2022 GRATITUDE REPORT
Empowering Houston’s Homeless

Our Mission
To provide essential and next-step services to restore hope and help end homelessness in Houston.


Empowering Houston’s Homeless
Our Mission
To provide essential and next-step services to restore hope and help end homelessness in Houston.
Dear Friends of The Beacon,
A neighbor and I were chatting recently while walking our dogs. He asked how I was doing and what I thought of Houston. I told him what I tell everyone: I love Houston.
As a newcomer, I sometimes find driving here to be a little daunting. Yesterday, I was in the car with a native Texan who was zipping across several lanes on I-10 to get to an upcoming exit. She said calmly, “You’ll get used to it; you just have to be assertive.” After my heart calmed down and I released my white-knuckled grip on my seat, I figured she was probably right. I’ll get used to it.
But since I prefer walking my dog over driving, I got to spend a little more time talking with my neighbor about why I love this city. He agrees and observed, “There just seems to be room for everyone here.” His remark reminded me of the central role The Beacon plays in making Houston a truly great city. Because the true measure of a city is not its booming economy, its great restaurants, its entertainment, or even its diversity. The true measure of a great city is the way in which it treats its poorest and most vulnerable citizens. And at the epicenter of that metric, Houston has The Beacon.
The Beacon is Houston’s “front door” for housing and other basic, lifegiving services for the most vulnerable. And what one finds at this front door is deep, soulful caring, along with behind-the-scenes efficiency, expertise, and undaunted commitment to care for people who have become accustomed to being treated as unwanted and unseen. At The Beacon, Love warmly greets each person with the assurance that they belong, that they have an advocate, a comforter, and a guide. “Come in. We are here for you.”
And in being there for people who are experiencing homelessness, the staff, volunteers, and contributors of The Beacon are making room for everyone, even the most vulnerable among us. It is the front door for so many services and is the heartbeat of this city’s greatness.
Of course, I have seen a glimpse of the underbelly of Houston as well. No city is without its challenges. But even in this instance, The Beacon is working in partnership with civic leadership, law enforcement and businesses to develop creative and cooperative solutions to ameliorate encampment situations. Other non-profits, businesses and government officials are working closely to move the needle, helping individuals and our community.
As I’ve told my neighbor, I love Houston. At the center of my affinity for this great city is The Beacon – a place that is making room for the least of these in a quiet and resolved spirit of compassion that is uniquely beautiful. Thank you for being a partner in this ministry that is a model for the nation.
Sincerely,
The Beacon is a key partner in The Way Home, our community-wide homeless response system. Learn more about this nationally recognized approach to solving homelessness in the article written by Michael Kimmelman for The New York Times on June 14, 2022 entitled, “How Houston Moved 25,000 people From the Streets Into Homes of Their Own.”
The Very Reverend Gary Jones Chair of the Board61,951 meals (breakfast and lunch)
18,897 hot showers
14,048 loads of laundry
2,993 mail checks
2,411 case management visits
The Beacon served more than 4,600 unduplicated individuals in 2022 thanks to your generosity!
1,402 housing assessments completed
1,638 legal matters closed
171 households received housing navigation services
35 women received transitional housing and services via Brigid’s Hope
Launched in August of 2021 thanks to funding from the Texas Access to Justice Foundation, ClearYourRecordHarrisCounty.org continues to reach and equip individuals with the ability to check any past criminal history that is legally eligible to be sealed. In doing so, these individuals become more employable and have more opportunities for housing.
LAST YEAR:
More than 4,360 unique users submitted their name and date of birth to see if they had any records that qualified.
More than 2,800 of those individuals had at least one record that was eligible to be cleared and more than 1,300 were eligible to have their entire record cleared. 61% indicated they planned to submit the necessary forms (also available on the website) to formally apply for the request to have their records cleared.
With special project funding from Indeed and the National Employment Law Project, The Beacon is working to expand the technology that powers this self-service record clearing tool to other counties in Texas.
The Way Home is a collaborative model to prevent and end homelessness in Houston, Pasadena, Conroe, Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties.
