Concho Valley Rock Rose Community Campus

08/15/2026

Let us not get lost in the disagreement. There are still people who need help.

The enemy is a reality that allows homelessness to exist in the richest country in the history of the world...

07/22/2026

After careful consideration, CVCAA is pausing development of the proposed Rock Rose Campus at the Gas Plant Road property.
This was not an easy decision. We continue to believe in the need. We continue to believe in the people. And we continue to believe that San Angelo needs more housing and support options for individuals and families experiencing homelessness, housing instability, and economic hardship. Unfortunately, continuing at the current location has become untenable.

Like many community development projects, Rock Rose has gone through a lengthy process that included property negotiations, due diligence, preliminary planning, conversations with partners, and early discussions with local officials. Such conversations yielded positive results and community support. Those activities are a normal part of determining whether a project is feasible and responsible. During that phase, it is neither practical nor appropriate to conduct every conversation in a public forum. Certain discussions, particularly those involving real estate negotiations, contract terms, financing, and preliminary planning, must occur before a project is ready to be formally presented. At the same time, we have worked to be as transparent as possible when information was ready to be shared and decisions were being considered.

The misinformation being shared online has been a large part of this decision to pause the project, but it is not its exclusive driver. I would like to take a moment to answer such feedback. We recognize and respect that community members have questions and concerns. Public discussion is an important part of any project of this size. Unfortunately, much of the conversation surrounding Rock Rose has been shaped by information that lacks context, misrepresents the project, or does not reflect the facts as they have been presented. Throughout this process, we have worked to communicate openly, share accurate information, answer questions honestly, and correct misinformation when it has surfaced. We believe our community is best served when discussions are rooted in facts, even when there are differing opinions about the right path forward. Our commitment has been, and remains, to be transparent, factual, and respectful. We are proud of how we coordinated this effort and stand by what we did to inform the local community and our partners.

Prior to the rezoning process, CVCAA mailed information directly to property owners adjacent to the proposed site, both within the city and in the county. We did so because we felt it was the right thing to do and because we wanted neighbors to hear directly from us rather than through rumors or social media. We were not required to do so, but did so as a courtesy and in good faith. We did not send mailings to non-adjacent county properties because they were not directly neighboring the proposed campus. Of course, while we can provide information, we cannot control whether every recipient reads or engages with it.

As the public debate has intensified, the noise surrounding the project has begun to overshadow the purpose of the project itself. The focus has shifted away from solutions and toward conflict. That is not productive for our community, our partners, or the people we serve. CVCAA’s mission, “CVCAA uplifts and empowers all people in the Concho Valley through service, partnership, and advocacy” is our most sacred tenet and one that we will continue to live by and honor.

As it is, the reality remains unchanged: San Angelo is facing a growing housing and homelessness challenge. These are not abstract issues. They involve real people: veterans, seniors, working families, people with disabilities, individuals recovering from crises, and neighbors who simply need a stable place to rebuild their lives. In short, they are our neighbors.
All people deserve compassion. All deserve dignity. And all deserve thoughtful solutions.

We are not blind to a difficult truth, however. Wherever supportive housing, affordable housing, or services for vulnerable populations are proposed, there will almost always be concerns about location. There is rarely a site that everyone agrees on. There is no magic address where opposition disappears. Communities across Texas and across the nation wrestle with these same challenges.
CVCAA did not enter this process casually. We conducted research. We consulted experts. We engaged partners. We reviewed data. We approached this project with experience, care, and a commitment to doing what is right for our community.

Pausing Rock Rose does not mean walking away from our mission or a vision of a place of belonging for all people who find themselves in need. It means stepping back to evaluate the best path forward. We remain committed to serving low-income households, ALICE families, and individuals experiencing homelessness. That commitment is not changing.
We want to thank everyone who engaged respectfully, asked thoughtful questions, offered feedback, and shared their perspectives throughout this process. We remain committed to listening, learning, and working toward solutions that strengthen our community.
The need has not gone away.
Neither have we.

Sincerely,
Mike Burnett, Executive Director
Staff, and Board of Directors

07/18/2026

We appreciate the ongoing conversation around Rock Rose. A lot of good questions are being asked, and that matters. So let’s take a minute to walk through one of the key areas.

First, and most important: Rock Rose will not be a camping site. That’s not what we’re building. Not now. Not later.

Second, some context. When the State of Texas limited public camping, it created the Homeless Individual Camping (HIC) plan as an option cities could use if they did not have enough emergency shelter space. It was designed as a short-term workaround, not a long-term solution. To be clear, the City of San Angelo is not creating a limited public camping space, neither will Rock Rose.

We are not required to use a HIC plan. This is not city or municipal property. But we are purposefully choosing to use that framework as a starting point because it gives us a clear baseline for safety, coordination, and care.

We are not an emergency shelter. In San Angelo, that role belongs to the Salvation Army. They are the first line of defense for our unhoused neighbors. Rock Rose is something different. It is the next step. Rock Rose offers transitional housing with an intake and vetting process for people who are ready to exit homelessness.

That means a safe place to live, along with services and support that help people move toward permanent housing. And it also means something important about who will live there. The residents at Rock Rose are choosing to be there. They are choosing stability. They are choosing to do the work to move forward.

And a reminder, the transitional housing component of Rock Rose, while having a larger footprint on the Northeast corner of the campus, is a small part of the services offered on the property.

Now here is where the HIC comes in. The HIC focuses on five key areas:
•Local health care
•Indigent services
•Public transportation
•Law enforcement coordination
•Coordination with the local mental health authority

We are building out all five and we are going further. This is not about checking boxes. It is about building a campus that works for its residents and for the community.

We have also heard concerns about security. Some have asked, “If it is safe, why do you need security?” Good security is part of what makes a place safe.

