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Systemic Change Initiative includes three resiliency programs to address the conditions that cause suffering, distress and poverty in underserved communities. Systemic Change Initiative Promoting systemic change means offering holistic support that empowers those we serve to make their way out of poverty and into self-sufficiency. Three phases designed to gradually increase resiliency against conditions that cause suffering and distress. GETTING AHEAD PROGRAMS LEARN MORE Classes begin January & July each year Program Goals Working in a group learning environment, participants, become "investigators", and learn how money is only one of eleven resources to achieve success. Resources participants learn to move from crisis to sustainability: Social Capital Support System: Friends, family, network. Relationship/Role model : Access to people who can help improve your outcomes. Motivation & Persistence: Energy, drive and planning Financial: How to use money to purchase assets and services. Emotional: Ability to control emotional responses, increase Integrity, build trust, and maintain safety. Physical: Health and mobility Knowledge of Hidden rules: Know unspoken cues and behaviors of different social environments. Spiritual: Belief in divine purpose. Language: Ability to use appropriate vocabulary and grammar for different social environments Mental: Cognitive capacity to master daily life challenges. Program Benefits Become an Investigator If you’ve spent part of your life—or most of your life—struggling to get by, the idea of actually getting ahead might seem out of reach. Even if your story has been filled with barriers, vanishing opportunities, and setbacks, this program can change your next chapter. Yes, you have to write your own story, but you don’t have to do it alone. UNDERSTANDING OF THE HIDDEN RULES DIVERSE SUPPORT NETWORK STRATEGIC PLANNING PARTICIPATION STIPEND Phase I: Getting Ahead Program Getting Ahead in a Just-Gettin’-By World is a 16-week series for motivated people ready to change their life by acquiring the tools and support necessary to "get ahead" in today’s world. Getting Ahead in a Just-Gettin’-By World takes participants on a step-by-step journey to discover resources and build the resiliency necessary to overcome life's obstacles. This program helps participants build the life they want. APPLY Sessions Include the Following Modules: 01 01 01 01 MY LIFE NOW Investigate poverty; what is it like for us and our community? 02 02 02 02 THEORY OF CHANGE Be free from solving the same problems over and over again. 03 03 03 03 RICH/POOR GAP Research on causes of poverty; understand poverty from different perspectives. 04 04 04 04 HIDDEN RULES OF ECONOMIC CLASS Learn, understand, and be able to use the Hidden "Rules" of the wealthy, middle class and impoverished. 05 05 05 05 IMPORTANCE OF LANGUAGE Investigate formal register and negotiation tools. 06 06 06 06 ELEVEN RESOURCES Investigate societal, community, relational, emotional, and financial resources. 07 07 07 07 SELF ASSESMENT OF RESOURCES Conduct self-assessments. 08 08 08 08 COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT Deeper investigation of community resources. 09 09 09 09 BUILDING RESOURCES Create a treasure chest to achieve economic stability. 10 10 10 10 PERSONAL AND COMMUNITY PLANS Develop a detailed plan for your future. By December 31, 2025, program practitioners aim for 178 participants to complete Phase I. Participants are selected based on the information provided within the application, along with their willingness to fully commit to all sessions of the program. Sessions are held virtually. Equipment is provided. Phase II: Getting Ahead GRADUATE Program Cohort '24 The second phase elevates participants' commitment to improving their own lives. Mentors become their teammate to provide the encouragement in achieving self-sufficiency and sustainability. Cohort '24 Assists Graduates with developing a pragmatic action plan to their vision of a better life. Guides Graduates in building financial, social, and emotional resources. Provides Graduate with incentives once successes and milestones are achieved. 6 MONTH GRADUATE PROGRAM MUST FIRST COMPLETE PHASE I BEFORE ENROLLING Phase III: Getting Ahead ALUMNI Program Continue your journey. Become an Ambassador. Connect. Teach. Empower others. Continues exploring key community resources to maintain self-sufficiency. Provides educational workshops and online resources to stay motivated on journey. ONGOING PROGRAM Hosts community job fairs , networking opportunities and recognition events throughout the year. Provides alumni participants the opportunity to become mentors, facilitators, and even Vincentians to continue strengthening the community. MUST FIRST COMPLETE PHASES I and II Participant Experience Christy Christy loved the getting ahead program. She states it was instrumental for her personal and professional growth. Christy has learned systemic poverty and how to overcome it. Although she remains at her current job, she states she now has a better insight on how to look for better opportunities. Christy has gone through the 16 week getting ahead program, graduate program and is now helping facilitate alumni program. Mary Mary had lost her job and had no income for over 3 months. Due to her lack of knowledge about available resources, this was a difficult situation to overcome. After participating in the Getting Ahead program, she has started to work through her situations and begin a new path to financial stability. Mary continues to refer other individuals to the program and hopes to become a facilitator for the program to help others around her. Gloria Gloria shares that the getting ahead program is an open environment to discuss situations that have impacted you, and how the resources provided in the program helped resolve those issues. She says what she liked the most was that resources cam from both mentors and other participants in the program. Gloria would like to participate more with the community and expand the information she has received in the prgram. Submit your application: Application Make an impact by becoming a Program Facilitator or Mentor today: gettingahead@svdphouston.org Brochure Impact Report

Home Visit From the Society’s beginning, the central and most basic activity of Conferences has been visiting the needy in their homes. Start Now Home Visit Spirituality, Friendship and Service are the essence of Home visits. By visiting homes, Vincentians are humanizing the response to the crisis by experiencing the person's living conditions and needs. From the Society’s beginning, the central and most basic activity of Conferences has been visiting those in need in their homes. This is the clearest symbol of our Vincentian charism, which dictates the highest respect for the dignity of the poor. It symbolizes our Vincentian commitment truly serve those in need. The essential elements of the Society are spirituality, friendship , and service. The Process 1. If you are requesting assistance, contact one of our Conferences to schedule a home visit. If you need help locating a Conference closest to your area, please call 211. 2. Vincentians will schedule and perform a Home Visit to listen, offer humble advice, and assess your situation to potentially render material or financial assistance. 3. Vincentians will make contact with your service provider to coordinate support and then follow up with you and your family. Find Conference Temporary financial assistance is provided to immediately alleviate the suffering of families in distress once information has been obtained and verified by the service provider. Assistance varies from housing, utilities, and other basic needs . Financial assistance is always provided directly to the service provider, not the person in crisis. Policies and protocols help eliminate fraud and abuse. Personal Encounters Vincentians humanize the experience of receiving aid during a crisis and disaster. Vincentians are not case workers. They undergo special training to interact in a compassionate manner with diverse populations and communities across Greater Houston. Families are provided the dignity they deserve when Vincentians allow the Holy Spirit to guide their interactions.

A portion of your purchase is donated to the Society when you shop with our community partners: AmazonSmile, iGive, Kroger, Randalls, and Charity Choice, Make A Difference Link your Kroger's shopper card with Society of St. Vincent de Paul Houston or by using number - IM 073. Purchase a gift card or an eCard with the amount you wish to donate. Select Society of St. Vincent de Paul Archdiocese Galveston Houston You receive a 100% tax deductible letter. Purchase Gift Card Link your Randall's shopper card with Society of St. Vincent de Paul Houston. Add iGive app to your desktop. Up to 3% of purchase can be donated to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Archdiocese of Galveston Houston. Start Shopping

Society of St. Vincent de Paul Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston is a non-profit, faith-based organization comprised of more than 1700 volunteer members of parish chapters, known as Conferences, that provide social services to people in crisis and on the journey of escaping poverty. Grow in Christ's love. Serve our neighbors in need. $12.2M Direct Aid Provided 118K People Served in 2024 50+ Conferences 10 Counties Served 1.7K Vincentians

Membership Engagement Getting Ahead Program

Connect with us! Stay connected with us on social media to be part of the action, get updates, and amplify our impact. Together, we can create positive change. Follow us now and help us spread the spirit of our mission! Subscribe to our newsletter First Name Last Name Email Sign Me Up Thanks for submitting!

