The Good Shepherd Mission …

… is a 501-C-3 non profit corporation. Funding is through in house thrift stores, churches, area businesses, civic clubs, and individuals. We work with other local Human Services organizations and share resources as available. We serve all walks of life equally. Most clients or users of services are local and under the poverty level of Federal Income Guidelines. One third are elderly, and many are disabled. Most are of the working poor class.

MISSION STATEMENT:Meeting basic human needs through FEEDING, CLOTHING, SHELTERING, COUNSELING and changing lives for GOOD based upon New Testament teachings of Jesus Christ.

VISION STATEMENT OF FAITH: Be a Ministry through building trusting relationships; providing HOPE; empowering people in need to be more self-sufficient; taking care of Basic Human Needs but building a safe environment in our community so people thrive, not just survive. Take limited resources and use the principle of Faith to multiply these resources in ways beyond our own vision so this community and beyond will help end Poverty and Hate/Mistrust. Build a community and society where Mental Illness is treated with the same dignity and tenacity of cancer. Build a community where an educated and residents with discernment are so strong that predators, be they individuals, gangs or corporations are powerless because Community is truly stronger.

GS Mission is about having serving specific needs.  We serve the individual or a whole family.  We use GRACE and Mercy and Integrity to effectively help.  We do use a HOLISTIC approach; Mind/Body/Soul are addressed when meeting the needs. Mental illness is rampant in our society effecting one in four households.  Same stat goes for addictions.  The Mission is not a medical facility.  We have no medical doctors or nurses on standby. We try to fill in the gaps, yet  there are many and they are quite large.  Still, we minister.

While we receive no State of Federal Funding directly, the Mission was one of the first FIVE Faith Based Organizations to be awarded with a State Funded Contract (Local Innovative Contract) which was directly involved with Welfare Reform in an effort to get local families off the Welfare Roles where physically able. That contract was during George Bush era as Governor.  Still, the Mission continues to search for innovative grants and funding for helping this community and Walker County raise the quality of life.

This Mission of Ministry provides HOPE to all in NEED, helping your community to FEED, CLOTHE, SHELTER, COUNSEL and change lives for GOOD.

Thank you for your donations.  Thrift Stores, Bargain and Blessings help fund ministry for Walker County. We receive virtually no State or Federal funding. The Good Shepherd Mission is a Feeding America Program, Souper Bowl of Caring Participant and an Agency Member of Houston Food Bank region.

Registered with Guidestar, Souper Bowl of Caring and Houston Food Bank system partner.

The role of Good Shepherd Mission is to help this community, our “corner of the world” by feeding, clothing, sheltering and counseling thousands and thousands each year all through the teachings of Jesus Christ.  The ministries of the Mission avail those served with over 1.7 million dollars’ worth of services each year on a budget of about $300,000.  The most time and resource consuming, and most difficult of all the Mission Programs is that of lodging, i.e. providing safe beds and feeding those in need three meals each day.  Sheltering individuals and families who have no apartment or home and cannot afford a hotel is a massive undertaking.  Americans are on the move every day of the year.  This community is impacted by the I-45 Corridor as well as being on a major east and west route.  Huntsville’s location and size make it a stopping point or a place to resupply when fleeing Houston heading north or on their way south towards the coast of Texas.  Hundreds are directed to the Mission each year.  The Mission has helped people from every continent but Antarctica!  The dynamics of keeping fifty or more individuals from a variety of life circumstances under one roof, in ten rooms, is beyond the understanding of the vast majority of Americans.   The life-stories in the faces of the homeless have changed over the last twenty years.  Now the “homeless” include single parents, middle aged men and women.  All too many experience job obsoletion.  Many are working families with cars and storage units.  Additionally, the homeless include veterans of the “War on Terrorism”.   Their needs are extreme and they are re-entering civilian life in record numbers.  Often they have families with them.  The good news is these groups want to help in the very programs that are helping them move forward.  This is different than fifteen years ago when most of the homeless were mentally challenged, self-medicating or folks that had chosen addictions over good relationships.  Now more complicated dynamics make more demands upon this community’s time and resources.  Helping prevent a family of good people from creating a new generation of poverty makes the stakes higher. Failure to fully fund the Shelter Program can cost this community for generations.

