TRUST INDEX: Are federal dollars funding clean crack pipes for people with addiction?
While some safe smoke kits do include drug pipes as a way to reduce harm, HHS issued a statement this week saying โno federal funding will be used directly or through subsequent reimbursement of grantees to put pipes in safe smoking kits.โ
Faith-based organizations prepare to serve possible influx of unaccompanied migrant minors
SAN ANTONIO โ Local faith-based organizations are working hard to educate themselves on how to best serve a possible influx of unaccompanied migrant minors in the city. โIt is not as easy as setting up a temporary shelter or a migrant shelter,โ Rogers said. โWe need to change the way we speak about immigration and that comes from me listening to the migrant community, people of color, Latinx,โ Rogers said. Most of all, he said that the conversation surrounding immigration needs to change for any plan to work successfully. AdAlso on KSAT:JBSA-Lackland, Fort Bliss will be used to house unaccompanied migrant children, Pentagon saysHuman smuggling cases on the rise in Uvalde, law enforcement saysFreeman Coliseum may house migrant children if agreement is reached with federal government, Bexar County judge says
Hereโs a list of warming centers in San Antonio and surrounding area
(AP Photo/Eric Gay)SAN ANTONIO โ Multiple warming centers have been made available across the San Antonio area to help residents who have lost power and remain stuck in the cold and dark. San Antonio city officials said the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center will remain open through Friday as a warming center. Southside ISD opened up a 24-hour warming center at Losoya Middle School Gym, at 1610 Martinez Losoya Road. The City of New Braunfels will also provide a warming center at the New Braunfels Civic and Convention Center at 375 South Castell Ave. To find the closest warming shelter, please use the map here or for information on additional assistance and resources call 2-1-1.
Power outages linger for millions as another icy storm looms
Nearly 3.4 million customers around the U.S. were still without electricity, and some also lost water service. More than 100 million people live in areas covered by some type of winter weather warning, watch or advisory, the weather service said. Weather-related outages have been particularly stubborn in Oregon, where some customers have been without power for almost a week. At the peak of the storm, more than 350,000 customers in the Portland area were in the dark. In Oregon, authorities confirmed Tuesday that four people died in the Portland area of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Outreach workers brave bitter cold to help the homeless in San Antonio
SAN ANTONIO โ Even as the snow fell and the temperatures dropped even lower, Valerie Salas was among a small army of outreach workers still out there trying to convince the homeless in San Antonio to seek shelter. Rogers said of the 25 to 30 homeless people they spoke to, only about half agreed to come to Travis Park Church or other shelters. Salas said it has been a community-wide effort, in coordination with the city of San Antonio, involving churches, nonprofits and others. โYet, everyoneโs coming together to help.โAdEven as more frigid weather bears down on San Antonio, Salas said probably like many others, sheโs exhausted, but remains determined to do what needs to be done. โWeโve just been kind of hitting over and over and over again, just trying to get them out of this weather,โ Salas said.
Shelters, nonprofits, churches in San Antonio ready to help during frigid weather
SAN ANTONIO โ A community-wide response is underway in San Antonio ahead of the frigid weather expected over the next few days to assist the cityโs homeless population. SARA has been a five-year-long community effort to better serve the cityโs homeless population. She said in a time like this, at least 10 churches and nonprofits have stepped up to do their part. The city also has a homeless hotline, 210-207-1799, for more information, including how to help and where to volunteer. RELATED: City of San Antonio, partner agencies to provide shelter to homeless during frigid nights
Coronavirus isnโt stopping churches from feeding the homeless
During a time of crisis for the whole community, San Antonio church members are spending their time helping their homeless neighbors. Services inside San Antonio churches have stopped and have been transferred online, but the mission continues on the streets. โNormally, the church serves around 400 to 600 homeless a week through medical clinics, through hot meals, clothes, showers. โWe work with the San Antonio Food Bank and whatever we get from them, we get creative,โ he said. Rogers and Chadwell will be passing out hot food again Wednesday evening at different parks and bridges in the downtown area.
Local pastor: Refugees are not asylum seekers
Greg Abbott announced Texas would be the first state to reject the resettlement of refugees, a federal judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trumpโs executive order allowing state and local governments to do exactly that. Greg Abbott, a Catholic, draws criticism over new refugee ban from Texasโ Catholic BishopsGavin Rogers, associate pastor of Travis Park Church, said heโs hopeful, but itโs important the courts understand refugees are not asylum seekers. Then, Rogers said, the refugees are matched with nonprofits, many of them faith-based, that help them make the transition once they arrive. โThe resettlement program is the best way you can possibly seek migration,โ Rogers said. As a result, Rogers said many migrants who converged on the border last year had to apply for asylum because they couldnโt enter as refugees.