Celebrating 50 Years of Service to Houston Women

Our History

1957

A young woman named Mary Brown seeks assistance from a Houston-area rescue mission for men. Since the agency has no facilities for women—in fact, no such facilities exist in the city—she is referred to Mrs. W. E. Sampson, a local church and community leader. Mrs. Sampson takes Mary Brown into her own home and begins discussions with her friends about establishing a place where women like Mary can heal and rebuild their lives.

Property is rented at 2914 LaBranch, and the Women’s Christian Mission, as The Home is then called, opens its doors to women in need.

1964

The Mission undergoes its first expansion when it purchases a residence in a nearby neighborhood.

1965-75

As the years go by, The Mission continues to expand. Lot by lot, property is purchased to create a residential campus.

1971

A cottage and lot adjacent to the residence is purchased and becomes the first location of the Cottage Thrift Shop.

1976

Work is completed on the current dormitory—a comfortable, home-like facility accommodating 26 women.

1981

A vocational workshop is established to aid clients in gaining employment after graduating from the program.

1989

The Women’s Home purchases a commercial building at 607 Westheimer. The first floor accommodates the Cottage Thrift Shop, with administrative offices and client services located on the second floor.

1993

Barbara’s House is built to provide a home for six additional women.

1999-2000

The Women’s Home begins a capital expansion project aimed at providing the facilities necessary to become a nationally-recognized model for residential rehabilitation. The expansion allows The Home to purchase the last remaining lot on the residential block and complete its campus, which now includes the dormitory, Barbara’s House and three new transitional homes, all centered around The Home’s chapel.

The capital expansion also allows The Home to expand and improve its clinical, vocational and administrative facilities. The Home now owns two commercial buildings on Westheimer Road. The building at 607 Westheimer houses administration, admissions and volunteer services. The second building, at 811 Westheimer, is known as the Life Learning Center and accommodates the clinical and vocational programs, as well as the Cottage Thrift Shop.

2005

The Women’s Home purchases four condominiums, three one-bedroom and one two-bedroom units directly across from the residential campus. This project expands the bed capacity from 50 to 55 and allows The Home to offer a resident a room of her own before she graduates from the program.

2006

The Women’s Home is now preparing for its most innovative and ambitious expansion ever. The addition of an 84-unit apartment complex will allow The Home to offer residents a safe, affordable place to live after they complete the program and will be an invaluable asset to women struggling to reclaim their lives.

This will not, however, be The Women’s Home’s final expansion. Over the past 50 years, The Home has demonstrated its remarkable ability to grow and change to meet the needs of the community. As a result, there is no doubt the next 50 years will be even more exciting than the first.
 

A Need Answered, A Dream Made Real

Throughout its long history, The Women’s Home has provided women in crisis the opportunity to rebuild their lives through its unique long-term residential rehabilitation program. A non-denominational, multi-ethnic, non-profit United Way agency, the Home provides residential care, psychiatric and nurse practitioner treatment, psychotherapy, chemical dependency treatment, vocational training and spiritual development for up to 18 months.

We are located at 607 Westheimer, Houston, TX 77006.