The Mission has been sheltering individuals and families since 1983 as a faith based ministry.  The current facilities include a newly renovated building with four family units of four hundred and fifty square feet each as well as counseling offices and a meeting room. The primary buildings built in 1988 are being refurbished and continues to be utilized.  This includes the living quarters, dining room, offices, kitchen, food-bank and thrift stores.

Those people groups who are being targeted for the Mission Sheltering Program include any person in Walker County lacking a safe place to sleep and those trying to improve their quality of life.  Families come to the Mission because of a crisis due to sudden physical disabilities as well as economic challenges, natural disasters or as victims of relationship disintegration. The fact is 25% of our shelter folks are from Montgomery County and about another 10% from Harris County area. More often than not, circumstances include more than one challenge to overcome.  The ministries of the Mission change the lives of pregnant women, families of two to sometimes six or more members as well as single men. Walker County is recognized as the tenth poorest County in Texas. The medium household income per family in this county is a fourth less than Montgomery County.  The major employers are TDCJ and SHSU.  Very few jobs have starting salaries above lower-middle income status.  Most do not offer salaries beyond middle-class income.  This fact further burdens the charities dealing with Human Services.

The annual count for a year of nightly lodging in the Mission shelter totals around 12,000.   This figure has stayed constant for many years.  To understand the value, the PER DIEM that FEMA states is needed for shelter is $12.50 per night and about $2 per meal.  At a minimum this specific program would have a value of $216,000 by providing just shelter and meals. We need funding from caring people of Montgomery County for our shelter ministry. Twenty-five percent come from Montgomery County. We funding from Harris County area due to about 10% of the folks are from this area.

Furthermore, the total value of Mission programs; Food Bank, Meal Site, Clothing Bank and a Necessity Furnishing’s Bank, along with the drug and alcohol programs which includes pro-bono counseling, pushes the value of all the programs well above the conservative estimate of 1.7 million dollars. While 95% of those using our Food Bank program are Walker County residents (over 1,100 individuals served each month), simply a significant majority (80%) of those seeking shelter have direct ties to Walker County.

Walker County residents’ on file at the Mission indicate two profound factors.

• First is that 87% of these homes do not have a significant male role model or father figure in the residence.
• Secondly, 85% of the heads of house-hold have no more than an eleventh grade education.

These two factors resoundingly indicate the issues most indicative of poverty in this County.  What Mission Programs can realistically help change these factors?

• We believe the only solution is a holistic (Mind, Body & Spirit) approach of:

1. Consistency in telling there is HOPE if Truth is taught and living a life of integrity based upon LOVE. This is wrapping other programs in a Caring, Compassionate Methodology which enhances Mental Health and encouraging helpful training and education.
2. Feeding the needy and building the Body up.
3. Building MORAL character by teaching Faith is vital for a successful quality of life.

The above three may seem intangible to some, but on closer evaluation these are very tangible.  Along with Counseling Programs which are being enhanced, the design of Good Shepherd Mission programs’ is geared towards giving Walker County residents a decent quality of life by:

• Supplementing their diet with healthy foods from our Food Bank Program and Served Meals Program. For those staying at the Mission in the Sheltering Program is to receive three meals a day while the community at large is offered two meals each day of the year.
• Helping impoverished obtain decent clothing, coats, and shoes through the Clothing Bank Program
• Sheltering those without a safe place to sleep and pursue a higher quality of life. One objective in this program is for folks staying in the Sheltering Program to help give back to the community by filling positions needed to keep all the programs and services going each day.  This objective not only helps the quality of services and helps hold down costs of services but also gives the lodgers a sense of well being by serving others in our community.   An additional objective is to offer lodgers cognitive help via professional therapeutic counseling via in-house programs including interns from the Counseling Department of SHSU using master level and doctoral students.  Faith-based counseling is also offered via volunteer Pastors as well as the Executive Director.  Additionally the objectives in in this program include referrals to collaborating agencies, educational organizations and appropriate area charities.

