SAN ANTONIO – Less than 4 months in the past, we met 66-year-old Nathan Finley at Haven for Hope.
He had lived underneath bridges or in cardboard containers for over 10 years.
“I had to do something and get myself off the streets, really. And I knew I had to go to Haven For Hope to do it. And I wasn’t going to do it out there by myself,” he mentioned.
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Fast ahead to these days, Finley resides in his very personal apartment. He moved in two weeks in the past.
“This is my kitchen area,” he mentioned, giving our team the grand excursion. “Haven for Hope did provide the dishes. The benefits I got allow me to get groceries and stuff.”
The new partnership between Haven for Hope and Opportunity Homes creates a quick monitor for older other folks experiencing homelessness.
The program Finley used used to be known as the Single-Family Preference (SFP) program. It’s a referral program for Haven for Hope purchasers to head without delay into an potency or one-bedroom unit at probably the most quite a lot of public housing homes all the way through San Antonio.
This explicit program is handiest for Haven purchasers and single-person families which are 62+ and/or have a incapacity. This program has no waitlist, and the typical time from referral to unit is underneath 30 days.
To whole the program and get their new apartment, candidates should take a sequence of categories at Haven for Hope.
“They had Money Smart classes, the financial part. They had a class where you can get your identification (if) you lost your ID, Social Security, birth certificate,” Finely mentioned.
When purchasers transfer into flats like Finley’s, Haven for Hope supplies them with an inventory of 30 issues – together with big-ticket pieces like a sofa and mattress.
“They even gave me pots and pans,” Finley mentioned.
When requested what his favourite factor to prepare dinner is, he mentioned, “Well, just making simple stuff like macaroni, you know, with some sausage in it.”
Finley has a logo new mattress and cloth wardrobe, however maximum of all, he has delight and appreciate for his new property.
“I put the rug in here, but I got another one coming for the living room because I need to cover up the tiles floors to protect it,” Finley mentioned.
For others caught within the cycle of homelessness, he suggests Haven for Hope.
“They really do have counselors and professional people, the medical department, education,” Finley mentioned.
A bit laborious paintings may result in true freedom and independence.
“I’m moving on up!” Finley mentioned, guffawing.
He plans to stay shifting and make his apartment an actual house.
Depending at the client’s state of affairs, there are a number of Haven for Hope housing methods. Call (210) 220-2100 or head to the Haven for Hope website for more information.
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