Our public meetings are held at 7 pm every quarter on the second Tuesday of February, May, August and November.
Waxahachie Housing Authority office, 208 N Patrick St.
2022 dates: February 8, May 10, August 9, November 8
Observe with Zoom – Meeting ID: 893 7695 1740 and passcode is: 602340
QUARTERLY MEETING
PROJECT SHELTER EVENT
A HOME FOR THOMAS
REPORT
THANK YOU!
We raised more than $22,300, including the matching grant from St. Mark the Evangelist Anglican Church. What an awesome start from our community. We're still calculating final amount needed after so many also offered supplies and labor.
Additional donations are still needed for the balance of the final cost. If you have any questions about this build, leave a message at 469.428.7320 and we'll have our President return your call.
…..
After a life of homelessness and multiple back surgeries, our beloved Thomas would like a permanent home. He has been gifted land in Waxahachie and we are working with him to raise funds and build a small home.
Does Ellis County really need a shelter?
Learn More About Homelessness
Why are people Homeless?
Types of Homelessness
-and other information
Homelessness is not simply the result of irresponsibility; nor is it a disease of only the uneducated or addicted. It is the result of the lack of a "Living Wage," divorce, job loss and health issues. It is a reversible condition, and when one is willing to change their situation, we are there. Daniel's Den
CURRENT NEEDS
Car donation for single mom/2 children
Donations for Future Shelter
Volunteer Managers
We need a VOLUNTEER CASE MANAGER to help us answer all the calls we receive, assess the needs, identify solutions and help find the resources they need. Please call 469.428.7320 or email info@elliscountyhomeless.com and ask for more details.
We also need a VOLUNTEER OUTREACH MANAGER to build a team to visit with the new homeless individuals and families we find out about and take them a goody bag. Your team will learn what their needs are and point them toward the resources that can help them. You'll also go out monthly and visit the homeless in Ellis County, give them a bag of personal items and see how they're doing. Please email info@elliscountyhomeless.com and ask for more details.
Ellis County Snapshot
Groups of people experience homelessness in different ways, but all homelessness is characterized by extreme poverty coupled with a lack of stable housing. It could be the person you see walking down the street or those who are "doubled up" or "couch surfing." Nothing but stable housing fundamentally differentiates those who experience homelessness and those who don't.
-National Healthcare for the Homeless Council, nhchc.org
1 in every 5 children in Ellis County is at risk for hunger every day.
During the January 2020 Point-in-Time Count (official count for HUD), 74 people were experiencing homelessness in Ellis County.
This count is for people of all ages living unsheltered or in a temporary shelter.
10.5% residents in our county are living below the federal poverty level.
It's difficult for low-income individuals and families to find places to live when our median rent is $1359 a month. This is more than 50% of net monthly income for these residents.
16.91% of those in poverty did not complete high school.
How can we help them break the cycle of hopelessness?
As of the end of the 20/21 school year, there were 341 Ellis County students classified as HOMELESS in our 11 school districts.
This is in our own community!
Resources: https://www.census.gov/; https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/community_facts.xhtml; https://hotpads.com/ellis-county-tx/houses-for-rent?lat=32.2282&lon=-96.6289&z=12; http://worldpopulationreview.com/us-counties/tx/ellis-county-population/, https://txcip.org/tac/census/profile.php?FIPS=48139, TEA, Region 10 information based on the McKinney-Vento Act Classifications
Donations will be used to help any of the following needs throughout Ellis County:
Emergency needs for area shelters and motel costs , gas and car repairs for families living in their vehicles, case manager, housing navigator, homeless shelter and other assistance as funds allow .
THE NEED IN ELLIS COUNTY IS GROWING!
The need for help with temporary shelter and permanent housing is growing. The Ellis County Homeless Coalition (ECHC) is being overwhelmed with the spike in homelessness caused by evictions and the lack of affordable rental units. We are now being contacted by local food pantries for help with their clients living in their cars or area motels around our county.
We need your help to work with people that are being or have been evicted. Most of them became so far behind in rent due to COVID-19 layoffs and sickness that they were unable to make it up and stay in their homes, even when they went back to work. And, with the average rent now up to $1.60/ sq ft and so many looking for homes, it is a landlord's market. Those with a previous eviction on their record, poor credit or whose income isn't three times the rent are passed over, leaving a rising homeless problem.
We need your help with monetary donations or volunteer time.
VOLUNTEER POSITIONS AVAILABLE:
Office Admin and Data Entry
Outreach Team to check on the new sightings and our old friends
Transportation to work & appointments for those without vehicles
Help with social media and website updates (using Canva and Brizy Page Builder)
Case Manager to speak with the clients and determine how to help them