The Mission Shelter Program has participants who include those in the H.O.P.E. House Recovery Program which last nine months.  Drug and Alcohol issues go hand in hand with homelessness and Walker County residents facing crisis in this society.  Some participants of the HOPE House are counseled by Licensed Professional Counselors or candidates who are interns enrolled at SHSU.  In this 9 month in-house program, 331 have entered and about 65 stayed to graduate.  Feedback from all participants indicates a 35% success rate for both the graduates and those who stayed at least 90 days. National statistics for drug and alcohol programs have an historical success rate of less than thirteen percent.

All Shelter Program lodgers at the Mission are offered specialized services which include collaboration with local organizations like Pregnancy Counseling Center (now CARE Center), SAAFE House, Texas Work Force, Adult Education via Region 6, Public Library Adult Ed, Tri-County, and HMH Clinic.  The Mission also collaborates with local law enforcement departments and often TDCJ when situations require and individual circumstances are appropriate.  We also have volunteers working on certification for TDHS partnership for signing up clients for SNAPS at the Mission facilities.

Intake for the use of the Shelter Program requires those entering to be sober and not requiring immediate medical health services.  If one needs special medications they must bring them with them and place them in the medical lock box.  The Mission has no professional medical staff. However, for special projects the Mission facilitates events provided by regional health organizations with licensed medical staff.  At intake the families with minors must agree to total responsibility for the children at all times.   Many family programs are collaborated with churches and other agencies at their facilities.  Shelter participants are required to do chores. They also fill in as helpers to volunteers.  Within three days all lodgers must present plans for moving forward with their independent living arrangements.  One significant objective for those in the shelter is to facilitate Shelter Program participants to establish healthy relationships and to resolve family dynamics which stand in the way of a family moving forward to success.  There is about a 15% successful reunion with families after a few weeks. Another ten percent are able to move back into the family home from which they left within a year. Of the remaining, only half move beyond successful reintegration into the work force in less than a year.  Another ten percent rely upon achieving some income through qualifying with Social Security Disability before they turn sixty-two.

Summary description of Shelter Participants’ crisis or issues:

• Homeless due to Economic Crisis (loss of a job by being fired, by business downsizing or folding, or job being outsourced or requirements causing obsoleteness, or aging/physical/mental crisis) 50%
• Homeless due to home being burned down (7 households per year) less than 2%
• Homeless due to relational break up or adult child told to leave 10%
• Victim of assault or fraud  5%
• Homeless due to Drugs and Alcohol Addictions 18%
• Transitioning or relocating to this area or traveling to other regions 15%

Evaluation of all the programs, staffing and budgeting is by the Mission has a Board which meets monthly to review and evaluate reports which the Treasurer gets from a local, independent professional book-keeping firm.  Qualified volunteers help organize receipts and make the deposits of donations and thrift store revenues which helps hold down book-keeping costs.  Reports of all programs services and statistical data are presented at the monthly meetings by the Executive Director.  Further scrutiny is via Annual audits are procured and executed by an independent CPA firm which specializes in non-profit, 501C-3 organizations.   Licensed Professional Counselors can only report statistical data and always holds confidentiality in the utmost regard.

