While the specifics of homelessness change each year, we know that in 2019, family homelessness had increased by 18%. 

Mostly due to increases in domestic violence and the increasing cost of housing, family homelessness affects a growing number of mothers and their children. (Read more about how you can help homeless families in San Antonio here.)

Hope for Families Experiencing Homelessness

Though it is heartbreaking knowing that there are children experiencing homelessness, it’s even more tragic that these children (and their mothers) often experience “chronic homelessness.” Finding ways to stop chronic homelessness for mothers and children is a cause near to our hearts.

Chronic homelessness is defined as “experiencing homelessness repeatedly for at least a year while struggling with a disabling condition such as a serious mental illness, substance use disorder, or physical disability.” (Related article: Homeless vs Experiencing Homelessness: Why Vocabulary Matters)

For San Antonio homeless mothers with disabilities and their children, the Fairweather Family Lodge (or FFL) is a safe-haven, a community hub, and a place to find new life. And, while we seek to help these mothers and their children, we know that there is so much more we could be doing and so many more people to reach.

“The average time a mother and her child(ren) remain homeless before they become a resident is two years,” said the Endeavors® Fairweather Family Lodge Program Director Erica Martinez in a recent interview with the Rivard Report. “That’s two years trying to find out where they will sleep every night. Or how they will clean their clothes. How they will brush their teeth or keep up with basic hygiene.”

We Can’t Do it Alone

Located at an undisclosed campus in San Antonio, Fairweather Family Lodge is an ongoing program that provides safe housing with supportive services to meet basic needs, empower trauma recovery, and build self-sufficiency. 

Because the children who reside at Fairweather have experiences with homelessness, abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction, they are at extreme risk of a multitude of health and social challenges.

With layers of services directly benefiting children exposed to homelessness, family violence, the foster care system, and other traumas, Fairweather offers valuable tools and resources that help homeless San Antonio mothers and children get back on their feet. 

As with any of our programs and services, we can’t do it alone.  We can continue our work for the greater good through financial help from grants, individual and corporate donors, and other local non-profits. And we are so thankful for them.

Of those we are thankful for, The Najim Charitable Foundation has been a big supporter of our Fairweather Family Lodge program.  

Originally named the Harvey E. Najim Family Foundation, this San Antonio philanthropy aims to help children’s charitable organizations in the area with food, shelter, clothing, medical treatment, special needs, homelessness, and early childhood education.

Now known as The Najim Charitable Foundation, the non-profit’s inclusion of the word “charitable” indeed describes the nature of the foundation’s commitment to making a difference in the lives of children and those in need in San Antonio.

Since 2007, The Najim Charitable Foundation has given nearly $124 million to over 250 non-profits, and we are lucky to be one of them.

As family homelessness is increasing, we have plans to expand our program to meet this growing need. Over the last 15 years, the Fairweather Family Lodge program has served over 250 families, or close to 800 individuals. To provide these critical services to more homeless families in San Antonio, we aim to expand the program by building more space and units to the current campus, as well as providing more services to the women and children who reside there.  

A community flourishes when its members care for one another, and Mr. Najim and his foundation have proven that they care. 

From the Bottom of our Hearts, Thank You

Through their generous donations, The Najim Charitable Foundation has aided our program in extending healing, hope, and essential services to positively impact the lives of the children who reside at the Fairweather Family Lodge. 

Additionally, with help from The Najim Charitable Foundation, as well as other partners, children at Fairweather have access to professional therapeutic counseling, developmental screenings for early detection of developmental delays, on-site childcare with curriculum and services specially designed for children emerging out of homelessness, after school/summer camp activities, and a therapeutic art program.

In 2018, 100% of children at the Fairweather Family Lodge increased their educational attainment, 100% of families at Fairweather improved their housing stability, and 100% of families transitioning out have secured permanent housing. (Related article: 11 Inspiring Quotes from Women Battling Homelessness)

As the goals and values of Endeavors Fairweather Family Lodge continue to align with those of The Najim Charitable Foundation, we look forward to sharing in the passion we both have for the children and families we serve.

Thank you, Najim Charitable Foundation, for sharing this passion with us and for helping these children begin healing and forging stronger family relationships.

If you’d like to donate to this incredible cause, you can find ways to help by clicking here!  

Endeavors is passionate about serving vulnerable people in crisis, improving their quality of life in innovative, personal ways. Click here to connect with someone from our team and learn more about the many ways Endeavors® can help!  

In addition to providing housing for homeless women and children, we also provide Disaster Case Management and Emergency Services.  Additionally, we help connect military families to clinics, provide emergency staffing services, create long-term recovery plans, and far more.