Navigation Day

At the beginning of 2022, a fire devastated a local homeless encampment, and many people lost what few belongings they actually had. While this fire was a horrible event, it did spark the beginning of the Homeless Outreach Team, a group of churches and non-profit organizations coming together to meet our vulnerable neighbors where they were and build relationships.

Since April, West Side Baptist Church, 1st Presbyterian Church, West Texas Counseling and Guidance, and CVCAA have brought lunch to the camp every Tuesday, rain or shine. Once many of our neighbors are out of a home, many of their items and documents get lost or stolen. Without an ID, it is impossible for them to apply for SNAP, get a job, or even get on the housing waitlist.

In order to take our outreach to the next level and get our neighbors exactly what they needed, we created Navigation Days! Numerous agencies take one day out of the month to provide direct services to people that same day. This is not a resource fair where people are just handed pamphlets and sent on their way. We have had agencies and volunteers helping neighbors get documents, apply for state benefits, receive clothes and shoes, get a haircut, and much more.

These Navigation Days have grown substantially since their creation in June. Recently, we have outgrown the Cactus Hotel Speakeasy and took our September Navigation Day to the CVT Annex Building. On that Navigation Day...

65 Homeless Households Served

42 Hygiene Kits given away by CVCAA
19 people saw a Dr on site with the La Esperanza Mobile Clinic
25 Households received bus passes from CVT
8 housing appointments were made with HASA
10 people were served by Workforce Solutions
57 people got clothes and shoes from Rust St
Over 10 people got ID/Document help from Goodwill
17 TX Benefit applications were submitted with a CVCAA case manager
3 people completed an intake with West Texas Counseling & Guidance
2 prescriptions were picked up by the First Presbyterian Church of San Angelo
2 phones were given away through Crickett
10 haircuts were given
3 appointments were scheduled with Legal Aid of Northwest Texas
17 people were served by MHMR Concho Valley