Management of all the programs starts with the Executive Director who holds a BS degree from a distinguished private university, as well as a Master of Arts from a major Seminary, oil-field engineering certifications, and is an Ordained Minister.  The Executive Director has over twenty years of service in this position and holds many local positions on boards and committees.   Many of the Mission’s Board of Directors are active volunteers with specific roles.  All are local church members.  Two are SHSU professors, one is a dean at SHSU and one is in administration.  Two local pastors serve. We have a veteran Physician’s Assistant and a licensed nurse is a board member. One member is former Shelter Program participant.  One is a Licensed Dietician.  Volunteers include a retired CFO of a major credit union, several tenured professors, many retired teachers, a Licensed Social Worker, retired military and TDCJ employees. The Volunteer Coordinator /Case Manager is graduating with a degree in Psychology and will be pursuing a Master’s in Counseling.  Night Managers are often those who have graduated from the in-house programs.  Most have special skills and licenses such as teaching certifications, master welders, A/C and Heating, etc. All get a Food Handlers License.  We have several Veterans on staff in non-paid positions thus enhancing crisis management skills.  Seventy-five percent of the paid staff and all of the non-paid have graduated specifically through the HOPE House or were participated in the Shelter Program.

Case Management is done by qualified staff, Counselors and qualified volunteers.  Often collaborating agencies add to case management if there are specialized needs.  Case Management is an area growing rapidly and needs enhanced funding and new resources.  Operating this Sheltering Program requires funding the cost of utilities, cost of supplies as well as the cost of maintenance due to the wear and tear of the facilities.  Paid staffing includes the full time Executive Director and a full time/part-time Case Manager and Volunteer Coordinator and a part-time Food Manager.  Night managers receive only private rooms as well as boarding to help staffing the office after hours.  A host of volunteers also fill the gaps for many supervised services. The average stay for those lodging in the Shelter Program is two weeks.  For those that stay longer the objective is to facilitate 80% employment in the community.  They are required to save money for utility deposits, two month rent and further deposits.  Many have outstanding minor warrants so another objective is to get sixty percent of these cases commuted to Community Service hours and can be assigned to the programs of the Mission. The Case Manager/Volunteer Coordinator oversees this entire process.  This aspect saves Walker County jail expenses and allows for enhancing the success rate of self-sustaining the program’s participant the ability to be successful on their own.

Summary of Shelter Program Objectives by needs of specific program patrons/lodgers:

• Homeless due to Economic Crisis – aid 80% to be employed and leave shelter within 4 months.  Help the other 20% find long term residency with relatives, friends or governmental programs geared for their needs within the year.
• Homeless due to home being burned down – aid 50% to get homes back or other resident secured, other 50% to get their financing or insurance in place to move to another transitional residency.
• Homeless due to relational break up or adult child told to leave – aid 50% to move back their home within two weeks, aid 25% to find other residency in 30 days, help 25% to enter school, job market, military within 90 days.
• Victim of assault or fraud  — aid 80% of assault victims to get help via SAAFE House Programs and network within one week, help the other 20% get to a relative offering a safe transition and resources within 30 days, help 50% the fraud victims find legal alternatives within 90 days, help 50% to seek other resources or family/friends to take them in the transition within 60 days.
• Homeless due to Drugs and Alcohol Addictions – help 50% to enter HOPE House of recovery in house program for 9 months of Sheltering Program with a 35% graduating successfully with employment and appropriate residency. Help 25% to find alternative residential programs within three weeks. Help 25% to find alternative non-residential out-patient programs in the region within 60 days.
• Help 100% of Transients find resources and or other shelters along a safe route and method of travel within one week.

Sustainability is easily shown by the historical records for the services or ministries from June 1984 through May 2014.  For this time period there have been over 206,000 lodgings, 402,000 meals served, and more than 352,000 persons have received food from the food bank.  Excluding lodging and meals, over 15,000 different families have received help from the Food Bank, Clothing Bank, or House-wares Bank. Basically one out of five households in Walker County comes to the Mission for services of some kind at some point and time.  The need for helping families and individuals will not end.  Financially sustaining these programs will always be a primary function of the general operations and by the Board of Directors.  This is done by creative fund raising events, operating thrift stores, obtaining donations from individuals, businesses and partnering with churches, and seeking grants from foundations and appropriate United Ways, specifically Piney Woods. The need and the causes of those needs are beyond the direct control of Good Shepherd Mission. The Mission will continue to collaborate with local agencies and organizations but also bring in specialists to help empower and educate those in the Shelter Program to be more self-reliant.

