Founded in 1985 by Incarnate Word Sisters Sr. Neomi Hayes and Sr. Yolanda Tarango, Visitation House Ministries – now Visitation Ministries (VM) – began as a shelter for economically vulnerable women and children in San Antonio. Over time, the Sisters discerned that temporary housing alone could not address the root causes of poverty. In 1993, VHM transitioned into a Supportive Housing and Education Model, integrating academic expectations, structured programming, and a two-generation approach that strengthened both mothers and their children.
For nearly four decades, VM supported women pursuing education as a pathway out of generational poverty. Following financial strain during and after the pandemic, and after the Sisters transitioned out of residence, VM sold its residential property in 2022 and formally stepped away from housing services. The ministry entered a period of strategic discernment to determine how best to advance its mission in today’s higher education landscape.