The Beacon has been a vital partner in The Way Home efforts since 2014.
3,223 number of people experiencing homelessness in the three-county area
13% of the individuals experiencing homelessness indicated they were homeless due to the COVID-19 pandemic
For more information, go to homelesshouston.org
Thanks to your generous support last year, our staff was able to continue the important work of providing essential and next-step services to restore hope to help end homelessness in Houston. We were able to increase the number of individuals served via the Day Center as the pandemic abated and we bolstered our efforts in housing case management as a partner in the Community COVID Housing Program (CCHP).
Now in its second phase, one of the anticipated outcomes of this communitywide effort is to end chronic homelessness and reduce encampments. The Beacon expanded its housing navigation team to nine people last year and more than 171 households received services in partnership with other CCHP agencies. I was so pleased to know that the gentleman featured on the cover of last year’s Gratitude Report was one of the individuals who is now safely housed. Mr. Harvey had been a regular at The Beacon for years, but thankfully, he no longer needs our services.
Our team has been recognized as experts in this tough work and are working regularly at the City of Houston Navigation Center to help gather documentation and move individuals into housing when its available. Many of these individuals were recently living in encampments and it takes a lot of time and attention to move them from living unsheltered into a new environment.
I am also grateful for the strides we have made to knit all of our program staff to work in unison for the good of each individual that comes through our doors. Regular trainings and in-person meetings have fostered a collective sense of purpose at The Beacon and it plays out in the daily activities that happen amongst our essential services team, housing case managers, legal staff of Beacon Law and our Brigid’s Hope program.
Thank you for making this work possible. We are honored to earn your continued support!
In service,
Becky Landes Chief Executive OfficerAttorneys who were parishioners of the Cathedral began providing free legal services. What was once known as Cathedral Justice Project is now Beacon Law and part of The Beacon.
Brigid’s Hope, also originally a mission of the Cathedral, becomes part of the organization. Staff and long-time volunteers continue their work to support the women in their 12-month journey.
Funds were raised by Christ Church Cathedral to construct the John S. Dunn Outreach Center and The Beacon Day Center opened on January 6, 2007.
2011
The first Come to the Table event raises $200,000.
The Beacon becomes part of The Way Home, the community-wide homeless response system to address homelessness with a housing first intervention. Housing assessments are offered at the facility five days a week.
2015 Facility remodeling, and improvements are completed.
COMPASS, a separate non-profit organization serving the homeless started by the Cathedral in 1981, merges with The Beacon.
2020
All program services shift and resume during COVID-19 pandemic to keep clients, volunteers and staff safe.
Faithful Founders who helped to plan, design, raise funding for and invite others to support The Beacon’s mission are celebrated at Come to the Table.
Last year, a doctoral student from the University of Texas Medical Branch piloted a new life skills class at The Beacon, now known as TIP, based on occupational therapy principles. The curriculum of TIP class continues to evolve and expand as we tailor services to help our clients truly “thrive in place”. The overall goal is to create a trauma-informed care environment so that clients can feel supported to take actionable steps toward becoming housed.
TIP class continues to take place weekly with staff supervision and support and currently includes meditation, creative writing and art therapy activities in addition to coping and life skills. Using a person-centered approach, client feedback is actively being sought to guide the curriculum and we have begun a series of client “focus groups” to further explore program needs and opportunities.
Recently, Martin, a new class attendant, shared this comment: “It was raining this morning, and if I didn’t have a mountain of laundry, I would have stayed in my tent. So really I just came for the laundry...but instead I got smiling faces, a Honey Bun, some watercolor paints, and a chance to get some things off my chest. I’m sure glad I didn’t stay in my tent this morning.”
*Includes in-kind contribution of $513,308 from Christ Church Cathedral for rent and parking.
