Northwest Assistance Ministries

Stated Purpose:

The mission of Northwest Assistance Ministries is to strive to meet basic human needs through Neighbors helping Neighbors.

Year, State Incorporated:
1983, TX

Northwest Assistance Ministries (NAM) provides a comprehensive array of social services aimed at leading people to independence. NAM provides assistance in areas including food, shelter, health, education, safety and financial education.

NAM’s Neighbors Helping Neighbors service model includes the following programs: Emergency Basic Needs, the Joanne Watford Nutrition Center, Meals on Wheels, the Family Violence Center, the Pediatric Health Center, the Learning Center, Housing Services, Young at Heart Senior Center and the Interfaith Homeless Network program. Neighbors seeking services at NAM often receive more than one service and participate in more than one program.

During its last Fiscal Year (October 1, 2018 - September 30, 2019) NAM touched the lives of more than 130,000 people through its many programs and services.  The Emergency Basic Needs provided assistance to 16,569 individuals with 13,329 specific services which included food, homelessness prevention, clothing, transportation, prescription medicines, and referrals.  The Back to School Project provided 1,785 children with school supplies, allowing the students to return to school ready to learn.  The 2018 Holiday Project provided 1,972 children with holiday toys.

The Joanne Watford Nutrition Center (JWNC), a client choice pantry that allows individuals to shop for food based on their family size and needs, provided food for 15,953 individuals resulting in 22,103 service units. As part of the Senior Food Program, 129 low income seniors received monthly supplemental groceries.  In 2018, more than 800 families received Thanksgiving meals and 1,000 received Holiday meals.  

Meals on Wheels (MOW) provided 197,547 hot nutritious meals to 1,177 homebound seniors and disabled individuals.  In addition, 100 individuals received Saturday frozen meals and monthly grocery deliveries to increase their food budgets. As prescribed by their physicians, 40 seniors received weekly nutritional supplements. 

The Family Violence Center (FVC) provided assistance to 422 individuals resulting in 4,970 visits and 64,688 ancillary services such as crisis intervention, shelter referrals, and legal advocacy in addition to traditional case management services.   A highlight for FVC is the 3,322 safety plans that were developed for clients needing safety from their batterers. The FVC Hotline received  5,954 calls. Another 5,959 community members participated in teen education presentations or awareness events.  The FVC also successfully completed a pilot housing program which provides safe housing for 72 families fleeing domestic violence. 

The Pediatric Health Center treated 2,631 individual children resulting in 8,499 patient visits, 2,799 case management services and 33,154 ancillary services including information, referrals, and follow-up. Through our collaborative partnership with Christus Healthy Living, NAM provided 109 children with 355 vaccines and 146 adults received basic health screenings.  With NAM’s community partnerships with Prevent Blindness Texas, Community Health Choice,  and Walgreens, NAM assisted 1,404 individuals to receive ancillary services such as eye exams, applications for insurance and adult flu vaccines.

The Learning Center* provided 210 adults with financial literacy classes, with 89 of those attending financial coaching. 243 students attended GED classes. NAM’s THRIVE program provided 86 vocational scholarships, with 70 of them obtaining jobs. Career fairs were well-attended with 453 attendees. The adult education class participation and Workforce Connectors Programs were at an all-time high with 489 individual attendees and 1,132 clients respectively

Housing Services provided 234 individuals with 3,329 case manager services such as housing search and placement, housing stability, and other supportive services. At any given time throughout the year, the Housing Department provides homes for 75 families each month. 

Young at Heart Senior Center, formally known as 50+, served 397 senior individuals who participated in 8,449 senior services such as physical fitness, dance, general well-being classes and community field trips. The 60+ Café congregate meal program provided 2,582 rides to the center and served 6,913 meals.

The Interfaith Homeless Network provided assistance to 164 individuals, with 14 being navigated into stable housing.  In addition, 200 referrals for services (move-in kits, cleaning supplies, street kits, etc.), were given via congregations. 

NAM provided Disaster Relief assistance to 1,472 individuals with 7,148 individualized services including mortgage assistance, furniture, appliances and home repairs.  Since the wake of Harvey in 2017, NAM has provided services to more than 15,000 individuals, impacting over 5,000 unduplicated households. NAM’s disaster relief work resulted in local, state and national recognition.  NAM’s work was highlighted by the Greater Houston Community Foundation as a best practice for collaborations and our efforts to address the needs of Rosewood Mobile Home Community.  Our work with the Rosewood community resulted in replacing 7 mobile homes and repairing 25 mobile homes.

For the year ended September 30, 2023, Northwest Assistance Ministries's program expenses were:

Chief Executive
Les Cave, President/CEO

Compensation*
$164,799

Chair of the Board
Dr. Nicole Twine, VP & Chief Nursing Officer

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Houston Methodist Hospital

Board Size
17

Paid Staff Size
83

* Compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts and other allowances.

Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Invitations to fund raising events, Grant proposals, Planned giving arrangements, Other

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

The following information is based on Northwest Assistance Ministries's audited financial statements - consolidated for the year ended September 30, 2023.

Source of Funds

Programs: 81% Fundraising: 8% Administrative: 11%