Downtown Womens Center

MISSION TO PROVIDE HOUSING AND SERVICES TO OVERCOME HOMELESSNESS AND ADDICTION VISION A COMMUNITY WHERE A PATHWAY TOWARD SELF-SUFFICIENCY EXISTS FOR WOMEN, CHILDREN AND FAMILIES VALUES DWC IS FAITHFUL TO OUR MISSION BY PROVIDING A CONTINUUM OF CARE FOR HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS AND HOMELESS WOMEN IN RECOVERY FROM ALCOHOL AND DRUG ADDICTION. WE ACCOMPLISH OUR PURPOSE THROUGH STRONG SUPPORT AND COLLABORATIONS WITH THOSE WHO SHARE OUR VISION. WE PROVIDE A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT BASED ON INCLUSIVENESS AND UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. WE TREAT EVERY INDIVIDUAL WITH RESPECT AND DIGNITY. WE HAVE HIGH ETHICAL PRINCIPLES, CREATING AN ATMOSPHERE OF INTEGRITY AND TRUST. WE RECOGNIZE THE POWER OF FAITH TO PROVIDE STRENGTH AND DIRECTION IN OUR DAILY LIVES AND IN THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE WE SERVE. WE ARE THANKFUL FOR THE MANY GIFTS THAT ARE SHARED WITH US, AND ARE COMMITTED TO BEING GOOD STEWARDS OF OUR RESOURCES.

DOWNTOWN WOMEN'S CENTER PROVIDES HOUSING AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR WOMEN SEEKING ADDICTION RECOVERY AND THEIR CHILDREN. DWC HAS THREE ADDICTIONS RECOVERY SHELTERS, THREE RETAIL THRIFT STORES, AND OPERATES THE MERIDIAN APARTMENTS FOR LOW AND MODERATE INCOME MEN AND WOMEN, INCLUDING THE ELDERLY AND DISABLED. ABBA HOUSE ABBA HOUSE HAS TEN EFFICIENCY APARTMENTS AND IS THE ENTRY POINT FOR WOMEN IN THEIR LAST MONTHS OF PREGNANCY AND THOSE WITH CHILDREN. WOMEN WITH YOUNG CHILDREN COME TO DWC FROM THE STREETS AND ARE REFERRED BY DWC'S HAVEN HOUSE OR OTHER AMARILLO SHELTERS, DRUG COURT, ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES, OR INDIVIDUALS. ABBA HOUSE REFERRALS FROM HAVEN HOUSE ARE REUNITING WITH THEIR CHILDREN, AND WOMEN OFTEN NEED SUPERVISION AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS REUNIFICATION. OTHER RESIDENTS COMING TO ABBA HOUSE ARE NEW IN RECOVERY WITH NOWHERE TO PLACE THEIR CHILDREN.

GRATITUDE HOUSE OPENED IN 2016, GRATITUDE HOUSE IS A FORTY-UNIT APARTMENT COMPLEX LOCATED AT 11TH AND JACKSON STREETS IN DOWNTOWN AMARILLO AND SERVES WOMEN IN THE SECOND PHASE OF THE DWC RECOVERY PROGRAM. AS WITH HAVEN HOUSE AND ABBA HOUSE, GRATITUDE APARTMENTS ARE STAFFED 24/7. THE APARTMENT COMPLEX IS ACROSS THE PARKING LOT FROM OPPORTUNITY SCHOOL, WHICH PROVIDES HIGH UALITY, EARLY EDUCATION LEARNING AND CARE FOR PRESCHOOL FOR CHILDREN AGES 3-5. OPPORTUNITY SCHOOL ALSO OFFERS ON-SITE CHILDCARE FOR NEWBORN TO THREE YEARS OLD.

HAVEN HOUSE HAVEN HOUSE IS THE ENTRY POINT FOR TWENTY WOMEN WITHOUT CHILDREN OR PREGNANT, AS IT IS A DORMITORY-STYLE RESIDENCE. THE FIRST PHASE IS A RIGOROUSLY STRUCTURED PROGRAM THAT FOCUSES TOTALLY ON BECOMING AND STAYING CLEAN AND SOBER.

