ODESSA, Texas — In West Texas, the oil industry drives much of the economy, but it’s also a region where homelessness continues to grow despite economic stability.
President and CEO of Hope for the Homeless, Pastor Doug Herget, described West Texas as "very interesting, especially Odessa, because of the oil field. The economy goes up, and the economy goes down. Right now, we’re in pretty good shape with our economy. You would think that homelessness and care would be down, but that’s not the case. It just seems like the more we do, the more that there is to do. So, we just keep working.”
For the past 25 years, Hope for the Homeless has been meeting that growing need with monthly events that provide essential services and a sense of community to hundreds of men, women, and children.
The event is perhaps best known for its free haircuts.
“They’ll come and volunteer their time, and we’ll do between 40 and 50 haircuts a day when we do this,” Herget said. “And of course, it’s all free. A cheap haircut costs you 20 bucks nowadays—it might as well be 200 because they can’t afford it. So, they’ll come and get their haircut, and that’s a real nice thing for them, especially around the holidays.”
But Hope for the Homeless offers much more than haircuts. Guests can enjoy a hot homemade meal, pick up hygiene products, and even get help filling out applications for assistance programs. Volunteers also distribute blessing bags containing items tailored to meet specific needs.
Carissa Pierce, founder and president of My Father's House in Odessa, shared how listening to attendees has helped improve the contents of the blessing bags over time.
“We actually just turned our sweet item into a fruit item, and now that’s their favorite item in the bag. That was only able to happen through events like this. We were able to meet new people, and they were able to give their input,” Pierce said.
The program began 25 years ago with just seven men. Today, it serves more than 200 people at each event.
“We just want people to know that they’re loved,” Herget said. “There are resources available, and if you learn how to navigate the system, you can get the help you need.”
Hope for the Homeless is held on the first Monday of every month at the American Legion in Odessa.
For attendees, the event provides not only tangible support but also a reminder that there is hope.