Homeless Coalition Plans for Winter ’26

OUR NEIGHBORS

The San Angelo Homeless Planning Coalition met on Wednesday at the Tom Green County Library’s Sugg Room to discuss the next Point-in-Time count and hear the latest updates from partner organizations.

Homeless Count

According to organizers, to find out how many people go without homes each night in town, you have to meet them where they are and count them. This is the point of your Point-In-Time (PIT) count. 

In San Angelo, the last count recorded a little over 170 homeless people in town.

Those who work with homeless say there are a lot more homeless neighbors than the count suggests.

According to one estimate, that number is likely 300 or more, and that’s not counting the under-housed, the couch surfers, and the car sleepers.

It’s expected that San Angelo is home to around 5 percent of Texas’ homeless population of 27,000, as reckoned from PIT surveys. 

However, the llatest estimate from the Texas Homeless Network’s data dashboard, which is considered to be more accurate, puts the figure at 42,933 — reflecting the total number of people experiencing homelessness throughout the year, rather than relying on a count taken on a single night.

Making sure everyone gets counted takes time, and nothing short of a couple hundred volunteers. 

Jason Priddy, who runs Navigation Day at First Presbyterian Church, says they’ll probably need that many; first to help at the regularly scheduled Nav Day events, where the homeless or housing insecure can go to get resources, apply for housing, and receive health checkups. 

That already takes about 30-40 volunteers to do right; Priddy estimates they’ll need an additional 150-160 volunteers to hit the town in teams at different shifts to make sure everyone not counted during Navigation Day is counted elsewhere. 

Organizations Making a Difference

Lisa Martinez, from the Housing Authority of San Angelo, says that since incorporating their housing outreach with Navigation Day, they’ve seen a drastic improvement in their ability to help homeless neighbors.

“We have the regular Section 8 voucher program, and then the Limited Homeless Preference voucher,” she explained, “Between those two programs, the success rate has jumped tremendously — over 50 percent — because we’re able to make sure that the person seeking a home has an up-to-date application. 

“If they don’t update it every six months, they get dropped, so having them at the Navigation Days helps us keep up with them, and make sure they’re always ready when housing becomes available.” 

Concho Valley Paws told coalition members said that during the last Navigation Day, they were able to spay or neuter, and vaccinate, 20 dogs. 

“I think it goes to show that we’re starting to earn that trust again,” said Priddy. “I mean, those animals are people’s family. Seeing that they can kind of build that trust again after so much of it has been eroded is really good.” 

Hunger and Homelessness Awareness

On Monday, Nov. 17, a candlelight vigil for the homeless will be held on the steps of San Angelo City Hall. Members of the coalition will speak, and attendees with homeless loved ones who have passed are encouraged to share their stories and join in communion. 

Tuesday, Nov. 18, is set to be one of the biggest Navigation Days of the year. Moved up one week from its regular spot in the month to account for Thanksgiving. 

This time of year, all cold weather clothing donations are needed; handwarmers, stocking caps and socks, and coats, along with the usual tents, and sleeping bags. 

Lastly, on Wednesday, Nov. 19, a symposium on homelessness will be held at St. Paul Prebeteryian.

ROCK ROSE: Slowly, But Surely

CVCAA Director Mike Burnett shared an update on the Rock Rose community campus, saying that the project was still in the works, but progress has slowed considerably, as the agency works to do it’s “due diligence” to find alternative locations. 

“The concerns of property owners regarding their property value are absolutely valid;” said Burnett, “I believe my concerns about how many homeless we have in San Angelo are valid. I think there’s a world where we can have both concerns taken care of.”

If you’re interested in volunteering for Navigation Day, please visit this link.

2024 PIT Coun