Vistation House Ministries

Causes: Homeless & Housing, Homeless Shelters

Mission: The mission of visitation house ministries is to address the needs and concerns of poor and vulnerable women and children. We accomplish this mission by offering: *a two-year transitional housing and education program which provides the opportunity and the means for homeless single mothers and their children to achieve self-sufficiency and independence through its focus on education as foundational to ending the cycles of poverty and homelessness. *a neighborhood learning center, la casita, open to low-income women from the community to help them achieve greater self-sufficiency and independence through education. *included is an afterschool children's program aimed at building their self-confidence and raising their educational level. Total donated services (in-kind) for 2017 is as follows: program services $48,772 fundraising 12,433 administration 7,543 _______ total in-kind $68,739 ======

Programs: Transitional housing & education program:transitional housing program:the transitional housing program assists single women with children to gain the education and skills needed to move out of homelessness into permanent housing and sustainable economic independence. During the report period, visitation house provided services for 10 homeless families including 10 adults and twenty-three (23) children. 2017 began with four (4) families in the transitional housing and education program. These four (4) families exited in 2017, having secured permanent housing and continuing with their education programs. Six (6) new families entered the transitional housing and education component of the program in the course of the year. All of the transitional housing and education program participants were enrolled in education programs, studying ged at the visitation house learning center or attending a local community college in pursuit of a certification or degree. All the children experienced residential stability and were enrolled in elementary school or day care programs. All school age children received after school tutoring in reading and math. All families received intensive (weekly/daily) support services, including case management and referrals, life skills training, mentoring, counseling, and educational tutoring and advisement during their time in the program. Childrens after-school- tutoring program. All thirteen (13) of the eligible elementary school-aged children received after-school transportation services from our staff and one-on-one after-school-tutoring services from volunteer tutors. Overview -13 children, in grades pre-k - 6th grade, received an hour of tutoring, four days a week during the school semesters of cy17. -breakdown of childrens grades: pre-k (1); k (1); 1st grade (2); 2nd grade (3); 3rd grade (1); 4th grade (2); 6th grade (3). -high school upperclassman and sisters of charity of the incarnate word served as volunteer tutors for the school year thus providing each child with their own tutor. -copies of the childrens progress reports and report cards were kept to assess and improve meaningfulness for each child. -the coordinator communicated with the childrens mothers on a consistent basis to apprise them of their childrens progress, offer study strategies, and suggest topics for parent/teacher conferences. -over 200 hours of tutoring were provided by the volunteer tutors. -meeting the child where they are and nurturing their potential continue to be paramount objectives for the tutoring program. Donated services(in-kind) for 2017 amounted to $33,134.

adult learning center:the continuing education program housed at the visitation house learning center, la casita del saber, provided education services to sixty-three (63) low-income women from san antonio in the areas of english as a second language, (esl), ged preparation, in both english and spanish, computer skills and other services as needed. The learning center, la casita del saber, was initially established to support the educational efforts of the residents of the visitation house transitional housing program and now also serves the educational needs of women in the community, with a priority on immigrants and those of low income. Of the total number of students who are registered 96% are hispanic. At the center, women can find free classes and tutoring, in english as a second language (esl) and in ged preparation in both english and spanish. Many other classes are offered as needed: computer skills, literacy, citizenship, preparation for high school exit and college entrance exams, as well as tutoring for various college courses. Classes are small, often one-on-one, and geared to the specific needs of the students, thus maximizing learning potential. The goal at la casita is to give women both the tools and the confidence to take the next step in their advancement, whether it is to go to college, to get a job or a better job, or to be able to help their children with their school work. Whatever their personal goals may be, their work at la casita will ultimately empower them to provide a better quality of life for their families through increased confidence, knowledge and skills in education and for employment. Donated services(in-kind) for 2017 amounted to $15,638. .