SAN ANTONIO – As temperatures drop below freezing once again on Tuesday night, those experiencing homelessness are among the most vulnerable.
For one couple, an unexpected encounter with a woman seeking shelter outside their home brought attention to the harsh realities many face.
Mariah Pena and Daniel Vertiz were shocked when, around 3 a.m. Sunday, Pena stepped outside to check for snow and found a woman sleeping in their dog kennel on the porch. The woman was trying to shield herself from the cold.
A doorbell camera captured the moment.
The woman, who appeared startled, immediately apologized, explaining that she had nowhere else to go.
“The desperation in her voice, she wasn’t asking, ‘Please let me stay,’ but rather, ‘This is the best I have right now,’” Pena recalled, adding that the woman seemed to accept that she might have to leave soon.
Although the couple didn’t feel comfortable letting a stranger into their home, where their child sleeps, they couldn’t bring themselves to turn her away.
“We’re blessed with what we have here, so there’s no reason we can’t just let her sleep there,” Vertiz said.
Despite the makeshift shelter in the dog kennel—complete with blankets, a bed sheet, and even a car cover to shield from rain—the couple knew it was better than nothing.
Pena said the woman had tried to make the space as comfortable as possible for her dogs, layering the blankets and covering them with plastic to protect them from the elements on cold nights.
By morning, the woman had left, but Pena and Vertiz expressed willingness to help again should the need arise.
“Who knows what could have happened if she was just out in the streets,” Vertiz said, acknowledging how dangerous the freezing temperatures could be for someone without shelter.
If you see someone experiencing homelessness who might need help or shelter, contact the homeless hotline at 210-207-1799.