Collaborations:

Over Two Dozen Local Churches

Houston Food Bank, Trinity River Food Bank, & Local Retail Partners

BOYS & GIRLS CLUB

PCC (Care Program)

SAAFE HOUSE

Tri-County MHMR

Region VI Adult Ed Programs

Texas Workforce Solutions 291A Interstate 45 Ste A

SHSU, Counseling Dept, Student Life, ACE COURSES, Greek Clubs, Campus Food Pantry

City of Huntsville, including law enforcement, Library Services, etc.

HISD Social Services, HONORS Programs

Society of St. Vincent-DePaul

Master Gardeners of Walker County

Hospitality House

Camp Hope, PTSD Foundation of America

Rita B. Huff Animal Shelter

Walker County Sheriff’s Dept.

Texas DPS

CPS

Founded in  1983  by Huntsville Ministerial Alliance – 1005  M.L.K (Ave F.) P.O. Box 7281, 77342

Good Shepherd Mission

The primary goal is to provide hope for the hopeless, meeting basic human needs, based upon New Testament teachings of Jesus Christ.  Counseling and referral counseling is available at no charge, appointments preferred.  We are a Walker County Information Hub for human services.  The Mission is a 501-C-3 non profit, private cooperation recognized in 1983, with board members from local churches.  Funding is through thrifts, churches, businesses, civic clubs, United Way and individuals.  Faxing available: (936) 291-9338, or phone questions to 936-291-8156, gsmission@suddenlink.net . High Speed Internet is available.  Collaboration with other local Human Service Agencies and area ministries is a daily way of operation.

• Shelter Meals – Average 2,100 served monthly –  Each day of the year hot meals are served at noon and six pm.  Anyone may eat, but all are required to help clean up (as they are physically able).  For Lodgers – Breakfast @ 6:00 am.
• Food Bank           Serve an average of 120 households per week – 135 tons of groceries/year

Groceries distributed at food bank window M-F, 9am to noon with voucher.

Emergencies handled as necessary. Elderly (over 60) or severally disabled, may receive groceries twice a month. Special events happen without advertisement as donations allow.

• Lodging — average 1,000 beds uses per month – at 1005 M.L.K (Ave F) – {men and women dorms}

Overnight lodging for needy travelers, or local crisis. (Family Units being Built Currently)

This is strictly a night shelter, not a day shelter.  No one under the influence lodged.

•   Clothing— Over 6,000 articles given per month.  Emergency distributed as needed.  Regular request or long term, same requirements as food bank above.  Clothing vouchers awarded Monday to Friday from 9am-12pm.  Winter coats available (over 500 given annually). Quality, used shoes are allocated one pair per client per month.
• Furniture, Bedding and Necessity house wares:–Average of 200 pieces given per month.

Free to recent burn out victims with no other resources (documentation required).

Vouchers for mattress, box springs, sofas, to qualified clients.  Refrigerators and stoves are very limited, therefore are for extreme cases, and waiting lists are kept.

• Power to Care: Collaborative Program GSM administers for Entergy Power Company which helps their customers in need of utility help.
• Rebuilding Families Programs: Designed for returning veterans with families or families’ victim of fire and loss of home.  Four family units dedicated to helping stop a new generation of poverty.  Not eligible to HUD or Public Housing recipients.  Fees may apply.

Counseling and referrals by appointment  (crisis intervention, marital, addiction rehab, grief, spiritual)

Substance abuse recovery Program:  H.O.P.E. House (Healing, Open, Personalized Environment)  9 month Holistic (MIND/BODY/SOUL) Therapeutic program collaboration with S.H.S.U. Counseling Dept.  Program is limited to 6.

The primary purpose of the Mission is to give those in need– hope.  People in crisis are desperate and their needs are more than physical.  A host of volunteers, 12 part time staff and one director serve over 1,700 people in one way or another – each month. Office hours are from 9:00am – 3:00pm.  Bargains and Blessings Thrift Store hours are 9-4 M-F, Saturdays 10-2.

