN FY2021 WITH THESE VARIOUS SERVICES.

PROVIDES GROCERIES FOR FAMILIES AND THEIR PETS, AND NONPERISHABLE FOOD TO HOMELESS CLIENTS IN BOTH A DRIVE-THRU AND A GROCERY STORE SETTING THAT ALLOWS CLIENTS TO SELECT THEIR OWN FOOD FROM THE WIDE ASSORTMENT AVAILABLE. DURING COVID19, WE ALSO OFFER FOOD IN A SAFE, DRIVE-THRU SETTING WHERE FOOD AND HOUSEHOLD ITEMS ARE LOADED INTO CAR TRUNKS IN AN EFFICIENT, CONTACTLESS, MANNER. WE OFFER EXTENDED HOURS FOR WORKING CLIENTS, DEDICATED HOURS FOR SENIOR CITIZENS AND THE DISABLED, MONTHLY COMMUNITY FOOD FAIRS, COOKING CLASSES, REFERRALS TO HEALTHCARE AND OTHER SERVICES TO FAMILIES, AS WELL AS PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE FOOD TO COLLEGE STUDENTS, SENIOR CITIZENS, FAMILIES WITH SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN, AND SUMMER LUNCHES TO CHILDREN WHO LOSE ACCESS TO SCHOOL-PROVIDED MEALS DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS. WHAM'S PLATINUM-RATED (CONTINUED ON PG. 58)(CONTINUED FROM PG. 3) FOOD PANTRY HAS BEEN DESIGNATED BY THE HOUSTON FOOD BANK AS ONE OF A FEW TRUSTED HUB AGENCIES DISTRIBUTING FOOD TO SMALLER AGENCIES. OVER 131,245 PEOPLE RECEIVED FOOD ASSISTANCE FROM US IN FY2021, MORE THAN THE FIRST YEAR OF THE COVID19 PANDEMIC WHEN OVER 100,000 PEOPLE WERE FED, AND MORE THAN THOSE FED DURING THE PREVIOUS 3 YEARS COMBINED.

PART OF THE ORGANIZATION, AND DEPENDENT ON COMMUNITY MEMBERS' DONATIONS OF GENTLY WORN CLOTHING, FURNITURE BOOKS, ARTWORK, ETC., OUR SOCIAL ENTERPRISE BENEFITS THE LOCAL ECONOMY BY HAVING ITS SALES REVENUE GOING RIGHT BACK INTO THE ORGANIZATION TO INVEST ON THE OPERATION OF OUR PROGRAMS TO HELP FAMILIES IN NEED. EVERY DOLLAR STAYS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND HELPS THOSE SUFFERING IN THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA. OUR STORE ALSO MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO DISTRIBUTE CLOTHING AND SHOES TO CLIENTS IN NEED AND PROFESSIONAL ATTIRE TO THOSE SEEKING EMPLOYMENT THROUGH OUR EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS. IT ALSO BENEFITS THE ENVIRONMENT BY REDUCING WASTE, AND ENCOURAGING REUSE AND RECYCLING. OVERALL, THE STORE SAVED ABOUT 3,000 TONS OF CONSUMABLES FROM GOING TO AREA LANDFILLS AND FUNDED 6% OF OUR PROGRAMS IN FY 2021.