For the first time in Hays County, up to 18 families will have access to a transitional multi-family apartment style complex paired with the vast resources of the Hays Caldwell Womens Center.
After 20 years of planning, the long-time goal of transitional housing is now about a year away. However, a ground- breaking is contingent on raising $800,000 in donations.
“The ultimate goal is to provide access to these services to prevent future trauma of children growing up in abusive homes. They are our target population. We want to provide support for their parent in order to get access to everything they need to provide a safer environment for their child.”
–Melissa Rodriguez,
HCWC director of Community Partnerships
The 22,500 square foot complex will be located behind the HCWC main campus. The majority of the units will be three bedroom units and a limited number will have one or two bedrooms.
Families with young children will be prioritized for transitional housing in an effort to stop the cycle for silent victims, otherwise known as young children in abusive situations said HCWC Director of Community Partnerships Melissa Rodriguez.
“The ultimate goal is to provide access to these services to prevent future trauma of children growing up in abusive homes. They are our target population. We want to provide support for their parent in order to get access to everything they need to provide a safer environment for their child. We are working to give the parent skills to live in the community permanently,” Rodriguez said.
To keep children the focus of the new housing project, the HCWC has joined together with Head Start, a national program that funds education for kids aged 5 years old and younger from low-income families.
Tenants who are accepted will pay 30 percent of their income as rent. Choosing families to live in the limited number of provided beds will depend on individual situations, Rodriguez said. However, deciding what qualifies a family is new territory.
“Transitional housing is new to this organization. We have an idea of how it’s going to work, but that can change. Now, our focus is what does each individual family need and that varies. Some people need a little time or some people need to go back to school or job training, and we can provide the time to get those resources,” Rodriguez said.
Funds for the project are less than a million dollars shy thanks to the generous donations from the community. The city of San Marcos donated $400,000 and Hays County donated $600,000 for a total of a $1 million towards better living for families. The McCoy family donated $1.5 million. Other nonprofit groups, such as Home Aid have helped lighten the load by providing ways to cut costs on furniture and construction.
To learn more about the transitional housing project or how to donate go online to hcwc.org. Rodriguez encourages donors to take a tour of their facility to understand what their donations go towards. Email Rodriguez at [email protected] for more information on how to take a tour or donate.