Crisis/Emergencies handled as needed and resources available.  This ministry is an extension of local churches for Walker County and folks traveling through.  We now feature:  Families Building and Community Counseling Center. Thank you for your donations and your shopping here. This Mission of Ministry provides HOPE to all in NEED, helping your community to FEED, CLOTHE, SHELTER, COUNSEL and change lives for GOOD. We receive no State or Federal funding.

Soon to be open Community Counseling Center and Four Family Units for Veterans with Families, dog runs, playground, outdoor kitchen – all safe and secure.

This ministry is an extension of local churches for Walker County and folks traveling through.

Mission is located one block North off 11^th St (190/30 East) on Martin Luther King St.

Donations welcome – cash or anything else not broken!

Good Shepherd Mission

Food Bank

Meal Site

Clothing and Furniture Bank

Recovery Programs

NON-Traditional Homeless Shelter

Rebuilding Families and Community Counseling Center Blg

The Good Shepherd Mission has remodeled a 3,000 sq ft building that will house families who are falling between the gaps.  This building is dedicated to four family units which will be designed for comfort with the goal of privacy and security.  This is a place for families to gather physical, cognitive, spiritual and monetary resources.  Priority is the families who have direct ties to Walker County and have lost their homes due to fire or natural disasters and need transitioning back to being totally self-sufficient. Another priority placement is for returning veterans with families who might be at risk of losing all their assets. Combat Veterans will also be referred to Camp Hope which specializes in PTSD due to the extreme dynamics of being in combat.  This is neither public housing nor traditional “transitional housing”. This facility is not for families who have been plagued by generational poverty and relying upon public assistance for more than one generation.  There are programs already in place for these folks.  Besides the four family units with 450 sq ft of living space, there is additionally 660 sq ft of counseling offices and meeting areas.

At Good Shepherd Mission we are experienced at dealing with all sorts of life experiences that directly impact those we serve. Post Traumatic Syndrome is all too real. Local and regional data indicates hundreds of veterans are coming to Sam Houston State University to further their career in military and criminal justice venues as well as others. Countless individuals who are employed or former employees of TDCJ have come to us for help and counseling.  Family dynamics and work dynamics are eerily similar for military and criminal justice enforcement officers.

Keeping in mind healthy environments which enhance healing, we are designing an area for a playground and are building dog runs for the family pets.  Service dogs will be welcomed.  There will be a covered outdoor kitchen area, private parking and an outdoor work out area.  We have an in-house, therapeutic, holistic centered alcohol and drug recovery program. This extremely successful Faith BASED program which is nine months in length. We teach folks how to have healthy relationships and to find a healthy life style for mind, body and soul.  There is no magical pill or procedure, but there is a lot of work and opportunity to minister to hundreds.  Much of the counseling is done by PhD candidates as interns from SHSU.  Group and individual Bible studies are made available almost daily.  Local Church attendance is encouraged.

Current funding is strictly from our own Thrift Stores, small grants, donations from individuals, churches, businesses. This community has provided these resources.  This is no small task.  Overall this is an unique and amazing ministry to local indigents with basic human services as well as the homeless population.  Good Shepherd Mission is finding success in helping others help themselves, getting resources to those with authentic needs and holding integrity and love to the highest standards.

We ask you to join us. This Mission of Ministry provides HOPE to all in NEED, helping your community to FEED, CLOTHE, SHELTER, COUNSEL and change lives for GOOD.

 NEEDED Program enhancements in near FUTURE for YOU to Volunteer and Help spread HOPE

Here is a thought.  On one hand, clarity tends to be a moment to moment thing for a walk of faith.  Still, on the other hand we have faith that our Lord is not a God of chaos and we do get an outline of things to do and how to do them.  We know our destination, but the journey is not fully understood by us. Furthermore, at the Mission we recognize and celebrate our respected flavors of the Body of Christ in terms of denominational principles.  We pray daily, if not hourly to be in step with Jesus’ teachings as we serve those in crisis, the widows, orphans and almost forgotten members of our society. You can join us in this effort of collaboration by feeding, clothing, sheltering and discipling.  Helping each other in God’s name allows us to change lives for the good.

