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We Feed, We House, We Clothe, and Advocate with Love and Compassion

- The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Southwest Texas Council creates person-centered plans that help people find long-lasting stability to rise up and out of poverty.
  
  You can be apart of a family stabilization plan.
  
  With your financial donation, you can help a family through these difficult times.
  
  DONATE TODAY
- Look For The Good In Today
  
  We can find the most precious qualities of life in children. Children
  
  manifest life’s tenderness, kindness, resilience, and determination.
  
  I was recently reminded of this when I heard about the Rhea
  
  children: Hunter (13), Syllis (12), Laneia (9), and six-year-old, Wayde.
  
  Wayde, and his three siblings, recently experienced some significant life changes due to the pandemic. His family, who had been making six figures before the onset of COVID-19, suffered from job losses when the economy closed. The family stability that his parents had created in their 20 years of marriage was instantly gone!
  
  Wayde’s parents now had no income. The family went into survival mode until even survival mode wasn’t even enough.
  
  Wayde’s twelve-year-old sister, Syllis, remembers what she did to get through those times.
- “Look for the good in today.” Syllis told us.
  
  With no income, the inevitable happened: evicted Wayde and his family found themselves at local shelters. Wayde, his siblings, and his mother went to one shelter. His father went to another.
  
  Despite every obstacle that the Rhea children faced, they never gave up hope. On the contrary, they devoted their time at the shelter to uplifting other children around them. “They were known at the shelter as ‘vessels of light’”, remembers Wayde’s Mom.
  
  With all her possessions gone and no home to call her own, Nine-year-old Laneia still believed that giving gifts to other children experiencing homeless was important. The only thing she had to provide was a simple smile and she gave it in
  
  abundance.
  
  “I hope today you smile,” Laneia said, “It sometimes is a great gift you can give someone else who may be having a bad day.”
  
  While the Rhea parents worked hard with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul to get back on their feet and obtain
  
  housing, the children worked hard to transform a story of shame into a tale of transformation.
  
  “When I struggled to find my voice or my strength, all I had to do was look into the eyes of my children. They lived in gratitude every day.” said Mom.
  
  After seven months, the family finally reunited. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is proud to offer support, guidance, and housing assistance during their most difficult days.
  
  These are unprecedented times, and although the changes can seem
  
  overwhelming, it’s important to remember that we can get through these trying times through faith and positive intentions.
  
  Six-year-old Wayde has a reminder for all of us...
  
  “It’s ok friends, it will be good.”
- A "God Wink" Moment:
  Anna and Charlie
  
  It was mid-March when the Society of St. Vincent de Paul received two very special phone calls that led to a transformational and soul warming experience.
  
  PHONE CALL NO. 1
  
  A sweet gentleman by the name of Gilbert had called looking to donate his late sister's estate. He explained that his sister Anna had taken a religious vow to serve Jesus Christ and all of humanity. Her life had been focused on contemplative prayer and dedication to the service of others.
  
  In her death, she still wanted to serve. She wanted the contents of her apartment to go to someone in need. Gilbert is in a wheelchair and on an oxygen tank. He couldn't move her household items himself.
  
  Staff explained that due to limited resources, it would be a hard task but they would try.
- Charlie on his new couch courtesy of Anna.
- PHONE CALL NO. 2
  
  Hours later, a veteran named Yvonne called the Society of St. Vincent de Paul looking for a bed for her father.
  
  Charlie, on a very fixed income, had been evicted from his apartment and was having trouble finding affordable housing. His health, lack of access to technology, and his situation made it difficult to navigate the system of resources available to individuals in his situation. So, in his 70s, Charlie wound up homeless. Yvonne had been tirelessly working for months to help her father Charlie get off the streets and had finally been successful. But Charlie needed a bed and Yvonne wanted to know if the Society of St. Vincent de Paul could help.
  
  THE "GOD WINK"
  
  There are moments when everything comes together. These special moments some might call serendipitous. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul calls them "God Winks".
  
  God winked upon Charlie and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul that day. Staff was able to move the entire contents of Anna's apartment over to Charlie's new home. Charlie received much more than a bed! He received a couch with new throw pillows, a recliner, a dresser, kitchen items, toiletries, and other household items.
  
