SOCIETY OF ST VINCENT DE PAUL, ARCHDIOCESAN COUNCIL OF SAN ANTONIO
No form of charity if foreign to the Society
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our programs serve low income families, homeless or families that are at risk of becoming homeless because of a diverse array of challenges to stabilizing their housing crisis due to extremely low income. This includes any combination(s) of the following: no savings; no bank account; periods of unemployment; poor budgeting skills; mental health, or substance use problems that affect tenancy or may have been homeless more than once for extended periods of time; may have difficulty maintaining apartment, and may be victims of domestic violence. It is important to know that hunger and food insecurity are closely related, but distinct, concepts. Hunger refers to a personal, physical sensation of discomfort, while food insecurity refers to a lack of available financial resources for food at the level of the household.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
St Vinnys Bistro
Since 1974, St. Vincent de Paul has addressed the plight of the homeless who live on the streets of San Antonio and the working poor in Central Business District of San Antonio. Originally located at the SAMM Shelter, we moved our operation to the Courtyard at Haven for Hope homes campus.
In 2010, St Vinnys Bistro ® was created specifically to provide 3 nutritional meals a day, 365 days a year, serving and average of 1,100 meals per day. Sack lunches are provided for those who work in the community and medicinal snacks are provided for those who need to take their medication with food.
Family and Community Assistance
In collaboration with others, we offer an array of services to the poor and vulnerable in and around San Antonio, including undeserved, unincorporated areas of Bexar County with high levels of poverty. The program serves a broad population of all ages, with a special focus on the disabled, seniors, those with children under 5, veterans, homeless, and those at high risk of becoming homeless.
Through our Essential Service Program, we offer an array of programs and services that address basic needs. In addition, financial assistance is provided for expenses such as utility bills, rent, and medication to low-income individuals as outlined by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. We also offer a Rapid Rehousing Program funded by the City of San Antonio.
In addition, because we guide and oversee a network of 60 conference distribution sites in the community (offering an array of services), we can connect those in need to the conference located closest to them.
Rapid Rehousing literally homeless individuals in the community and Haven for Hope Courtyard and members side must come off the coordinated entry list effective January 23, 2018.
Vincentian Development and Support Program
Vincentians are at the heart of the work we provide in the community. We have more than 2000 Vincentians who provide an invaluable service to those in need.
Organized locally, Vincentians witness God’s love by embracing all works of charity and justice. The Society collaborates with other people of good will in relieving need and addressing its causes, making no distinction in those we serve because, in them, Vincentians see the face of Christ.
Our direct approach to service through home visits requires both knowledge and passion. We become more than a resource for our brothers and sisters – we become neighbors, friends, and family.
Where we work
Affiliations & memberships
Association of Fundraising Professionals - Member 2011
External reviews
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Borne out of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul's (SVDP) mission to offer “….person-to-person service to those who are needy and suffering…," is the Society's vision to "create pathways out of poverty" for those served. As a result, the organization's overarching goal is to reduce the overall numbers in need of SVdP assistance, through the proper administration of basic emergency services along with providing the groundwork for eventual self-reliance.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul combines lessons learned from the last 144 years, with proven program practices, to improve the organization and the lives of those that receive the services. The SVDP's long history and significant past experience in effective program administration has demonstrated the organizational capacity to meet programmatic and fiscal responsibilities. As a result, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul has been able maintain sustainability in a community where the organization's services have been a lifeline to those served.
Using promising and best practices, the SVDP works collaboratively to ensure holistic emergency assistance to meet the basic needs of the individuals served, in a multi-generational capacity. Knowing the importance of creating performance measurements and measuring program outcomes to program success, the SVDP maximizes the use of both the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and Charity Tracker. These systems track units of service and utilization. Monthly reports are generated for management and subsequently presented to the board to review the program's progress and address any gaps in services. Board meetings are held regularly to ensure full program efficiency and sustainability.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
In the last 148 years, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in partnership with its benefactors, has established a long-standing and abiding history of providing for the vulnerable and those most in need in the community. Today, the SVDP Central Council office administers one comprehensive program, with several projects administering to vital basic needs, spanning 67 conference service sites— all supported by approximately 2,500 volunteers.
The SVdP volunteers are the heart of the organization and critical to the services administered by all of the 60 conferences. The volunteer program is an integral part of the invaluable work the SVdP has provided. The work could not move forward at the rate of efficiency it does without the devotion and tireless hours given by these dedicated women and men. In addition to the proper administration of services, the SVdP volunteers and employees have been trained to administer to those they serve by meeting them on their level, with respect and compassion. These practices establish a personal connection and firm foundation for further services and education imperative to eventual self-reliance.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Outcomes from the following programs are key indicators that the organization is on track to meet the Society of St. Vincent de Paul's overarching goal, positively impacting the community as a whole. The family and Community Assistance Program provides critical emergency intervention for housing stabilization, allowing families and the working poor to stay in their homes. Last year, this program provided emergency support for 1,227 children in 314 households, helping them to maintain the vital, most basic needs in life. 4 Our Kids provided school supplies and backpacks to 1,327 children in 2014 and anticipates serving over 1900 children, this upcoming year. Research reveals that literacy increases a child's ability to connect to their school environment, and starting school with the necessary supplies is not only essential to learning, but vital to a need to fit in and connect to a positive peer group, impacting a child's health and academic outcomes. The SVDP Kitchen provides the nutritional sustenance vital to the basic needs, and for some, the very survival, of the chronically homeless men and women received on the Haven for Hope homeless campus. This sustenance consists of hot nutritional and medicinal meals (3x daily, 365 days a year), imperative to not only sustaining life, but to creating a foundation crucial to receiving additional services and eventual self-reliance. The Kitchen on average serves 1,350 to 1,500 meals per day. In the 2013-14 fiscal year, SVDP administered 355,672 nutritious meals, 12,480 medicinal meals and 39,525 nutritious sack lunches.
Financials
Unlock nonprofit financial insights that will help you make more informed decisions. Try our monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights?
Learn more
about GuideStar Pro.
Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
SOCIETY OF ST VINCENT DE PAUL, ARCHDIOCESAN COUNCIL OF SAN ANTONIO
Board of directorsas of 10/15/2019
Ms. Barbara Ward
Barbara Bryan
St. Joseph District
Maria Leslie
Prince of Peace Conference
Georgia Keating
Alamo District
Consuela Tovar
Mission District
Jose Ibarra
Our Lady of Guadalupe District
Miguel Ruiz
St. Anthony District
Frank Kiolbassa
St. Edward District
Ed Huth
St. Francis of Assisi District
Ignacio Esparaza
St. Pius District
Cleo Boyd
St. Ignatius Loyola District
Margaret Tracy
St. John Paul II District
Frank Ball
St Lucia District
Mary Jane Arcos
Jesse Esparaza
Father Kevin Fausz
Holy Redeemer
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
-
Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes