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rental sector , our rates are set well below market standards . While there is a charge for our new homes , we work closely with other programs to aid in lowering the cost .
“ By collaborating with other organizations , we can do so much more than we can as an individual group ,” she suggests . “ One of our longstanding partnerships is with the Housing Authority , for instance , and we ’ re currently closing out a joint project to fully remodel eight-unit apartments specifically set aside for homeless veterans .”
Strategic partnerships
Carlos adds : “ Most people hear about our work through word of mouth . Many people are not used to seeing contractors in their small communities , so they approach us to learn more about what we are doing . Once they learn more , they might apply for support themselves or recommend us to others , and in this way , we ’ re promoting our services just by engaging with the communities in which we operate .”
To try and get ahead of the curve in terms of future generations of homelessness , Galilee is creating housing specifically designed for young adults . “ We ’ ve recently purchased an eight-unit apartment building , which will be fully refurbished for a target audience of young adults between the ages of 18 and 30 ,” Stephanie reveals .
“ We find that homelessness often has a ripple effect on multiple generations and we ’ re striving to end this cycle . With the category of 18-to-30-year-olds leaving school or the foster care system , these individuals are susceptible to homelessness or ‘ couch surfing ’, but by thinking upstream , we can provide good quality , affordable apartments to combat these potential issues . We ’ re thinking further than the current generation , working to both revitalize and stabilize communities not just for today , but for ten years down the line .”
With this in mind , Carlos turns the conversation to the future of Galilee . “ It goes without saying that our goal is to continue providing more housing ,” he states . “ Specifically , we want to get ahead of the curve by building more housing for young adults . However , land is in demand , meaning we must be creative about building methods and techniques by reusing existing buildings rather than constructing new homes .”
Stephanie concludes : “ San Angelo currently does not have an operational homeless shelter , so we ’ d love to be part of building a new center . We ’ ll continue to identify strategic partnerships with other local organizations and perhaps educating or inspiring other nonprofits to establish similar unique schemes in our community and beyond .” ■
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