The Very Reverend Gary Jones, Chair
Bess Wareing, President
Susan Reeves, Vice President
Mike Grimes, Treasurer
Gay Gulledge, Secretary
Alisa Stamp Mengwasser
Past President
Gregory Funderburk
Catherine Fowler McDonald
Fredricka Brecht
Barbara Bushong
Ann Tyrrell Cochran
Ben Colodney
Bradley B. Dennison
Godfrey Grey
Kelly Kemp
Ashley Parsons
Harry C. Pinson
Loretta Ray
Alan Stuckert
Bob Thurmond
The Right Reverend C.
Andrew Doyle
Deborah Duncan
Elena Marks
John Nau
Matthew Oren
Courtney Sarofim
Charles Tate
As I step into my role as President of the Board of Directors at The Beacon, I know I stand firmly on the strong foundation forged by you and all those who have given of their hearts and souls to make this place what it is today: the front door to Houston’s coordinated homeless response system.
Our Ardell Ray Day Center, where we provide hot meals, laundry service, showers and other essential services is known throughout the city and county as a central hub where those most in need can have their immediate needs met while also beginning the journey to find permanent housing. What fewer people understand is that our Day Center is just one of the many programs at The Beacon that benefits those living on the margins.
We partner with many other incredible agencies in this work, but make no mistake, the steadfast generosity and participation of supporters like you have made The Beacon unique in its ability to expand and evolve to meet the ever-changing demands of this dynamic city. Whether it is increasing meal service during times of extreme weather events or partnering with the city to access and utilize funds to get our clients into housing, it is your consistent support that allows us to quickly and effectively respond to the greatest needs of our community.
A little more than two years ago, a subset of our Board of Directors formed a Visioning Task Force to dream big about our future. We spoke to city and county leaders, many of our partners in the homeless response system, and visited agencies in other states to get a deeper understanding of how homelessness issues are evolving and how we might best adapt to meet those changes and challenges.
We were both humbled and inspired by what we learned. The Beacon is highly valued by this community and our reputation reaches well beyond Texas; however, our challenges are significant and constantly changing. As a result of the work of this group, we have added a new permanent committee to our governing Board. Entitled the Mission and Exploration committee, the work of this group will be to stay abreast of the changes in the landscape while ensuring we keep a sharp focus on our founding mission: to restore hope and end homelessness in Houston. Together with our Governance, Finance and Development committees, we believe we have created an even more expansive and holistic approach to the good work that’s been happening here for over 15 years!
The health of our organization is what allows us to attract and retain the amazing staff and talented leadership we enjoy. And, of course, their skill, expertise and passion for the work is, in turn, what inspires confidence and generosity from our supporters. I happen to have a bird’s eye view of this reciprocal relationship and, take my word for it, it is nothing short of miraculous!
Please know that all you do to support The Beacon is wholeheartedly and enthusiastically appreciated! Come visit us and see your generosity in action.
With gratitude,
Bess Wareing Beacon Board PresidentMore than $750,000 was raised at Come to the Table to support our programs and services as we honored our Faithful Founders
Linda and Richard Bischoff
Frances and Norman Kittrell
Wick and Rob Rowland
Judy and Charles Tate
Carol and Andy Vickery
We are so grateful to all our restaurant and chef partners for making this event a success!
Chef Committee
Mark Holley Davis Street at Hermann Park
Manabu “Hori” Horiuchi Kata
Robata Sushi + Grill
Ryan Lachaine Riel
Ara Malekian Harlem Road
Texas BBQ
Mike Puccio The Beacon
Luis Roger BCN and MAD
Chris Shepherd
Claire Smith Alice Blue
Jeff Weinstock and Max Torres
Cake & Bacon
Garden Party Restaurants
1751 Sea and Bar
Double Trouble
Feges BBQ
Harold’s Restaurant, Bar & Terrace
Low Tide Kitchen & Bar
Saint Arnold Brewing Company
Save the Date!