There are multiple ways you can support the Society. We accept clothing, furniture, food, or financial donations. Ways to give There are many ways you can bless others in need. Your donation to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul takes only a moment, but the impact lasts a lifetime. The mission cannot continue without you. If you do not see your choice of giving below, please email development@svdphouston.org or call 832-538-0325. BY CHECK DONOR ADVISED FUND EMPLOYER MATCHING STOCKS PLANNED GIVING ENDOWMENT Mail a check. 
 We accept donations in the form of a check. Please make sure to make the check out to: Society of St. Vincent de Paul c/o Development 2403 Holcombe Blvd. Houston, TX 77021 Recommend a grant from your donor-advised fund (DAF) through your fund administrator. 
 You can recommend a gift to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, by contacting your fund administrator or making a grant recommendation online. Plan ahead and leave a legacy for years to come. Your eternal gift can be in the form of a bequest, life insurance, IRAs, stock, or charitable annuities. Leave a Legacy Matching gifts amplify the amount of impact! Employer matching gift programs allow you to team up and combine your employee benefit and donation to the Society to make a greater impact. If your employer matches gifts, your donation can be doubled or tripled to nonprofit organizations, like the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Instead of donating the after-tax proceeds from the sale of your appreciated securities, consider increasing your impact by donating stocks, bonds, and mutual funds directly to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul through the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. Stock Donation Form An endowment is a fund of assets, the principal of which is held in perpetuity and invested for the organization to receive distributions. Endowed funds are invested with a long-term goal of achieving investment returns that exceed distributions. Endowment Forms Give with confidence We understand that it is important to you that your donation is being used effectively—it is important to us, too. Our top priorities encompass prudent stewardship and accountability. Careful management of operational resources is necessary to continuously fulfill the Society's mission. DONATE NOW YOUR IMPACT GET INVOLVED

We have 59 parish-based Society chapters called Conferences with over 1,900 combined volunteers. Be part of our mission by joinin. getFED F ormation E ducation and D evelopment Short virtual sessions designed for Vincentians to grow in spirit, knowledge, and skill on a monthly basis . 2nd Tuesdays 7-7:45pm 4th Thursdays 12:15-1:00pm Same topic both days Leadership Training Annual in-person workshops for all new and current conference and district officers. Perfect succession planning tool. Offered between October - November in each district. Meals and materials are provided by Council. Home Visit Training In-person workshops designed to go deeper into the purpose of the person-to-person encounter. Discover the "why" and the "how" and become culturally cognizant. L earn how to spiritually and physically prepare for service in communities. Offered only in the Spring & Summer Ozanam Orientation Foundation for ministry service. N ew Vincentians are required to complete within the 1st year of membership. Must renew every 5 years. January - September in each district. Meals and materials are provided by Council. Spiritual Retreat Contemplative Prayer (listening to God) provides the means of developing a more intimate relationship with the Lord. As our love of God deepens, our love for others grows into service for our brothers and sisters. This is an in-person Formation event open to all Vincentians; offered at least once a year . Meals and materials are provided by Council. Check your newsletter on the 1st & 15th for more details REGISTER AskOzanam@svdphouston.org getFED Calendar Jan Poverty Awareness Month "Who is My Neighbor" Feb Collaborations Across the Archdiocese Mar Women's History Month "60 yrs of Women's Contributions" Apr Volunteer Appreciation Month "Celebrating Essential Elements" May Guidance on Enforcement Agencies Jun Annual Black Bag Campaign Jul Summer Learning Series Aug Summer Learning Series Sep TBD Oct N/A Nov N/A Dec N/A 2025 Home Visit Trainings Basics of the Encounter Saturday, April 5, 2025 8:30am - 12:00pm Location: TBA Advance Home Visit Training Saturday, June 28, 2025 8:30am - 1:00pm St. Cecilia 11720 Joan of Arc Drive Houston, Tx 2025 Leadership Trainings TBA October - November 2025 Spiritual Retreats Lenten Retreat Saturday, March 29, 2025 8:30am - 1:00pm St. Anne Catholic Church 2140 Westheimer Rd. Houston, Tx Ozanam Orientation Calendar REGISTER District 1 February 22, 2025 St. Rose of Lima 8:30am - 2:30pm District 2 October 26, 2024 St. Angela Merici 8:30am - 2:30pm District 3 April 12, 2025 St. Francis de Sales 8:30am - 2:30pm District 4 January 11, 2025 Epiphany of the Lord - Katy 8:30am - 2:30pm District 5 March 8, 2025 St. Anne 8:30am - 2:30pm District 6 June 7, 2025 St. Anthony of Padua 8:30am - 2:30pm District 7 February 15, 2025 St. Michael - Lake Jackson 8:30am - 2:30pm Virtual July 15, 2025 6:30pm - 8:30pm July 17, 2025 6:30pm - 8:30pm

The Society has a responsibility to the community. Learn about our sources of funds and how we use them. Financial Stewardship Prudent stewardship and accountability is the Board's top priority. Careful management of operational resources in a business-like manner is necessary to continuously fulfill the mission of the Society. 501c3 Letter Form 990 Audit Report 2023 Annual Report 2023 Impact Report

When disaster strikes, the Society responds with a coordinated network of Parish Recovery Assistance Centers ready to help. HURRICANE BERYL DISASTER RELIEF Hurricane Beryl has left significant damage in our area, and we understand many are still without power, making communication difficult. Although we are not first responders, our network synergistically collaborates with other organizations in disaster areas to ensure comprehensive support for all affected communities. We encourage you to utilize the resources provided below to assist in your efforts. Together, we can make a meaningful impact in times of crisis. Donate to Emergency Relief Fund Attention! Those needing assistance after the recent disasters from Hurricane Beryl and recent weather changes, including severe storms, derecho winds , tornadoes, and flooding events, call the 211 Texas United Way HELPLINE. Texas/United Way 211 provides callers with the most updated information on assistance with utilities, housing or rental assistance, crisis counseling, senior services, food pantries, and more. This is the community’s 24/7 information source during times of disaster. Assistance through 211 can also be accessed through the following methods in the event of long wait times due to periods of heavy call volume: 211texas.org to search resources online or chat online with a specialist. help@unitedwayhouston.org 211 helpline 211 helpline 211 helpline 211 helpline Hurricane Beryl Resources See resources The Texas Division of Emergency Management iSTAT Damage Assessment Connective Connective Needs Assessment Registry Crisis Cleanup Www.crisiscleanup.org Road Conditions Houston Transtar Incident/Traffic Map Cooling Centers Please take a look at the cooling centers available: Cooling Centers Point of Distribution Sites Please take a look at the distribution sites available: Distribution Sites FEMA Individual Assistance (IA) Individuals and business owners who sustained losses to Derecho winds, recent storms and Hurricane Beryl in the seven designated Texas counties, including Harris and Montgomery, can apply for assistance by visiting www.disasterassistance.org , calling 1-800-621-3362 , or using the FEMA App . If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service, or others, give FEMA the number for that service. FEMA Assistance Disaster Distress National Hotline The Disaster Distress Helpline (DDH) is a national hotline that provides disaster crisis counseling. This toll-free, multilingual, crisis support service is available 24/7 to all residents in the U.S. and its territories experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters. DDH Helpline Want to help when a disaster strikes? Volunteer Give Financially