KRISTYN STILLWELL
Kristyn Stillwell is the Executive Director of HOPE Haven. Kristyn spent her corporate years working in the computer science field and then went on to direct sales and marketing jobs for many years. She has been working with the homeless as a volunteer for over 20 years. The last 6 years she has been building outreach ministries around Northwest Houston. These ministries have grown to over 1000 volunteers a year and feed over 2000 meals a year. Her passion is to educate the community on homelessness and inspire others to want to “Be the Change” they wish to see in the world.
DAVE CHAVEZ
Dave Chavez served in the United States Navy for five and half years before pursuing his calling into ministry. He attended the College of Biblical Studies where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Leadership. Dave has served in ministry as a Student and Missions Pastor along with other various ministry positions over the past 20 years. Dave’s connection with Hope Haven goes back to 2010 where he, along with Kristyn Stillwell and Damon Mendel co-directed 249 & Hope which ministers to the homeless in Northwest Houston.
DIANNA DEAN
Dianna was born and raised in Houston, Texas. She is has been married for 12 years and has 5 beautiful children. Dianna has worked in the insurance industry for over 8 years, but always felt called for something more. Her and her family are active members of Champion First Baptist Church. Her and her husband have a huge passion for helping the homeless in our area. She loves Chick-Fil-A and traveling whenever she can.
GARRETT DOMINGUE
Full bio coming soon!
Paul Kidney
Full bio coming soon!
SPENCER LITTLEJOHN
Spencer Littlejohn has been called to serve as the Mentor Chaplain for H.O.P.E. Haven. He accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior at an early age and was baptized at Champion Forest Baptist Church by his grandfather, Rev. Wallace Cobb. He graduated from Texas A&M University in 2007 and received a Masters of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2014. He also serves as a chaplain in the Texas Army National Guard. He has been happily married to his wonderful wife, Meagan, since 2012.
SHANE HAWTHORNE
After Shane’s discharge from the military he began to become overwhelmed with normal life due to the effects of his P.T.S.D. and became hyper-vigilant, depressed, angry and paranoid. Shane also began to self-medicate and spent from 2013-2016 in and out of homeless shelters mixed with angry outburst and total isolation and chaos. Within this time period he had come to full blown drug addiction and alcoholism, as well as, passed secondary P.T.S.D. to his spouse and children. Shane’s world had come to a screeching halt on April 24, 2016 when he landed in the Harris County Jail system and his wife in the Santa Maria Bonita House due to self-sabotage. Shane spent the next 3 months in the Stars and Stripes Program(Veteran Program/Harris County Judicial System) and within that time frame he had surrendered to His higher power, which some call, GOD. Upon release of Harris County Jail Shane then began his Godspeed journey in the program provided and God sent to him, which is known as, The P.T.S.D. Foundation of America-Camp Hope. Shane has now been at Camp Hope a total of 3 years and has walked with God with an open heart and an open mind. During his walk at Camp Hope he learned Love, Peace, Self-Control, Kindness, Gentleness and Faith. He has become a Mentor and received the blessing of helping other Combat Veterans gain a sense of purpose and a chance to rebuild and save their lives. Shane also gets to give knowledge on many subjects that are taught at Camp Hope that helped him gain self-worth and confidence in which are the following: P.T.S.D. Education, Conflict Resolution, Working your Program, Devotionals, Bible Study, AA, NA, Anger Management and many more. The most important thing that Shane learned at Camp Hope is that God, Sobriety, Family, MH Support(Refuge) and support from Bridge People(Godly Men)are vital to his recovery. God and Camp Hope has saved his family’s hearts, minds, bodies and souls and rejoined them in a journey in life that is fulfilled with peace, love, forgiveness, humility, humbleness and serenity.
DAMON MENDEL
Damon Mendel was born and raised in Houston Texas. He served 14 years in the United States Marine Corps. Upon return from Operation Iraqi Freedom II, he and his family became homeless due to addiction. After living in a tent and weekly motels for almost 18 months Damon was completely hopeless without a will to live. Just at the moment when he was completely empty, God sent someone for him. A woman from a street ministry approached Damon and asked if she could pray for him. At that moment he realized that God was pursuing him. Damon submitted his heart to God and Jesus began to turn his life around. In 2010 Damon’s family and three other families started a homeless feeding ministry on the weekends in their community called 249&Hope. In January 2020 Damon began working full time with Hope Haven doing street outreach as a Hope Navigator. Using Hope Haven’s proven strategy, along with his own personal experiences to aid in guiding the homeless back into a life of self-sufficiency.