PCHAS Celebrates Groundbreaking at Annual Back-To-School BBQ

More children and young adults at risk of being homeless will have a safe place to live when Presbyterian Children’s Homes and Services (PCHAS) renovates its campus near the San Antonio Medical Center.

The nonprofit agency broke ground Saturday, August 10 in conjunction with its annual Back-to-School BBQ and school supply drive. While the current campus includes homes for both young adults and single-parent families, the agency is building 16 new duplexes to give more single-parent families a safe place to develop self-sufficiency and hone their financial and parenting skills. A new apartment complex will also be built for young adults leaving the foster care system and making the transition to independence. Plans include two playgrounds, a basketball court and an open-air pavilion as well as an office and maintenance workshop.

Peter Crouch, senior vice president of PCHAS, says that the agency has a wait list for single-parent homes and expects to house 16 families. “We keep families together while parents work on becoming self-sufficient,” he explains. “They can stay 12 to 18 months and we work with them on budgeting, parenting skills and life skills. We also help teens and young adults make that difficult transition to independence when they don’t have the safety net of a permanent family. Our aim is to break cycles of abuse and neglect.”

PCHAS began as an orphanage in 1903 and has grown to dozens of sites. It has operated at this location since 1991. All of the agency’s programs provide care and support to children and families in need, at no charge, regardless of religion. A capital campaign has already raised three-fourths of the funds for the renovation of the campus.

Watch the story about our BBQ and groundbreaking that aired on KENS5 on 8/10/19.