Come to the Table 2023 will take place on Thursday, September 21st
Event chairs: Kimberly and Bradley Dennison
$100,000 and up
Anonymous Foundation
The Brown Foundation
Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County
Wayne Duddlesten Foundation
Episcopal Health Foundation
The Hamill Foundation
Harris County Community Services Department
Houston Endowment, Inc
National Employment Law Project / Indeed
The Powell Foundation
Texas Access to Justice Foundation
$99,999 - $25,000
Leslie L Alexander Foundation
Anonymous Foundation
The Bank of America Charitable Foundation, Inc
Christ Church Cathedral
CM and Edna Peyton Cotton
Family Foundation
John S Dunn Foundation
Emergency Food and Shelter Program
Equal Justice Works
The Mary Alice Fortin Foundation
Paige and George Hagle
Harris County Justice Administration Department
The Hildebrand Foundation
Bilinda and Brian Matusek
Vivie and Chris O’Sullivan
The Sarofim Foundation
Vivian L Smith Foundation
Isla Carroll Turner Friendship Trust
The Jack Jr and Nance Foules Wier
Endowment
The Wortham Foundation
$24,999 - $10,000
The Banjo Fund
The Barnes Family Charitable
Fund
Linda and Richard Bischoff
Nicole Boudreau
Kathy and Tom Brackin
Fredricka Brecht
Robin and Mike Bullington
Martha and John Clanton
Ann and Tres Cochran
Marian and Paul Cones
Courtney and Andy Coolidge
Pat and Jim Cooney
Meredith and Colby Cress
The Dennison Family Giving Fund
Cece and Mack Fowler
Caroline M Greene Trust
George and Mary Josephine
Hamman Foundation
Betsy and Carl Isaac
Sis and Hasty Johnson
Carmen and John Knapp
Ramona and Doug Krenek
Jennifer and Elliott Kruppa
Sara Lewis
Isabel and Ransom Lummis
Marathon Petroleum Night Court
Trish Freeman and Bruce
Patterson
Karen and Harry Pinson
Lulu Bryan Rambaud Charitable
Trust
Fairfax and Risher Randall
Florence Hargrove Ray
Susan and Robert Reedy
Debbie and Andrew Roff
Wick and Rob Rowland
St Francis Episcopal Church
St John The Divine Episcopal
Church
St Mark’s Episcopal Church
St Philip Presbyterian Church
JJ Stevak
Sysco Houston, Inc
Judy and Charles W Tate
Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs
Carol and Andy Vickery
Bess and Matt Wareing
Stone and Holt Weeks Foundation
Lue and Rich Weiss
Young Fund
Barb and Robert Zorich
$9,999 - $5,000
Chinhui Juhn and Edward Allen
Nancy C Allen
Nina Andrews
Shelley and Geoff Bracken
Cameron Management
Deirdre and Francis Carr
Citgo Petroleum Corporation
James Cowan
Linda Cox
Erica and Lorin Crenshaw
Mary Elizabeth McBeth and James
Crump
Rickie and Stacy Duke
Debbie Francis
Frost Bank
Kristie and John Gibson
Gray Reed Foundation
Guy Hagstette
Harris County Community
Supervision and Corrections Department
Sunny and Mac Haik
Frank Hood
Kirkland & Ellis, LLP
Catherine and Bruce McDonald
The Medallion Foundation, Inc
Alisa and Drew Mengwasser
Nancy Powell Moore
John K Nau
Cabrina and Steven Owsley
Patterson + Sheridan LLP
The Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw
Pittman Foundation
Chrysi and George Polydoros
Alice and Risher Randall Jr
Catherine and William Randall
Isla and TR Reckling
Lisa and Russell Sherrill
The Stewart Foundation
Bill Stewart
Ashley and Dustin Sullivan
Susan and Walker Taylor
Julie and Bob Thurmond
Anna Timberlake
The Twardock Family Charitable Fund