EXEMPT ACHIEVEMENT TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM AFTER GRADUATING FROM DWC'S RECOVERY PROGRAM, WOMEN WITH AND WITHOUT CHILDREN MAY ENTER DWC'S TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM AND CONTINUE LIVING IN THE SAME APARTMENT AT GRATITUDE HOUSE WHILE RECEIVING SERVICES AND PURSUING A HIGHER EDUCATION. MERIDIAN APARTMENTS THIS 35-UNIT APARTMENT COMPLEX PROVIDES QUALITY, AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS. MERIDIAN APARTMENTS IS A POSITIVE LIVING ENVIRONMENT FOR MANY ELDERLY, DISABLED, MENTALLY-CHALLENGED, AND SINGLE ADULTS. FOR FYE 2021, MERIDIAN APARTMENTS HOUSED 35 INDIVIDUALS. RETAIL STORES DWC OPERATES THREE RETAIL THRIFT STORES. DWC RECEIVES ABOUT 140,000 IN NET PROFIT ANNUALLY FROM THE RETAIL STORES. IN ADDITION, DWC MADE 2,342 DONATIONS PICKUPS IN FYE 2021. THE STORES HAVE THREE PURPOSES: TO PROVIDE JOBS FOR HOMELESS WOMEN IN OUR RECOVERY PROGRAM AND OTHERS WHO ARE DEEMED 'UNEMPLOYABLE,' TO ENABLE DWC TO TITHE OUT OF IN-KIND DONATIONS TO THOSE IN NEED, AND TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAMS AND ADMINISTRATION OF DWC. THE RETAIL STORES WORK CLOSELY WITH OVER EIGHTY AMARILLO AREA SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES, SCHOOLS, AND CHURCHES BY DONATING CLOTHING, HOUSEHOLD ITEMS, FURNITURE, AND APPLIANCES TO THOSE IN NEED. DENTAL CARE DENTAL NEEDS AMONG THE HOMELESS ARE GREAT. DENTAL ISSUES CAN INTERFERE WITH REGULAR ATTENDANCE AND PERFORMANCE AT WORK OR SCHOOL. HOMELESS CHILDREN, WHO EXPERIENCE HIGHER LEVELS OF DENTAL DISEASE THAN OTHER CHILDREN, OFTEN DO POORLY IN SCHOOL. THANKS TO SEVERAL LOCAL DENTISTS, EMERGENCY DENTAL CARE IS PROVIDED TO PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS AND LIVING IN ONE OF AMARILLO'S HOMELESS SHELTERS. MERCHANDISE CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO REQUIRE MERCHANDISE FROM OUR RETAIL STORES, DWC RECEIVES A LETTER FROM ANY CHURCH OR SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCYS LETTERHEAD LISTING THE ITEMS REQUESTED. A DWC CASE MANAGER ENSURES THAT NEEDS ARE MET AND MAKES OTHER REFERRALS ASNEEDED. FOR FYE 2021, THE STORES HELPED 1,068 PEOPLE THROUGH THIS VOUCHER PROGRAM. SERVICE TO COMMUNITY A SPECIAL EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FUND IS UTILIZED TO MEET SOME OF THE NEEDS FOR THE APPROXIMATELY 20 TO 30 PEOPLE EACH MONTH WHO CALL OR COME IN TO ASK FOR HELP; PEOPLE WHO DO NOT 'FIT' THE REQUIREMENTS OF ANY OTHER AVAILABLE SOCIAL SERVICE ASSISTANCE. THE EMERGENCY NEEDS INCLUDE FOOD, HYGIENE PRODUCTS,RENTAL ASSISTANCE, UTILITY ASSISTANCE, BUS TICKETS, GASOLINE, ETC. IN ADDITION, DWC WORKS THROUGH THE HOMELESS MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM (HMIS) WITH OTHER NON-PROFITS AND AGENCIES IN THE COMMUNITY TO GUARD AGAINST DUPLICATION OF ASSISTANCE. IN FYE 2021, DWC HELPED 220 PEOPLE WITH EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE.

DOWNTOWN WOMEN'S CENTER PROVIDES HOUSING AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR WOMEN SEEKING ADDICTION RECOVERY AND THEIR CHILDREN. DWC HAS THREE ADDICTIONS RECOVERY SHELTERS, THREE RETAIL THRIFT STORES, AND OPERATES THE MERIDIAN APARTMENTS FOR LOW AND MODERATE INCOME MEN AND WOMEN, INCLUDING THE ELDERLY AND DISABLED. ABBA HOUSE ABBA HOUSE HAS TEN EFFICIENCY APARTMENTS AND IS THE ENTRY POINT FOR WOMEN IN THEIR LAST MONTHS OF PREGNANCY AND THOSE WITH CHILDREN. WOMEN WITH YOUNG CHILDREN COME TO DWC FROM THE STREETS AND ARE REFERRED BY DWC'S HAVEN HOUSE OR OTHER AMARILLO SHELTERS, DRUG COURT, ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES, OR INDIVIDUALS. ABBA HOUSE REFERRALS FROM HAVEN HOUSE ARE REUNITING WITH THEIR CHILDREN, AND WOMEN OFTEN NEED SUPERVISION AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS REUNIFICATION. OTHER RESIDENTS COMING TO ABBA HOUSE ARE NEW IN RECOVERY WITH NOWHERE TO PLACE THEIR CHILDREN.