  Anna's last wishes were fulfilled. Her wishes were to help someone in need. Charlie received so much more than he ever dreamed of.
- The Door To Our New Home: Teresa's Story
  
  Teresa, a single mother, relocated with her daughter Jazmine to San Antonio in 2014. Shortly after making San Antonio her home, Teresa married. But soon, realities about her husband caused the marriage to end and Teresa found herself and her daughter without a home.
  
  In search of assistance, Teresa was referred to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Southwest Texas Council. After evaluating their financial situation, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul was able to find Teresa and Jazmine a new home and eased the financial burden of the move by paying two months of their rent and paying off a delinquent balance on their utility bill so they could start new.
- A Single Father's Transition From Homelessness to Stability
  
  In February 2020, Osvaldo Nieto traveled to San Antonio, Texas from Florida in a cargo van.
  
  Osvaldo and his two children were seeking a new start. Losses and bad decisions had taken this single father from a six-figure salary, a home, and a life filled with travel and life luxuries… to a cargo van.
  
  The family was limited on funds but not on determination.
  
  Upon arriving in San Antonio, Osvaldo found employment and hoped that things would start to change for the family. Then COVID-19 hit. By April 2020, Osvaldo found himself laid off. He and his family went to Haven for Hope.
  
  After several months at the shelter, Haven for Hope referred Mr. Nieto to SVdP.
  
  After working diligently with the Family and Community Assistance team of SVdP, Osvaldo and his children had their own apartment in less than a month.
  
  “We worked together” says Osvaldo of his experience with SVdP. “You have to be willing to do what you need to. You have to motivate yourself to get out of the bad situations in life. The first thing I had to do was set my goals. I had to get stable employment. Then I had to find a home for me and my children. ” Osvaldo admits that motivation did not come easy. “I used to cry at night when I saw my children sleeping, living, eating out of a van. I felt like a loser.” While Osvaldo’s children were his greatest motivator, he stresses that SVdP’s compassion and willingness to help him also moved him into action. “I am forever grateful. Not even my family helped me like SVdP did. I can’t believe that someone that doesn’t even know me, that isn’t even my family, would help me and my children like this. Thank you so much for everything.”
  
  Osvaldo wants others to know that their troubles are temporary and that he realizes now that he is not nor ever was a “loser”. We are One Society. Our brothers and sisters in need appreciate our love and compassion. Our service to other can change their lives. Thank you for all your do and have been doing for 150 years.
- A Mother's Christmas Miracle
  
  Kelly, a single mother, suffered through years of domestic violence. She escaped her abuser and found herself recovering at a local shelter.
  
  Due to COVID-19, her children could not stay with her at the shelter. They were referred to SVdP.
  
  SVdP worked with Kelly and her children to find a safe place to live and provided food for her family. Kelly says SVdP has helped her and her family immensely and she will continue to share her story to give hope to others going through hardships.
  
  “They got me here.
  
  They paid my rent, they put food on the table for us,
  they got us a Christmas tree.
  
  I can’t even begin to explain how much the Society of St. Vincent de Paul has done for us.”
  
  If you are interesting in supporting the mission of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, please click on the link below.
  
  -Interviewed by Destiny Cantu,
  Marketing and Development Coordinator
- A Chain Reaction of Love and Support
  
  We were blessed to receive this update from Edward, an individual who came to us seeking assistance. Below is Edward's letter to our SVdP staff.
  
  "I am writing you this letter to say thank you for your assistance in helping with my utility assistance. From all the other charitable groups and agencies, your [conference] funding assistance came in quicker and faster approved than any other place I applied to.
  
  But, since your approval, I guess you started a chain reaction. I got approved with Bexar County Utility assistance as well, I have to reapply for January of next year for assistance as well but, they also approval some of the remaining balance for CPS bill for December. I also got some other good news from the AAOG agency.
  
  They came over to my house and assessed my insulation and HVAC system needs. They thoroughly inspected my house on the central air and heating system that's has been in need of repair for 2 years now, looked over my water-heater, insulation, and roofing needs. Come January of next year, God willing, they will install a new HVAC central air and heating unit.
  
