Star of Hope Mission Adopts Hanwha Vision Cameras to Secure Facilities for Unhoused Men, Women, and Children

“To my knowledge, there is nothing else on the market that compares with Wisenet WAVE. It is incredible how easy it is to use and just amazing how much it helps us with both active monitoring and finding the recorded video.”

– Ike Kimmel, Director of Facilities Development, Star of Hope Mission

♦ Challenge

Star of Hope Mission serves Houston’s homeless men, women, and children with help for their immediate crisis needs and with longer-term recovery programs. To help address growing needs, the Star of Hope runs two centers: the Doris and Carloss Morris Men’s Development Center, a 70,000 square foot facility that can house 300-350 men, and the recently completed Women and Family Development Center, a seven-building campus that can house up to 160 single women and 130 families.

Star of Hope had to install a security system at the Women and Family Development Center that would allow them to provide a safe environment. Given the campus’ layout, they faced several design challenges. Director of Facilities Development, Ike Kimmel explains, “We had to make sure that we had coverage inside the buildings and the fence and outside on the surrounding perimeter area.”

♦ Solution

After reviewing options from a variety of manufacturers, Star of Hope selected Hanwha Vision cameras and later adopted Wisenet WAVE as its video management system (VMS).

Star of Hope selected Wisenet S, X, and P series Hanwha Vision cameras for its video surveillance system. In part, the decision about which cameras to purchase was based on the level of detail required for different locations. In particular, Star of Hope needed higher levels of detail for outside locations and lower levels for interior spaces.

In total, Star of Hope installed 262 cameras, using 12 MP cameras on the perimeter, 4 MP cameras in courtyards, and 2 MP cameras inside buildings. P series 12 MP 360° fisheye cameras were installed in classrooms. These cameras are not actively monitored, but Kimmel wanted to ensure that there were no blind spots in any buildings.

♦ Result

The Center has a Security Command Room with a video wall that features nine 40-inch screens that are monitored 24-7. Kimmel has a screen in his office that he uses for forensic investigations. Wisenet WAVE enables the Command Room to display maps and graphics that provide a virtual tour of the campus and camera locations.

Kimmel is impressed with the VMS, saying “To my knowledge, there is nothing else on the market that compares with Wisenet WAVE. It is incredible how easy it is to use and just amazing how much it helps us with both active monitoring and finding the recorded video.” In a recent case of theft, Star of Hope was able to find and share video footage with local law enforcement to support the investigation and prosecution of the crime.

Security at the Center also relies heavily on recorded video for forensic investigations. High resolution video footage requires large amounts of storage, since the standard retention rate at the Center is 30 days. To reduce bandwidth and storage requirements, the Center uses H.265 and Wisestream II compression technology.