By Kellie Stallings, First Footing (NB Homeless) Shelter CE Administrator
During this giving season, consider making a donation to the First Footing (NB Homeless) Shelter, and give hope to our neighbors in ways they could only once imagine. Together, we provide our neighbors with housing opportunities and a first footing to moving forward.
The First Footing Shelter, operated by NB Housing Partners, offers 24-hour shelter for individuals who have no immediate safe place to sleep. In addition to providing safe shelter and meals, the shelter provides comprehensive care management to help individuals get housed as quickly as possible, with support and guidance to address risk factors that may impede their ability to stay housed. The program’s case managers also continue to assist individuals who are housed to ensure that those individuals continue their path toward safety and self-sustainability.
With your help, we are impacting lives. Ray, whose life was filled with trauma, addiction, and homelessness, now has a long-term place to call home. Jay and Ann, who both have secure employment and are looking for a place to rent near their children. Our neighbors cannot do it without YOU.
Those neighbors include 1,056 children in New Braunfels who don’t know where they will sleep tonight; 85 men in New Braunfels who won’t spend tonight in a home, much less a bed; and 650 seniors in New Braunfels who can’t afford a house, apartment or anything else (nbhousingpartners.org)
In the first 10 months of the First Footing program, we have served nearly 220 unduplicated individuals for more than 8,200 nights of shelter, who have spent an average of 11.5 years in Comal County.
It is our belief and vision that no person should be without the opportunity for a safe home and a fulfilling life. We understand that social issues in our community require a community solution. Therefore, we have partnered with several nonprofit agencies, churches and other community members to empower individuals and families in making significant steps toward long-term housing stability and wellness.
We are working diligently on securing a more permanent site for program services, which we hope to share with other nonprofit agencies. We are collaborating with Hill Country MHDD Centers, which is offering counseling on-site for our guests. We are working with the Crisis Center of Comal County to rapidly rehouse individuals and families who are homeless. We are partnering with Salvation Army for meals and co-locating at a future program site. Despite exciting plans for the future, we still need supplies and donations in order to keep pace with the community’s needs.
How can you help?
From the comfort of your home, you can make an online donation at nbhousingpartners.org.
The First Footing Shelter also has a wish list of in-kind donations most often needed. Those items, which can be dropped off at McKenna Events Center during normal business hours, include (complete list at Facebook.com/New BraunfelsFirstFootingShelter/) instant oatmeal, cereal and cereal bars, bottled water, cleaning supplies, bath towels, and gift cards to H-E-B, Walmart, Walgreens, Uber and Lyft.
The shelter also has an Amazon wish list at https://amzn.to/3EltH5T. Items can be ordered and shipped directly to McKenna Events Center, 801 W. San Antonio St., New Braunfels, Texas 78130.
Your donation can help your neighbors move from homelessness to housing.
For information about donations, call 830-625-9526. To reach the shelter, call 830-312-8304.