  In conclusion, I just wanted to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation for the church's assistance. Thanks again. GOD BLESS!!
  
  Sincerely,
  -Edward"
- Ms. D and Her Daughter B
  
  Ms. D is a single mother of two girls under the age of six. After rising up and out of homelessness, Ms. D found she still needed guidance and support due to unemployment related to COVID-19.
  
  "We know this is temporary. It is because of the pandemic. We just have to make it work." Ms. D stated.
  
  "They have helped me. I can feed my girls because of SVdP. They even called me on Sunday to pick up a Thanksgiving turkey. They think about us and whether we are ok."
  
  Volunteers at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul continue to check up on Ms. D and her daughters every month as part of their family stabilization plan.
  
  Our work is not to provide band-aid solutions. We know paying one utility bill or providing one box of food will not stabilize families.
  
  If you are interesting in supporting the mission of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, please click on the link below.
  
  -Interviewed by Erica Benavides
  Development Director
- Mr. Ramos
  
  Mr. Ramos had been working for the same company here in San Antonio for over 20 years.
  
  After a recent diagnosis with cancer and the treatment that came with the diagnosis, Mr. Ramos found himself struggling to do the same level of work he had done previously. His job tried to accommodate him but at last, no more accommodations could be made and he was let go.
  
  Mr. Ramos was the sole provider for his family. Now a grandfather, his children had grown and it was only him and his wife. His wife had never held a job as her job was to help with the children and the grandchildren.
  
  “I didn’t ask for this situation. I have always been a hard working man.”
  
  Mr. Ramos was referred to SVdP SWTX by the Bexar County Economic and Community Development. He had been evicted because his social security check could not cover his living expenses. Even though he had worked every day of his life, he and his wife found themselves homeless.
  
  SVdP SWTX was able to help Mr. Ramos and his wife pay for a hotel temporarily while housing accommodations were made. With the help of community partners, SVdP SWTX was able to find Mr. Ramos a comfortable, affordable two bedroom apartment where he and his wife can sleep safe and sound. It was a difficult and somewhat lengthy process because there was a shortage of one bedroom, affordable apartments in San Antonio. Through SVdP SWTX's advocacy efforts with San Antonio Housing Authority, was able to get him into something he could afford.
  
  He longs to be able to see and hold his grandchildren again soon….hopefully after the pandemic has subsided.
  
  On behalf of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Southwest Council and all those that support our efforts, we wish Mr. and Mrs. Ramos future blessings and we continue to pray for his health.
  
  If you are interesting in supporting the mission of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, please click on the link below.
  
  -Interviewed by Erica Benavides, Director of Development
  
  UPDATE ON MR. RAMOS
  
  The Ramos family has been stablized!
  Mr. Ramos and his wife spent Christmas and New Year's in their safe, affordable new apartment.
  
  Even with limited income due to his cancer, SVdP found him a two bedroom apartment at an AFFORDABLE rate. We were also able to help him pay off a $800+ utility bill through our partnership with Bexar County's The Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program.
  
  Mr. Ramos will have his final close out meeting in January 2021 where SVdP staff will review his stabilization plan and provide him with a list of community resources in case he needs additional support in the future.
- Ms. Penny Sue
  
  About five years ago, Ms. Penny Sue arrived in San Antonio. On the bus ride from Vermont, her home state, she contemplated all the events that led her to Texas.
  
  Decades of bad choices and a series of violent relationships had not only damaged her but also her relationship with her now adult children. All relationships seemed difficult. Intrusive thoughts, images, and distress brought on by the violence she had experienced in her life kept her wanting to constantly move. The familiarity of battered women’s shelters was adding to her discouragement. She feared stillness. She kept fleeing from anything that would trigger her trauma.
  
  “I was a broken woman." Penny Sue said. "But I kept thinking, ‘There has to be more to this life.’ ”
  
  The fact that she was heading to Haven for Hope in San Antonio, Texas was a huge undertaking for Penny Sue. There was opportunity there but could she commit to all that was required? Could she work through her pain, trauma, and fear?
  