Security here serves two purposes. It protects the people on campus, and it benefits the surrounding community as well. When done right, it creates order, predictability, and accountability. Much like the security existing in other parts of San Angelo, Rock Rose’s security will be a professional, trained team that works in coordination with local law enforcement.

We are planning to improve on the existing outer and inner perimeter fencing, along with a consistent, on-site, professional presence. That creates clear boundaries, supports the dignity and safety of residents, and provides added awareness and security for surrounding neighbors.

Rock Rose is not about emergency response. It is about a path forward for people who are ready to move out of homelessness and into stability. We are building this with care. And we are committed to getting it right.

To support the Rock Rose campus, make a donation here - https://www.cvcaa.org/?give=7XDW2RE8

07/14/2026

There have been some concerns raised about who might be served at Rock Rose. Those concerns are understandable. People care about their neighborhoods, and questions about safety, addiction, or other challenges are important to talk about.

At the same time, it’s worth remembering that crime, addiction, and hardship are not limited to people without housing or our low income neighbors. These are challenges that exist in every part of our community.

Often, the difference comes down to resources. When you have means, you’re more likely to have privacy, access to treatment, and support along the way. When you don’t, those same struggles can be more visible, and sometimes misunderstood.

That’s why the approach matters. The housing component of Rock Rose follows a Housing First model, which starts with stability. It recognizes a simple truth: it’s hard to address anything else if you don’t know where you’re going to sleep at night.

The campus is designed with safety in mind, both inside and out. It provides structure, services, and accountability, while also being intentional about protecting the surrounding community. In cities across the country, this model has been used successfully without increases in crime or negative impacts on property values.

It’s also helpful to remember that people with a wide range of experiences, including addiction and past legal challenges, already live throughout our community. Rock Rose doesn’t introduce something entirely new...it creates a more thoughtful and coordinated way to respond.

At the end of the day, this isn’t about drawing lines between “us” and “them.” It’s about how we care for our community as a whole and how we create real, lasting solutions for people who need a hand.

We can do better. And Rock Rose is a step in that direction.

07/14/2026

It will take all of us to end homelessness.

Winning takes a team. Reducing homelessness does, too. From outreach workers and healthcare providers to business leaders, people with lived experience, local officials, funders, and neighbors, every player has a role in helping people move into homes and stay housed.

🏆 That's how communities win.

07/10/2026

These are some of the people the Rock Rose Campus will help.

07/10/2026

This isn’t about one person giving a lot. It’s about all of us doing what we can.

Together, those small gifts become help and second chances.

That’s how we build Rock Rose.

ONLINE MONTHLY GIVING - https://www.cvcaa.org/?give=7XDW2RE8
ONE TIME GIFT - https://www.cvcaa.org/?give=P7ENX4EG

07/09/2026

Big challenges don’t get solved in pieces—they get solved together.

This is a look at what that could mean for San Angelo.

Not just a campus, but a more coordinated way to care for our neighbors, use our resources wisely, and build something that lasts.

The idea is simple: when we align what we’re already spending with what we know works, we don’t just manage the problem—we start to solve it.

We rise together.

ONLINE MONTHLY GIVING - https://www.cvcaa.org/?give=7XDW2RE8

ONE TIME GIFT - https://www.cvcaa.org/?give=P7ENX4EG

07/08/2026

There’s been a lot of conversation, and some real misinformation, circulating about the Rock Rose Community Campus. Let’s take a moment to clear the air and focus on the facts.

First, this is not a project to bring “10,000 homeless individuals” into one location. That claim confuses the larger regional service area with what is actually being built. In reality, San Angelo has roughly 350 individuals experiencing homelessness at any given time.

The Rock Rose campus is not a mass housing development. It is, first and foremost, a service-centered campus designed to better coordinate care and support for people already living right here in the Concho Valley.

At full scale, the campus will serve 12,000–14,000 people per year through:

Case management
Job training and workforce support
Healthcare and mental health services
Recovery services
Financial coaching
Family support
Veteran services

Right now, those services are scattered. This campus brings them together so people can actually get the help they need and move forward.

There will be supportive housing, but it is limited, structured, and tied directly to services and accountability. At any given time, that would involve around 150–200 individuals, not thousands, and it will scale up gradually over time.

It’s also important to understand the bigger picture:

About 16,000 people in the Concho Valley are living in poverty
Around 43% of households fall into the ALICE category (working families living paycheck to paycheck)

The need is already here. This campus is about responding to reality, not creating a new problem. CVCAA's 2024 Community Needs Assessment confirms the top challenges in Tom Green County:

Affordable housing
Paying rent, utilities, and mortgages
Access to food
Access to healthcare
Lack of emergency shelter

These are everyday challenges for families in our community, and this campus is designed specifically to address them.

Looking ahead, the southern portion of the campus will be developed into mixed-income neighborhoods over time. This is not high-density projects. It’s quality housing at different price points designed to strengthen the community.

Safety also matters. A comprehensive security plan is being developed alongside law enforcement. Campuses like this across the country consistently show low crime and no negative impact on surrounding property values. The goal is simple: be a good neighbor.

For those who may not know, CVCAA has served the Concho Valley for over 60 years. We stepped up during COVID, we stepped up during the July 4th flood, and we continue to lead a coalition of 60+ partner agencies working together to serve this region.

This is not a new mission. It’s the next step.

At the end of the day, this is about improving how we serve people and strengthening our community. The challenges we’re talking about already exist today.

The question is whether we choose to face them together or pretend they’re not there.

Let’s lead with facts, not fear.

MORE INFO - https://cvcaa.org/what_we_do/rock_rose.php
MAKE A DONATION - https://www.cvcaa.org/?give=7XDW2RE8