1. Enlist and train volunteers to be mentors to those lodging here. Men and women need specialized training, education, and nurturing in area of employment, budgeting, relationship, problem solving, reading skills, personal presentation, and more.
2. Mentoring in Spiritual Formation, Ethical Business Practices, and Career Enhancement, World Views, etc. Teach Jesus Christ centered living.
3. Coaching in self-improvement for a healthy body through Nutrition, Exercise, Proper Sleep, and healthy recreational activities.

 Walker County INFO on Helping

 For General INFO for regional resources CALL “211” for basic info on Human Services Resources

 Local Help for Home Bound and Disabled

•   Texas Health and Human Services Commission: 291-2164,  Lake Road
•    DARRS Huntsville Field Office168 A Colonel Etheredge Blvd. (936) 435-8500
•  Senior Center of Walker County:  295-6151 (Meals on Wheels & Lunch & FUN
•  Brazos Transit:  291-3565  (call for pickup $2.75 per trip 24 hrs advance) 800-272-0039
• Social Security Office:   800-772-1213
• DAPPA: (800) 828-3272 Drug Rehabs

Housing Assistance

∙               Huntsville Housing Authority:  291-0361 299 MLK & Thompson

∙               Walker County Housing:  291-3306  115 Hwy.75N

∙               Cedarwood Apartments: 295-6961; 2201 Avenue I

Other apartment complexes do have variable rates or assistance.  Renters must contact prop mngt.

Utilities/Rent/Mortgage    

Before going to churches, applications must first be filed with G.S.M. have benevolence committees who review requests, but this takes 3 days to 2 weeks.  Only ENTERGY clients may make appointments at Good Shepherd Mission for help through “POWER to CARE Program” for utilities. Tues-Thurs, 9am-2pm, 60 years of age or over OR 55 plus with documented disability.  $200 voucher only twice per calendar year and pays Entergy and Natural Gas.

Medical/Prescriptions  – GSM limited to Antibiotics

Good Shepherd Mission 1005 MLK – DEPENDS ON FUNDS AND AMOUNT.  USUAL LIMIT IS $35 PER PERSON.

Travel Assistance, for those passing through and in crisis.  Must be recommended  by local law enforcement or a church.

MUST come in for interview at 1005 MLK, 9am to 3pm, Mon-Fri…. same as Prescriptions above, Good Shepherd Mission gives bus ticket vouchers for women and minors, elderly, and disabled.  (DEPENDING UPON FUNDS available)

SHELTER,  FOOD,  CLOTHING, COUNSELING – Good Shepherd Mission 1005 M.L.K. (office open 9am to 12 noon).  Appointments available for other times. Mission Main @ 291-8156,  Bargains & Blessings Thrift for house wares: 291-9375,  GSM  PHYSICAL address is 1005 MLK , main office, Store 1008 MLK, 77320 (Clothing) 9 AM to 3 PM. Necessity furnishings, bedding, eating utensils and more available, TWO daily MEALS noon/six pm.  H.O.P.E. House of Recovery for Alcohol/Drug Addiction.  SAAFE House has counseling services for abuse and domestic violence related issues.

ABUSE/Violence HOTLINE:  1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or 1-800-252-5400 or  see SAAFE House

CALL 211 for basic info on HUMAN SERVICES, 911 Life/Death emergencies

LONE STAR Legal Aid (713-652-0077)  is at the County Court House monthly appointments available for SSI and other State benefit issues and other legal matters.  Phone : (936) 539-2130 800 Phone : (888) 595-8969      Fax : (936) 539-2144

Lions Club focuses on Eye Glasses, see     http://lions.affordablepcrepair.com/ follow the website info.