The Stewpot 2023 Impact Report

A WORD FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BRENDA SNITZER

When we all work together, we can create system-wide change... to transform how even more communities respond to homelessness. Your impact isn’t just local— it’s national.

Front Cover: Stewpot client

Friends

,

Homelessness is at an all-time high—The Wall Street Journal reports a 12% increase in individuals experiencing homelessness across the country in 2023. However, that isn’t the case here in Dallas. The initiative to make homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring led locally by the All Neighbors Coalition has effectively reduced unsheltered homelessness (those living on the streets) by 14% and chronic homelessness (those who have experienced homelessness for at least a year—or repeatedly—while struggling with a disabling condition) by 32% in Dallas and Collin Counties since 2022.

The Stewpot has been part of the All Neighbors Coalition since I came to The Stewpot in 2018, and now I have the distinct honor of serving as the Chair of the Coalition. I’m thrilled to share with you that our approach works. When we all work together, we can create system-wide change and build a legacy model to transform how even more communities respond to homelessness. Your impact isn’t just local—it’s national.

The Stewpot’s holistic, wraparound programs are essential to our success in reducing homelessness. Our expert staff support housing initiatives with our ID Recovery services; provide free-of-charge Representative Payee services to keep individuals housed; operate successful Rapid Rehousing and Permanent Supportive Housing programs; provide three meals a day, 365 days a year; and offer opportunities for unhoused and at-risk individuals to express themselves through art, writing, and gardening.

With your help, The Stewpot seeks to end and prevent homelessness. Academic, enrichment, and college and career support for students 1st through 12th grade helps at-risk youth break the cycle of poverty. Adult education opportunities and bi-monthly food and grocery distributions help stabilize households and keep families from falling into homelessness.

It is a blessing to watch our community transform, and none of it would happen without your support. Thank you for being a crucial part of The Stewpot’s family.

Blessings,

Brenda E. Snitzer, M.S.Ed.

OUR MISSION

Since 1975, The Stewpot, a ministry of The First Presbyterian Church of Dallas, has been an urban pioneer, responding to the emerging needs of at-risk individuals and people experiencing homelessness while collaborating with others to create appropriate, life-saving responses. The Stewpot’s mission is to offer a safe haven for homeless and at-risk individuals of Dallas, providing resources for basic survival as well as opportunities to start a new life. From its origins as a soup kitchen, The Stewpot has become a “one stop shop” for unhoused and at-risk individuals of Dallas. Our programs prioritize individualized care that serve the larger goal of community transformation.

Devin McKenna Housing Services Case Manager

Darrin Stewpot Housing client

$2,467,299 for PSH for 3 years 2023 – 2024

250 individuals housed

200 more meals per day

MORE partnerships = more people helped MORE programs for students

The Stewpot improved outcomes and steadily grew program capacity.

Thanks to our success with the Permanent Supportive Housing Program, The Stewpot is one of six Community Partners chosen by Housing Forward to receive additional PSH funding from HUD totalling $2,467,299 for 3 years.

art throughout the city

The Stewpot’s Rapid Rehousing Program continues to stabilize individuals and families with a goal to house 250 individuals in total by the end of 2024.

Our Meal Services team and volunteers continue to increase the number of hot meals they serve each day at the Second Chance Café from ~500 meals per day in 2021 to 700+ meals per day in 2023.

The Stewpot’s Homeless Services Program, which includes ID Recovery and Representative Payee services, continues to serve our clients and partners with local agencies and city-wide efforts to connect unhoused individuals to life-changing resources.

2023 was the first full year of our College and Career Readiness Program, which includes a tutoring and mentoring component. Our Children, Youth + Family Program is continuing to support at-risk students as they break the cycle of poverty with education, enrichment, and support from first grade through college and into their careers.

The Stewpot’s walls are bursting at the seams with new art created by formerly or currently unhoused artists, and our Art and Enrichment Program continues to show art throughout the city. We had 14 art shows and galleries throughout Dallas in 2023.

Brenda Snitzer

Brenda Snitzer, Executive Director of The Stewpot, was appointed the General Assembly Chair of the All Neighbors Coalition in the fall of 2023 after serving as Vice Chair for two years. The All Neighbors Coalition, supported by its lead agency Housing Forward, brings together leaders throughout the Continuum of Care in Dallas and Collin Counties to end homelessness through a collaborative and strategic effort which optimizes the combined strengths and resources of partnering organizations and our neighbors.

At Housing Forward’s annual Housing Heroes luncheon, two of our outstanding staff members received awards for their great work.

Robin Craddock

Robin Craddock, Manager of Permanent Supportive Housing, won the Mentor of the Year award. Robin is truly versatile and multi-talented. She constantly passes out food and hygiene kits to clients inside and outside The Stewpot and gets individuals off the streets, whether they are in her program or not. Robin is an invaluable mentor to her staff. She regularly accompanies her case managers on home visits and has led our staff through city-wide encampment decommissioning initiatives, the Point-in-Time Homeless Count to help identify how many individuals are experiencing homelessness on a single night, and inclement weather transportation.

