At least 100 people are expected to pack Grace Lutheran Church where the nonprofit is keeping its doors open overnight on Monday.
SAN ANTONIO — Corazon Ministries is among several local organizations providing warm relief for the Alamo City’s homeless community as frigid conditions surge through Texas this week.
“We are opening our doors throughout the week, expanded hours, so people can get out of the cold quicker and spend less time outside,” said Erika Borrego, Corazon Ministries president and CEO.
Whether it’s extremely hot or brutally cold outside, Corazon Ministries has assisted unhoused men and women in San Antonio for decades.
For thousands of people each year, Grace Lutheran Church serves as a sanctuary, offering a variety of assistance. This week, Borrego stressed the importance of ensuring those who want out of the cold elements have somewhere to stay.
The day center turned into a night shelter at least on Monday. Corazon Ministries will assess on a day-to-day basis whether to keep the doors open overnight.
“Generally, we’ll see 200-250 people come through. During the day, we can accommodate that. But we anticipate we’ll see maybe a hundred people staying here overnight,” Borrego said. “We’re providing all the normal resources we would, meals, hot meals. Most importantly, we want them to feel comfortable, stay warm and come spend time with us so we can keep them safe.”
Borrego noted how vital coordination is with other non-profits, including Haven for Hope, and the City is during periods of potentially dangerous weather. Communication is constant.
“We have outreach workers in the field, in-reach workers at the shelters. We are all handing out warm weather gear. We are all providing resources for people that might make the choice to stay in place,” Borrego said.
James Jalufka has no plans of sleeping outside tonight. He’s just grateful for organizations like Corazon Ministries.
“It’s making me feel good. Glad they’re helping somebody because we don’t have much help out here,” Jalufka said.
To learn more about Corazon Ministries’ shelter hours this week, go here.