SAN ANTONIO – The heat this week is not just uncomfortable, it’s dangerously hot and could even be deadly.
These scorching temperatures are just one piece of a larger conversation about safety in downtown areas. Incidents of random shootings and aggressive fights have plagued downtown San Antonio all summer, posing a significant threat to unsheltered individuals.
“What are the top concerns right now?” KSAT reporter Avery Everett inquired to Alberto Rodriguez, the vice president of transformational operations at Haven for Hope.
“There’s a lot of crime in areas frequented by our unsheltered population. Even if they are not the targets, they are often victims of these crimes simply by being in that environment,” Rodriguez explained.
Keith Woods, a client at Haven, shared that he had to live out of his car for a few weeks this year, with safety being his primary concern.
“It was a terrible experience. I had to make a choice between getting my car out of impound or paying rent,” Woods recalled.
Gay Lynn Schwenk, the chief operating officer at SAMMinistries, emphasized that those without shelter in San Antonio face numerous challenges that are beyond their control.
“The individuals we serve are more often victims of crime rather than perpetrators,” Schwenk stated.
This is why organizations like Haven for Hope and SAMMinistries are prioritizing outreach efforts to provide support to those in need.
“If individuals are facing emotional, physical, or safety concerns, they should feel empowered to seek help,” Rodriguez affirmed.
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