Nicosha Johnson

Nicosha Johnson, Homeless Services Case Manager, won the Case Manager of the Year award. Nicosha’s team describes her as an asset who never backs down from a challenge. Though she is a vital documents case manager, Nicosha has learned how to meet with Representative Payee clients and took over the check ordering process for the entire Homeless Services department. She always goes above and beyond to connect clients with the resources they need.

Robin Craddock

Permanent Supportive Housing Manager

RECOGNIZED

RECOGNIZED FOR OUR WORK

Nicosha Johnson Client Services Caseworker

RECOGNITION OF OUR WORK

For all this good work and more, The Stewpot is honored to receive the 2024 George W. Bush Institute Trailblazer Citation. The Bush Institute Citation Award is a prestigious recognition presented to innovators who have significantly enriched quality of life in the North Texas region.

HOMELESS SERVICES

5,474 vital docs obtained

42 representative payee clients

5,474 vital documents obtained, including state IDs and birth certificates, allowing clients to secure jobs, housing, Social Security and Veteran’s benefits; access medical care; or enroll in school. Served as Representative Payee for 42 clients deemed unable to manage their finances by the Social Security Administration and made $732,141 in bill payments on behalf of Representative Payee clients.

23,003 over-the-phone assistance calls

Triaged 23,003 phone calls to provide over-the-phone assistance to individuals navigating the homeless response network in the Dallas area.

Marisol Landaverde College + Career Readiness Coordinator

21,646 volunteer hours

BY THE NUMBERS HOUSING

Enrolled 50 households into Permanent Supportive Housing provide ongoing and high-level support to chronically homeless individuals.

Stabilized 78 households through Rapid Rehousing, assisting with housing identification, move-in and rent assistance, and a year of case management to support self-sufficiency.

261,463 meals served

Served 261,463 meals at The Stewpot’s Second Chance Café at The Bridge to unhoused individuals in Dallas.

Recovered 696,417 pounds of surplus food from partners in the restaurant, hospitality, and food services industries to assist those who are hungry.

Served 2,198 at-risk households through bi-monthly food and grocery distributions. 50 households enrolled

2,198 at-risk households served groceries

78 households stabilized

NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT

696,417 pounds of food recovered

Alma Reyes Manager of Children + Youth Programs

THE NUMBERS

CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILY

Heckman Director of Art + Enrichment Programs

Facilitated academic and enrichment programming for 92 students in 1st–12th grades, including math and reading assistance for elementary students throughout the year. We added tutoring and mentoring programs for our middle school and high school students.

Provided Writers’ Workshops to an average of 10 unhoused and at-risk individuals a month. 92 students in program

Provided English as a Second Language class for an average of 18 adults per month.

ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS

Facilitated $38,473 in art sales benefiting Stewpot clients. Clients keep 90% of proceeds and 10% goes back to The Stewpot’s Art Program to cover supplies and field trips for clients.

$38,473 in art sales

Provided free art studio space for an average of 17 clients a week to produce art. 17 clients per week

10 clients per month in Writers’ Workshop

Betty

Darrell Stewpot client and artist

OUR PARTNERS

Partnerships are critical to the work of The Stewpot. Over the course of its history, The Stewpot has birthed a number of nonprofits, including Austin Street Center, Genesis Women’s Center, and Interfaith Housing. The Stewpot has provided all meal services for The Bridge Homeless Recovery Center since its inception in 2008. The Stewpot provides onsite offices for Parkland’s medical and dental clinics and Metrocare Services’ mental health and medication management services. We also work in collaboration with several other partners to support and run The Dallas Connector, a transportation system for individuals experiencing homelessness.

The Stewpot has been an active member of the All Neighbors Coalition led by Housing Forward NTX (formerly Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance) since 2018.

We are proud to have ongoing partnerships with: First Presbyterian Church of Dallas, CitySquare, OurCalling, Dallas Life Shelter, Union Gospel Mission, Dallas Shared Housing Center, Veterans Administration, North Texas Behavioral Health Authority, Social Security Administration, Crossroads Community Services, Mission Oak Cliff, South Dallas Cultural Center, North Dallas Shared Ministries, the City of Dallas Office of Homeless Solutions, CARDboard Project, North Texas Food Bank - Food Stamps/SNAP Program, Dallas Street Choir, Legal Aid, Dallas County Health Department, Prism Health North Texas, Urban League, Downtown Dallas Inc., Oak Lawn United Methodist Church, the Dallas Public Library, For the Nations, Inspired Vision Compassion Center, Essilor Vision Foundation, Boy Scouts of America, Girls Inc., Dallas County Health and Human Services, Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center, Catholic Charities, University Crossroads (UT Arlington), Our Friends Place, Noggin, Healthy Futures of Texas (formerly NTARUPT), Parkland Mammography Van, Planned Parenthood, Texas A&M Agrilife Extension, Texas Hunger Initiative, and Streetside Showers.

Volunteers from Korn Ferry