"Lights, Camera, Get Into Action"
5th Annual Luncheon:

December 12, 2008, 11:30AM
Westin Galleria-Galleria Ballroom,
Co-Chairs, Marlen Whitley & Jene Guess-Cash

Donna Smith, Guest Speaker
Featured in Michael Moore’s 2007 documentary "SiCKO", Donna Smith never imagined she would be one of millions of Americans facing homelessness until illness struck her and her husband.  With mounting medical bills, her family went bankrupt and was forced to sell their home and move into their daughter's basement.  Her incredible story shows that homelessness can happen to anyone and highlights the courage needed to recapture a life almost lost.

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Houston SleepOut - November 15, 2008
"One Night Without a Home"

Sponsored by the SEARCH Young Ambassadors, Houston SleepOut will bring together individuals and teams to "SleepOut" under the stars on Saturday, November 15th in Sesquicentennial Park, promoting awareness and understanding for those who have no place to call home. Visit www.sleepout.org for more information and to register.

New "VIP" SEARCH Program

SEARCH's Veteran (re)Integration Program (VIP) is an opportunity to make a positive change and is especially designed for all veterans who are homeless. The purpose of the VIP program is to provide services to assist in reintegrating homeless veterans into meaningful employment within the labor force and to stimulate the development of effective service delivery systems that will address the complex problems facing homeless veterans. Once a veteran has been enrolled in the V.I.P. program they may be eligible for clothing and food vouchers, military record retrieval, on-site medical and dental care, housing and shelter referrals and more.

Case Managers are available Monday through Friday from 9:00 A.M till 4:00 P.M. Walk-ins are welcomed and appointments are available.  For more information, please call 713-374-3216.

Home Run Event
Step Up to the Plate Luncheon Great Success

Thursday, October 16th turned out to be a perfect day for a gathering of fans for the Council of Congregation’s (COC) luncheon at Chapelwood United Methodist Church. (A power greater than us all caused the re-arranging of the original September date. Nothing like a hurricane to remind us of Who is in charge!) The 250 who gathered to enjoy a ballpark-themed meal discovered how an individual as well as a congregation can “Step Up to the Plate” to help in SEARCH Homeless Center’s many programs and volunteer opportunities. The member congregations of our Council were well represented, but the friends from other congregations who attended made it a grand slam!

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SEARCH Homeless Services is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to helping homeless men, women and children get off the streets and into jobs and affordable housing. SEARCH serves more than 10,000 homeless people annually, providing them with the tools to work and achieve self sufficiency.

SEARCH’s supporting services include a full-scale medical clinic, on-site and community-based housing, case management, mental health counseling, mobile outreach, a day shelter with showers, meals, laundry facilities, mail and telephone services and the House of Tiny Treasures, Houston’s first accredited child care center exclusively serving homeless children.

SEARCH was founded in 1989 by the Council of Congregations, an ecumenical group that believe homeless people need more than a bed and a meal; they need a future.

A special thank you to all of our supporters who donated during the month of October.  Your gift to SEARCH allows us to continue providing services to the many homeless men, women and children who depend on us.  We are grateful for your support!