Haven for Hope grows with building acquisition

Haven for Hope plans to upgrade the former warehouse at 1231 W. Martin St. to accommodate various programs. Haven for Hope plans to upgrade the former warehouse at 1231 W. Martin St. to accommodate various programs. Photo: San Antonio Express-News File Photo Photo: San Antonio Express-News File Photo Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Haven for Hope grows with building acquisition 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

Haven for Hope is expanding its homeless campus to provide more space for support groups and possibly a client-operated business.

The 40,000-square-foot former warehouse at 1231 W. Martin St. will be upgraded to accommodate programs that lack space on the 22-acre Haven for Hope, CEO Mark Carmona said Wednesday.

“It had some strategic value to it,” Carmona said.

On Tuesday, Bexar County Commissioners Court approved a $1.5 million outlay to help the center renovate the building that formerly housed a pottery business. The allocation brings to $13.5 million the county's contribution to Haven for Hope, which opened near downtown in 2010 to provide housing, health care and other services for the homeless. As many as 1,600 people a day are assisted there. The expansion will take place within two years.

The latest county outlay is evenly split between buying the building and upgrades. Some $750,000 will reimburse Haven for acquiring the building last year; the remaining $750,000 will pay for renovations — after an environmental study is conducted on remediation of lead pipes, contaminated soil and asbestos, Community Resources Director Aurora Sanchez said. The county authorized Haven for Hope to use and maintain the building through June 2040.

“The funds from the county are very much appreciated,” but more funds are needed to expedite the upgrades, Carmona said.

“We have need now. We're having more partners — other nonprofit agencies — that want to co-locate on campus with us to provide services. We also have begun to do more community outreach” through an ambassador program and alumni club, Carmona said.

Groups lack operating space, especially on nights and weekends, to provide 12-step help programs and other forms of support for the center's clients, Carmona said.

“There's a lot of synergy on campus. It seems to be organically developing as a great central location for people to bring services,” he said. And while some groups help the homeless at other locations, “what we're finding from feedback from them is it would be better if it could be closer or somehow tied to campus.”

There is also the notion of starting a business at the center.

“We want to create a sustainable business enterprise that would involve members on the campus. It can help sustain Haven longer term. We're doing our due diligence now. At this point we want to put aside some space somewhere on that property that would help us continue to meet our mission,” Carmona said.

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