A NOTE FROM OUR LEADERSHIP Dear Friends, Needless to say, 2020 overwhelmingly proved that having a home or a place to shelter is critical to staying safe and healthy. With more than 4,000 homeless individuals across our communities, it is our responsibility to look around and ask how we can help. Dallas, after all, is a community fiercely dedicated to providing for our neighbors in need, while investing in our collective future. The coronavirus pandemic exacerbated the issue of homelessness within our communities and the challenges of our work did not begin, nor will they end, with COVID-19. Mounting daily crises such as an unexpected car repair or medical bill, a job loss, illness, or death of a loved one often lead to a person’s homelessness. In understanding this, we coined the equation: Poverty + Crisis – Social Support = Homelessness. Many of the people we serve are not chronically homeless, but are individuals who simply faced an unforeseen crisis, and now seek simple supports that will help them regain their independence. Austin Street Center is here to provide shelter and to support the most vulnerable, regardless of their circumstance, without judgement. As Dallas’ homeless population continues to swell, our focus remains on those who need us most. We are fortunate to be the beneficiaries of the care and compassion of the Dallas community, who remain dedicated to providing for our neighbors. We could not do this work without the generosity of friends like you, who selflessly give of your time and resources. On behalf of our Board of Trustees and team members, along with the men and women we serve daily, I thank you for your partnership in 2020. As we look to 2021, we hope that you will remain with us on this journey. Together, we will bring an end to homelessness, one person at a time.
Daniel Roby
Nancy K. Best
Chief Executive Officer
Chairman - Shelter Ministries of Dallas Board of Trustees
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OUR SERVICES Basic Needs Education & Employment Services Spiritual Support Medical Health & Respite Care Mental Health Care Substance Abuse Recovery Benefits Navigation Housing-Focused Case Management Homelessness Diversion Services
OUR MISSION
AUSTIN STREET CENTER PROVIDES SAFE SHELTER AND MEETS THE BASIC NEEDS OF THE MOST VULNERABLE HOMELESS. 4
Transportation Assistance
WESLEY’S STORY
“
Austin Street Center helped me really see myself and what I have inside of me. – Wesley K.
“I was a sorry father and a sorry husband. But at age 52, I’m ready to get it together.” Wesley was introduced to alcohol at an early age and was an alcoholic by age 14. He was always able to find steady work as a forklift operator and truck driver, but it was a divorce that ultimately led him into homelessness. Losing his marriage made him apathetic toward his life. He stopped caring about his job and sunk deeper into alcoholism. While at Austin Street, COVID-19 kept him from finding a job in the first month of his stay. After becoming gainfully employed, he made good use of his time by working with his case manager to create a budget and a plan to find housing. The most important step was to rebuild his confidence and relearn how to make good decisions. “Since I’ve been at Austin Street, I took the time to really see myself and what I have inside of me.” Determined to repair his relationships with his children and to get on a better path, Wesley moved into his new apartment after just three months at Austin Street Center. “I’ve been a mess-up my entire life, but now I’m committed to being a success this go around.” 5
2020 FINANCIALS 2%
5%
CORPORATIONS
6%
15%
12%
30%
82%
ADMINISTRATION
SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS
16%
FUNDRAISING
SPECIAL EVENTS
FOUNDATIONS
GOVERNMENT GRANTS
PROGRAMS
32%
INDIVIDUALS
REVENUE
EXPENSES 6
OUR 2020 IMPACT
1,389
134
276
2,284
Clients Served
Job Placements
Clients Housed
Case Management Sessions
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PROVIDING SAFE SHELTER THROUGH COVID - 19 As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Austin Street Center made significant adjustments to our operations to help ensure the continued health and safety of our clients, staff, and volunteers. In midMarch, we made the difficult decision to suspend all on-site volunteer activities. Despite this abrupt change, our meal service teams continued to provide meals for our clients while adhering to our new COVID-19 safety protocols. Our most critical measure was to execute a new shelter model, shifting from an overnight shelter to now a 24-hour shelter with isolation and quarantine spaces. This allowed our clients to safely shelter in place, in a congregant setting. Following CDC guidance on spacing, we reduced our capacity to enable appropriate social distancing within the shelter. To maintain a clean and safe environment within the shelter, we implemented a five-tier infectious disease prevention and response protocol for clients and staff, including temperature and symptom monitoring, mask requirements, and increased sanitation. Austin Street Center recognizes that COVID-19 continues to be a threat to the homeless community and we remain vigilant in implementing the necessary safeguards and precautions.
HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS INFECTED BY COVID-19 ARE:
2X
2X-4X
2X-3X
More Likely To Be Hospitalized
More Likely To Require Critical Care
More Likely To Die
Nearly one-third of Austin Street Center’s clients qualify as high-risk for COVID-19 due to age and/or underlying health conditions. 8
MONTIEL’S STORY
“
I needed help from somebody to be there, listen, or just care. I found that at Austin Street.” – Montiel R.
“I was the person that used to think that I wouldn’t need any help, until I became homeless.” Montiel made the difficult decision to place her two children under the age of five in a safe environment while she sought shelter and support to help her get back on her feet. “I learned that I can’t always do it by myself. I got to a point to where I needed help from somebody to be there, listen, or just care. That’s what I found at Austin Street Center.” Montiel spent two and a half months at Austin Street Center working to develop a plan with her case manager. She ultimately found a job, an apartment and was able to reunite with her children.
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PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT
HEALTH TO HOME – THE MEDICAL RESPITE PROGRAM Austin Street Center, in partnership with Texas Health Resources and CitySquare, embarked upon a 24-month pilot medical respite program, “Health to Home,” in August 2020. This program was designed to provide medical recuperation services for homeless patients in a safe environment, while offering individualized holistic medical, behavioral health, and wraparound social services.
Austin Street Center has 10 designated beds for the respite unit. Within the partnership, Texas Health Dallas’ role is to screen candidates who need the services and staff the clinical team working with clients. After 30 to 45 days of respite services, participants are in a better position to be placed in more permanent housing arrangements through CitySquare. Health to Home provides care at a fraction of what it would cost to be hospitalized. This program also addresses underlying causes of homelessness, reduces emergency room visits, provides stability for our homeless neighbors and ultimately helps each person find a permanent place to call home and ending their homelessness.
The homeless often repeatedly visit area hospitals because it’s difficult — if not impossible — to stay healthy while living on the streets, especially with a physical or mental illness.
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LORI’S STORY
“
Just because I’m here doesn’t mean that I’m any less of a person.” – Lori C.
“After starting treatment for severe depression, I found myself jobless for the first time in my life.” In the span of four years, Lori lost her mother to pancreatic cancer, suffered a miscarriage, and lost her job. Despite holding a bachelor’s and master’s degree, Lori also struggled with health challenges that made getting back on her feet difficult. After arriving at Austin Street Center, the first priority was to stabilize her health. Lori was able to utilize shelter services to get the medication she desperately needed. Austin Street also provided an employment coach to help her find employment as well as a case manager to help find housing. “The people at Austin Street helped me to realize, just because I’m here doesn’t mean that I’m any less of a person. I’m still me, I’m just struggling right now.” After approximately eight months, Lori, healthier and more confident than when she arrived, was able to move out of the shelter and into permanent housing. 11
FUNDRAISING HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR NOVEMBER 1, 2019-OCTOBER 31, 2020
NORMATHON
DECEMBER 2-26, 2019
$568,567 RAISED
The 19th Annual NORMATHON included three events spearheaded by Norm Hitzges, Texas Radio Hall of Fame sports member and long-time Austin Street Center advocate. • Car Raffle – Featuring three new 2020 vehicles from the Crest Family of brands • 12 Days of Christmas - One auction item highlighted daily on the Norm and Donovan Show weekdays from December 9-24 • NORMATHON Day – A full day of broadcasting live on December 26th from Starpower’s North Dallas location with a silent auction and door prizes for in-person attendees
NO PLACE LIKE HOME FEBRUARY 20, 2020
$93,230 RAISED
Austin Street Center’s Fifth Annual No Place Like Home featured a casual cocktail party with delicious food and drinks, a wine pull, raffle, photo booth, and music by Dallas Mavericks own DJ, DJ Poizon Ivy. The event’s main attraction was the silent auction with a fabulous array of more than 20 vacation getaways. 12
NORTH TEXAS GIVING TUESDAY NOW
$48,633 RAISED
MAY 5, 2020
North Texas Giving Tuesday Now took place simultaneously with the global #GivingTuesdayNow event. Driven in North Texas by the Communities Foundation of Texas, the event raised critical funds in for COVID-19 relief and recovery.