Blanche and Jon Tyson
Cary and David Welsh
$4,999 - $1,000
Sharon and Stephen Adell
Carolina Aguilar
Amegy Bank
Edward H Andrews Foundation
Anonymous
Baird Foundation, Inc
Burke and Elizabeth Baker Family Fund
Scott Bartosh
Bill Billman
Stephen Bingham
Jessica and Lee Bischoff, II
William George Bowen
Rena R Bullock
Mary Stewart Burgher
Barbara Bushong
Charles Calvit
CarMax Foundation
Vera and Ben Colodney
Coxes Corner Charitable Trust
Cathy and David Crabtree
Carl Curtiss
Amrah Zain Dadabhoy
Natalie Danckers
Keith Davis and Rick Newlin
Linnet F Deily
Dylan Dickens
Carole and Samuel Dodson
Alexandra (Ali) Donnelly
Anne and Jim Dougherty
Sheila Douglas-Williams
Drilling Info, Inc
Barbara and John Edgerton
Joy and Tim Ellwood
Jennifer Enos
Hannah Erdman
Etoile Cuisine et Bar
Julie and Bobby Falcon
James David Fairbanks
Carl W Farley
Debbie and Ron Fash
Dudley Forster
Caroline and George Francisco
Kelly and Greg Funderburk
Susanne Galtney
Marilyn Golub
Good Shepherd Episcopal Church
The GoodCoin Foundation
Kristy Greenwood
Shirley and Mike Grimes
Kaki and R Kent Grubbs
Paul W Guillory
Gay Gulledge
Caitlin Halpern
Ann Hamilton
Barbara and William Hamilton
Austen C Harris
Lisa Head
Nathan Hennessey
Oscar Hernandez
Eileen and Brandon Hoff
Daniel Hopper
Houston Astros, LLC
Daily Howard
Elizabeth and Tom Howley
Josepha Immanuel
Mahmood Jawaid
Matt Johns
Katie Johnson
Kristin and Logan Johnson
Jila Bakker and Dave Jones
Franchesca Jones
MS Kalsi
Beverly Kaufman
Frances and Norman Kittrell
Prashil Kumar
Rebecca Landes
Jacob Lipp
Nancy and Earle Martin
Ann and Steve Mason
Erin May
Gill and Mike McCord
Keith McFarland
Eleanor McMurtrey
Sharon and Tom McNearney
Linda and Martin Meador
Patty and Brant Mills
Sofia Montero
Hallie and Tyler Moore
Karina Morgan
Harjap Nanva
Vanessa Nenna
Kimberly Nettles
Mary Ann Newman
Okpara Family
David Oliver
Daniel Orfield
Bob Orr
Hayden and Danny Ostendorf
William Nicholas Padon
Mark Pellerin
Kay Pieringer
Erin Pleva
Sue and Hobert Plunkett
Pamela and James Pool
Joy Posoli
Winnie and Ben Powell
Christina and Joe Powers
Lisa and Mike Puccio
Cynthia and Jerry Pyle
Varun Ratta
Susan Reeves and Brett
McCleneghan
Remnant House Ministries
Bob Richter
Elicia Rideau
Sarah Rilling-Hall
James L Roberts
Nathalie and Charles Roff
Alexander Roinesdal
Kelly and Marcos Rosales
Lisa and Dana Roy
Linda Sadler Memorial Fund
Nidhin Sam
Sherry and John Schmidt
Sabrina Schnitzer
Alexander Shirsat
Barrett Sides
Macquel and Jim Smith
South Main Baptist Church
Solace and Jim Southwick
Mary C Spanjers
St Paul’s Episcopal Church
St Paul’s United Methodist Church
Jena and Brandan Still
Pradeep Suresh
Madison Kruger and Scott Swain
Frances Lenora and Paul B Terry Jr
Melissa Torbet
Twin Eagle Resource Management, LLC
Christopher VanGundy
Celia and Larry Vaselka
Lisa Witten
Paula and Paul Yale
Richard Yannaco
Sherman Yu
$999
Paige Abernathy
Clay Abington
W Kendall Adam
AIG
Owen Amadin
Ricardo Anaya
Gretchen and David Anderson
Libby and John Anderson
Frances and Vijay Andrandes
Anonymous
Sheila and James Armsworth
Tess Arrington
Robert Ash
Elizabeth Ashton
Brenda and Tommy Atkins
Timothy A Austin
Aveva Inc
Your support helped us change lives. Thanks to those who made gifts of $100 or more between January 1 and December 31, 2022