  “I am not going to lie,” Penny Sue stated with resonance, “at that point, I kept telling myself, ‘If this doesn’t work, my back up plan is the Greyhound!’ ”
  
  Her healing process at Haven was not quick. It took her several times going in and out of Prospect’s Courtyard before she made the decision to reside on the campus.
  
  “I worked through all that”, recalled Penny Sue as she described the various stages of PTSD that she had to overcome. “My main reason for doing the work was to reunite with my children. I knew that I had caused them pain because of my life choices. I knew that to be a better mother and to be there as a grandmother to my grandchildren, I had to stop running and do the work.”
  
  Change was not going to happen overnight. Penny Sue knew that what she was committing to was a lifelong process. But she felt something she hadn’t in a very long time, the desire to reclaim her reason and purpose.
  
  Once she had done the work of gaining emotional stability, Penny Sue secured meaningful employment. She now had regained her strength, but there was another obstacle to overcome. She needed to transition out of homelessness and into a place she could call her own. That is when the Society of St. Vincent de Paul stepped in and began working with Penny Sue to empower her and provide the resources she needed.
  
  “Haven brought me out of feeling like I was not worthy. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul gave me strength to move on and start a new life.”
  
  While working with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Penny Sue learned that her job allowed her the opportunity to have her own apartment and provide for herself.
  
  “I felt connected to the staff. Our talks were genuine, and their hearts were so full. They give a person their presence. Their voice, the way they talk to you, gives you a feeling of hope. You feel their heart.”
  
  Penny Sue recalled a meeting she had with staff regarding her finances. She remembers her nervousness and her fear because she didn’t know how, or if , everything was going to work.
  
  “My mind was all over the place! How am I going to pay my bills? Do I have enough to live on my own?” she recalled with tears in her voice. “But as we worked on the budget, I began to feel calm because they were so positive. It was a holy moment. ‘You are going to make it. In black and white, this is what you are going to do,’ SVdP told me. They put a stamp on my future. I needed that extra reassurance.”
  
  Penny Sue has been living in her new home for months now. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul found her a safe, living space minutes from where she works. “My daughter is so proud of me.” Penny Sue says when she thinks about her new accomplishments.
  
  As we spoke of her journey, we both filled with tear of joy. She came to the realization that even though the last chapter of her life was long, hard, and heartbreaking, this was a new chapter and new beginning.
  
  “To be honest with you, I have been on the go for five years now. I was alone then but constantly moving. My spirit wanted to fill the huge void I felt from years of torment and bad decisions. I did not let myself be alone with my thoughts., Penny Sue said. “Now, I am still alone. And being in an apartment alone can be hard. To be grounded is hard. But I told myself I was going to do the work. And for the first time in my life, I had the support to be able to change my life. This is good for my children to see this. To prove to them, I am not the same woman I used to be.”
  
  It was wonderful speaking to Ms. Penny Sue and hearing about her hardships and new blessings. We spoke of new hardships like owning a pet and managing the free time she now has on her hands. We also spoke of adding plants to her apartment, going to church, and the reality that some things are still hard to manage.
  
  “I still feel a void at times,” Penny Sue stated, her tone softening with sadness. “My spirit still wants to fill that void. But now, I fill it with healthier things. I have beautiful grand babies that need to see me at my best. I think of them when I make choices now.”
  
  Her advice to anyone who has been in her shoes is this, “Your life will flash by one way or the other. But if you need support, it is there. There is hope for better but you have to work for it.”
  
  To Penny Sue, the help that the Society of St. Vincent de PauI gave her was one of compassion, support, and empowerment. “I never had so much support. It gave me the will to live. Not just survive but to experience all the beauty that comes with living.”
  
  On behalf of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Southwest Council and all those that support our efforts, we wish Penny Sue continued blessings.
  
  -Interviewed by Erica Benavides, Director of Development
  
  If you are interesting in supporting the mission of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, please click on the link below.
  
  SUPPORT THE MISSION

We Feed, We House, We Clothe, and Advocate with Love and Compassion

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Southwest Texas Council creates person-centered plans that help people find long-lasting stability to rise up and out of poverty.