NORTH TEXAS GIVING DAY SEPTEMBER 17, 2020
$111,864 RAISED
North Texas Giving Day is an annual 18-hour online giving event hosted by Communities Foundation of Texas designed to garner support for North Texas area nonprofits. North Texas Giving Day is the largest community-wide giving event in the nation.
HUMBLE BEGINNINGS SEPTEMBER 25, 2020
$242,753 RAISED
The 20th Annual Humble Beginnings Virtual Luncheon was a one-of-a-kind live-streamed virtual event which featured a conversation and performance by Leslie Odom Jr. The TonyAward winning performer, author, and singer is best known for his breakout role as ‘Aaron Burr’ in the smash hit Broadway musical, Hamilton. 13
HELP THEM HOME CAPITAL CAMPAIGN Our current facility has had no break in operations for 28 years and is utilized 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. With a nearly 48% increase in client volume, our aging facility is now at capacity and we must expand.
THE AUSTIN STREET CENTER FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Austin Street Center’s Help Them Home Capital Campaign, chaired by Megan D. Burkhart, raised $13.7M in private funds to develop a 24/7 clientfocused, 60,000 square foot shelter and day service center designed specifically around our proven process that helps clients regain their independence, with the ultimate goal of finding a permanent place to call home. 14
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN TIMELINE 2018
THE IDEA
To build a 60,000 sq. foot facility 2018-2019
DISCOVERY STUDY Completed
2018-2019
LEADERSHIP PHASE Launched
2020
PUBLIC PHASE Launches
2021
GROUNDBREAKING
2020-2021
2021-2022
FUNDRAISING
CONSTRUCTION
2022
GRAND OPENING 2022
NEW PROGRAMS Implemented
2022 & Beyond
MORE HOUSING PLACEMENTS
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GET INVOLVED
Austin Street Center welcomes individuals and groups from churches, schools, businesses, and other civic organizations to help provide support for our homeless neighbors. A variety of volunteer opportunities are available throughout the year. Prospective volunteers must attend an Austin Street Center Orientation Tour. For more information and to begin the registration process, visit austinstreet.org/volunteer.
WELCOME CENTER
CLOTHING ROOM
The Welcome Center is the hub of operations at Austin Street. Working in this fast-paced environment, volunteers perform administrative duties such as answering phones and interact directly with clients.
Volunteers in the Clothing Room organize existing donations and create new client clothing packs for clients on a consistent basis.
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MEAL SERVICE
website and consult with us about our current Austin Street Center is dedicated to providing hot needs before organizing your drive. meals daily to our clients. Since our facility does not have a commercial kitchen, meal service GROUP PROJECTS volunteers prepare food off-site and come to the Austin Street Center can accommodate a few large groups each year for special projects such shelter to serve meals at our facility. as painting, landscaping, organizing a group activity, and more. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Austin Street welcomes professionals to teach classes for clients on subjects such as job readiness, financial empowerment, and fundamental computer skills.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Austin Street Center teams up with individuals, corporations, and community partners who provide free services to clients such as haircuts, fitness classes, eye exams, and more.
DONATION DRIVES
The needs of Austin Street Center’s clients are everchanging. Hosting a donation drive is a great off-site volunteer opportunity that can provide a lasting impact on our clients. Please review our
2020 COMMUNITY SUPPORT
898
6,824.87
Volunteers
Hours
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$173,556.44 Financial Impact
BOARD OF TRUSTEES Chairman of the Board
Nancy K. Best President
Dennis J. Grindinger Secretary
David M. Rosenberg Treasurer
Frank Mihalopoulos Vice Presidents
Megan D. Burkhart Beth Ewing Joe R. Flores Willis Johnson Ashlee Hunt Kleinert Carolyn L. Miller Julie Forrester Rogers Gail O. Turner
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P.O. Box 710729 Dallas, Texas 75371 Phone: 214.428.4242 austinstreet.org