When poverty and crisis strike, they don’t take the weekend off, and they certainly don’t end at 5:00 PM.
Last September, our Founder and President, Dr. Esther Miranda, took the stage at the Carver Kemp Center to address the realities facing our community. As we look back on that town hall, the message remains just as urgent today: Sweet Oak Collaborative exists to connect the dots. We aren’t here to duplicate the incredible work already being done by other agencies; we are here to fill the critical gaps in our local social services and ensure no one falls through the cracks.
If you weren’t able to join us in person, you can watch the full video of Esther’s presentation here. (A longer presentation had to be condensed into a fast paced shorter sharing due to time constrains.)
Here is a look back at the core issues we discussed and where we are focusing our efforts.
Companioning, Not Just Band-Aids
Handing someone a phone number or a form they have no way to print isn’t enough. At Sweet Oak, we believe in offering a “hand up” rather than a handout. We focus on companioning our neighbors through four vital stages: From Crisis to Stabilization, Self-Sufficiency, and ultimately, Success.
To do this effectively, we have to break down the silos between organizations. That’s why we launched our monthly Collaborative Case Management meetings. If federal funding can cover a neighbor’s utility bill but legally cannot pay the reconnect fee, our agencies talk to each other to cover that gap together.
The Big Three Needs in Bryan/College Station
After two years of close study and boots-on-the-ground experience, we’ve identified the top three driving needs in our area:
- Housing
- Food
- Transportation
Tackling the Housing Crisis
Housing remains our most urgent front. Whether it was the sudden displacement of over 600 people at Southgate Village due to daily water supply cuts in addition to utility loss triggered by a gas leak, or the 19 families forced to move after a local RV park closure, traditional systems often move too slowly for acute crises.
- Emergency Shelter: For victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, an eviction, or single parents sleeping in their cars, we negotiated a contract to secure hotel rooms for just $30 a night. While this daily rate has since risen, and a hotel room only fills an immediate, desperate gap, we are reminded that Bryan/College Station still desperately needs a dedicated 100-bed facility.
- Transitional Housing: Thanks to a generous supporter, we operate a transitional housing program utilizing four 2-bedroom apartments. Working families (even those with past evictions or poor rental histories) can stay for up to six months. During that time, Sweet Oak provides active case management to help them stabilize, learn to manage bills, and build a positive rental record, while helping them enter their own rental apartment.
Stepping Up When It Counts
Agility is our greatest strength. When traditional charity lists closed for the holidays, Sweet Oak stepped in to provide toys and clothes for 150–200 children. When kids at two local campuses were facing a week without school meals, we coordinated with Project Hope to pack and deliver Spring Break Backpacks in under 24 hours.
Your Role in the Collaborative
Esther left the room with three directives that still guide us today:
- Become aware: Learn about the realities of those struggling right here in our own neighborhoods.
- Acknowledge what is: We cannot fix a problem we pretend doesn’t exist.
- Act: Everyone has a role to play.
Whether it is through funding, volunteering, or simply picking up the phone to make a connection, we need you. Watch the full town hall presentation to learn more and reach out to see how you can get involved today.