GRATITUDE HOUSE OPENED IN 2016, GRATITUDE HOUSE IS A FORTY-UNIT APARTMENT COMPLEX LOCATED AT 11TH AND JACKSON STREETS IN DOWNTOWN AMARILLO AND SERVES WOMEN IN THE SECOND PHASE OF THE DWC RECOVERY PROGRAM. AS WITH HAVEN HOUSE AND ABBA HOUSE, GRATITUDE APARTMENTS ARE STAFFED 24/7. THE APARTMENT COMPLEX IS ACROSS THE PARKING LOT FROM OPPORTUNITY SCHOOL, WHICH PROVIDES HIGH UALITY, EARLY EDUCATION LEARNING AND CARE FOR PRESCHOOL FOR CHILDREN AGES 3-5. OPPORTUNITY SCHOOL ALSO OFFERS ON-SITE CHILDCARE FOR NEWBORN TO THREE YEARS OLD.

HAVEN HOUSE HAVEN HOUSE IS THE ENTRY POINT FOR TWENTY WOMEN WITHOUT CHILDREN OR PREGNANT, AS IT IS A DORMITORY-STYLE RESIDENCE. THE FIRST PHASE IS A RIGOROUSLY STRUCTURED PROGRAM THAT FOCUSES TOTALLY ON BECOMING AND STAYING CLEAN AND SOBER.

EXEMPT ACHIEVEMENT TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM AFTER GRADUATING FROM DWC'S RECOVERY PROGRAM, WOMEN WITH AND WITHOUT CHILDREN MAY ENTER DWC'S TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM AND CONTINUE LIVING IN THE SAME APARTMENT AT GRATITUDE HOUSE WHILE RECEIVING SERVICES AND PURSUING A HIGHER EDUCATION. MERIDIAN APARTMENTS THIS 35-UNIT APARTMENT COMPLEX PROVIDES QUALITY, AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS. MERIDIAN APARTMENTS IS A POSITIVE LIVING ENVIRONMENT FOR MANY ELDERLY, DISABLED, MENTALLY-CHALLENGED, AND SINGLE ADULTS. FOR FYE 2021, MERIDIAN APARTMENTS HOUSED 35 INDIVIDUALS. RETAIL STORES DWC OPERATES THREE RETAIL THRIFT STORES. DWC RECEIVES ABOUT 140,000 IN NET PROFIT ANNUALLY FROM THE RETAIL STORES. IN ADDITION, DWC MADE 2,342 DONATIONS PICKUPS IN FYE 2021. THE STORES HAVE THREE PURPOSES: TO PROVIDE JOBS FOR HOMELESS WOMEN IN OUR RECOVERY PROGRAM AND OTHERS WHO ARE DEEMED 'UNEMPLOYABLE,' TO ENABLE DWC TO TITHE OUT OF IN-KIND DONATIONS TO THOSE IN NEED, AND TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAMS AND ADMINISTRATION OF DWC. THE RETAIL STORES WORK CLOSELY WITH OVER EIGHTY AMARILLO AREA SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES, SCHOOLS, AND CHURCHES BY DONATING CLOTHING, HOUSEHOLD ITEMS, FURNITURE, AND APPLIANCES TO THOSE IN NEED. DENTAL CARE DENTAL NEEDS AMONG THE HOMELESS ARE GREAT. DENTAL ISSUES CAN INTERFERE WITH REGULAR ATTENDANCE AND PERFORMANCE AT WORK OR SCHOOL. HOMELESS CHILDREN, WHO EXPERIENCE HIGHER LEVELS OF DENTAL DISEASE THAN OTHER CHILDREN, OFTEN DO POORLY IN SCHOOL. THANKS TO SEVERAL LOCAL DENTISTS, EMERGENCY DENTAL CARE IS PROVIDED TO PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS AND LIVING IN ONE OF AMARILLO'S HOMELESS SHELTERS. MERCHANDISE CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO REQUIRE MERCHANDISE FROM OUR RETAIL STORES, DWC RECEIVES A LETTER FROM ANY CHURCH OR SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCYS LETTERHEAD LISTING THE ITEMS REQUESTED. A DWC CASE MANAGER ENSURES THAT NEEDS ARE MET AND MAKES OTHER REFERRALS ASNEEDED. FOR FYE 2021, THE STORES HELPED 1,068 PEOPLE THROUGH THIS VOUCHER PROGRAM. SERVICE TO COMMUNITY A SPECIAL EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FUND IS UTILIZED TO MEET SOME OF THE NEEDS FOR THE APPROXIMATELY 20 TO 30 PEOPLE EACH MONTH WHO CALL OR COME IN TO ASK FOR HELP; PEOPLE WHO DO NOT 'FIT' THE REQUIREMENTS OF ANY OTHER AVAILABLE SOCIAL SERVICE ASSISTANCE. THE EMERGENCY NEEDS INCLUDE FOOD, HYGIENE PRODUCTS,RENTAL ASSISTANCE, UTILITY ASSISTANCE, BUS TICKETS, GASOLINE, ETC. IN ADDITION, DWC WORKS THROUGH THE HOMELESS MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM (HMIS) WITH OTHER NON-PROFITS AND AGENCIES IN THE COMMUNITY TO GUARD AGAINST DUPLICATION OF ASSISTANCE. IN FYE 2021, DWC HELPED 220 PEOPLE WITH EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE.