For a Houston without Homelessness
Since 1989, SEARCH has been providing hope, creating opportunity, and transforming lives for thousands of men, women, and children who are trying to break free from the cycle of poverty and homelessness. As we work to make homelessness rare, brief, and nonrecurring, our ultimate vision is of a Houston without homelessness.
Wendi - HTT/Education
Wendi found herself homeless with four young girls after fleeing an abusive relationship. Battling severe mental illness and trying to cope, Wendi felt lost, alone, and hopeless. Then she found SEARCH and the House of Tiny Treasures. With her three youngest girls enrolled at the House of Tiny Treasures, Wendi was able to take the steps she needed to turn their lives around.
Fast forward (seven) years later. After earning three degrees at community college with a 4.0 grade average, Wendi is now a supervisor at a growing Fortune 5000 company. She is attending the University of Houston on a full academic scholarship to get a degree in management.
Brenda - Housing
Homelessness can happen to anyone. Brenda has a degree in psychology from the University of Texas. Yet after losing her job and a series of unfortunate events, Brenda found herself homeless and living in a shelter. For Brenda, SEARCH was "exactly what I needed." Through SEARCH, Brenda was able to get back into a home of her own and has successfully maintained that housing for two years. Wanting to give back and help others, Brenda is going back to school to become a music therapist.
Saundra - Employment
Saundra had it all – a well-paying job, a home of her own, good friends, and a family with whom she was close. Four years ago, she lost it all to alcoholism. Living in a homeless shelter, she felt depressed, hopeless, and alone...until she found SEARCH.
With hard work and determination, Saundra got a job as a certified flagger for a local traffic control company. SEARCH helped her realize her dream of getting back to work and into her own home again. Today, Saundra supervises 51 flaggers, continues to be sober after four years, and remains a woman of deep faith. Saundra's greatest joy is the reconnection with her daughter and granddaughter after many years apart and knowing how proud they are of her.
Emil - Engagement
Last year, SEARCH's Mobile Outreach team met Emil, who had lost his right leg and all of the toes on his left foot several years before. A special bond formed immediately between Emil and SEARCH’s Outreach Specialist, Jess. Since that first encounter, Jess began connecting Emil to various services and resources at SEARCH and throughout the community. One of SEARCH's Disability Specialists helped Emil apply for and obtain Social Security benefits.
Because of Emil's physical limitations, Jess contacted the Houston Police Department's Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) for help transporting Emil to medical and mental health appointments, shelters, and more. A team full of compassion and determination formed between SEARCH’s Mobile Outreach Team, SEARCH Disability Team, and HPD's HOT Team to help this sweet, caring gentleman named Emil. With the collective efforts of this team, Emil was able to obtain his Texas identification, was connected with much-needed medical treatment and mental health services, and most importantly, Emil was placed in housing and is no longer living on the streets. It truly takes a village.