Monica Chavez BROWNSVILLE – A local non-profit organization point-counted 733 homeless individuals in Cameron County as of 2024; that same organization now looks to lend a helping hand in reducing homelessness.
Point-in-time counts are vital for organizations like the Good Neighbor Settlement House to secure funding for homeless services particularly for mental health and substance abuse treatment.
The Good Neighbor Settlement House helps homeless people by providing free food, toiletries, housing facilities, and access to a food pantry and case management.
Belinda Bradford, assistant director for the organization, said sometimes they have to go out to reach their clients because they no longer trust agencies.
“So each city is tasked with their social service programs or agencies to go out with their volunteer group and count anyone that is homeless,” Bradford said. “They go out in the community and look for homeless in certain street corners, and once we start building that rapport, sometimes they’ll share, like, ‘how did you become homeless?’ You know, ‘what’s your story? What’s going on?’”
Bradford says over 600 families are registered for the food pantry.
Alvin Bernard, a client at Good Neighbor Settlement House, said he receives help from them but also helps back.
“I use their address, and they’ve helped me establish my I.D. and the birth certificate,” Bernard said. “I also help around here when it comes to heavy jobs. […] I volunteer a lot in the kitchen and out here.”
George Atisa, a public administration professor at UTRGV, said programs addressing drug addiction and homelessness are crucial for the community; especially from those who have more and can be involved in the solution.
“Corporations that are so rich, they can say we’re giving a very small percentage of our revenues for profits to go to supporting those people like homelessness, drug addictions, to address specific issues that lead people into the streets.” Atisa said.
The food pantry is also open to UTRGV students; for more information of how to help in Cameron County visit www.goodneighborsettlement.org
