Elise commentary: Downtown Women’s Center – A lightvessel of hope and healing

Editor's note: This is the first part in a series of Andrea Elise's guest columns about the Downtown Women's Center. Look for the next part next week in Sunday's Opinion section of the Globe-News print and e-editions and online at amarillo.com .

When I heard a beautiful young woman with Ehler Danlos syndrome comment, “I will dance until I’m dancing with my eyes,” I immediately thought of the Downtown Women’s Center (DWC).

Ehler Danlos syndrome, I learned, is a group of inherited disorders that affect one’s connective tissues — primarily skin, joints and blood vessel walls. People with this syndrome have an increased risk of stroke and damaging vascular issues.

So, what does this illness have to do with the DWC? We can begin by learning the non-profit’s mission statement: “to provide housing and services to overcome homelessness and addiction.” Then, picture their vision statement: “…a community where there is a pathway toward self-sufficiency for women, children and families.”

The DWC has been providing services to propel that vision and mission into reality for 35 years. In that span of time, they have served over 41,000 individuals.

From housing to community, from healthcare and a comprehensive drug and alcohol rehabilitation program, DWC follows a clear path, knowing that recovery is not a linear process and that accountability is necessary for healing to occur.

The comment by the young dancer with the devastating illness made my heart stop for a moment. I thought about the hurdles the women who are served by DWC’s programs have to leap just to BEGIN their recovery. Many of them come to the program “dancing only with their eyes.”

It doesn’t matter what reason they arrive. So many have been felled by substance abuse, addiction and homelessness. These are not character flaws; they are bona fide health issues as real and as insidious as diabetes or congestive heart disease. The women are to be applauded for agreeing to undertake such an arduous journey.

Stores offer treasures to raise funds, aid those recovering

First, let’s spotlight the three fabulous thrift shops the Downtown Women’s Center operates.

Thrift City at 812 SW 10th has a wide selection of clothing for men, women and children. Tuesdays and Fridays are senior discount days, whereby those 55 and older receive a discount of 25%. Thursdays are Blue Bag days. Shoppers purchase a bag for $3.00 (plus tax), and can fill it with whatever items they wish at a 25% discount.

Within Thrift City is The Uptown Shoppe, which is far from your everyday thrift store. It boasts lovely designer clothes, shoes and home furnishings. They even sell exclusive McKenzie-Childs décor.

Thrift City and the Uptown Shoppe are open six days a week: Mondays – Fridays from 10:00 to 6:00, and Saturdays from 10:00 to 5:00. I cannot tell you how many outfits I have bought at the store and how many compliments I receive when I wear them.

Just East of Thrift City and the Uptown Shoppe at the corner of 10th and Monroe sits Thrift City Too. That store is stocked with seasonal/holiday décor, toys, sporting goods, luggage, handyman items, tools, collectibles, medical equipment, and electronics. It is a lovely space and the people are always friendly. Their days and hours of operation are the same as Thrift City and the Uptown Shoppe. One of their biggest sellers are up-to-date collectibles.

The manager of Thrift City Too explained to me that, “this is your want-more than your need-more store.” Well said.

Since November 2003 when the first thrift store opened, over $977,000 worth of merchandise has been dispersed.

Perhaps one of the best aspects of the thrift stores is that they are staffed by women who have made extremely difficult turnarounds in their lives. As stated in the DWC’s brochure, the organization “has high ethical principles that create an atmosphere of integrity and trust. DWC recognizes the power of faith that provides strength and direction in the lives of the women and children they serve.”

The process is not easy by a long shot. The women are initially referred from treatment centers, Drug Court, county jails, and individuals in the community.

The program begins with a rigorous and structured strategy designed for individuals to become and stay sober. That undertaking commences with a woman being clean and sober for 30 days.

She is then eligible to move into Haven House, which includes 4 dorms and can shelter up to 16 women, 4 to a dorm. The women are required to go to 90 AA/NA meetings in 90 days, attend 30 days of outpatient treatment, two group meetings/week, obtain a 12-step sponsor and work the 12 steps, and meet with their case manager. They are offered and encouraged to attend counseling.

Each woman must provide notes for her caseworker to ensure she is complying with the requirements of the program. These activities are designated as Levels 1 and 2. At Level 2, the residents look for part-time jobs, and some begin working at one of the thrift stores as their first step back into the workforce.

This phase of treatment lasts anywhere from 6 to 9 months. The case manager with whom I spoke on March 19, 2024, explained that the best part of her job is the blessing of seeing a cocoon transform into a butterfly as the women work the program.

Here is an example of how busy staff is at Haven House: in the short time I was with the case manager, two business phones rang repeatedly. She took all the calls, spoke to callers professionally and educated me as well.

Haven House includes a beautiful common room, a craft room, a meditation space, computer access, an industrial sized kitchen where the women take turns preparing meals, a workout room, a laundry area and a hall with a large bookshelf.

Imagine how hard it would be to spend up to three-fourths of a year ONE DAY AT A TIME becoming and staying sober while, at the same time, learning new skills, resolving how to live in a communal environment and working part-time. Motivation, support, counseling and faith all play important roles in this undertaking.

'New life made from a broken one'

One amazing fact I learned on March 19 is that Thrift City gives all the donated, broken jewelry to residents of Haven House. There the residents use the broken pieces to design “trees of life,” both beautiful and unique ornaments. They are then given to Thrift City to sell. As stated on the sale tags, the pieces represent “New Life Being Made From A Broken One.” What precious symmetry!

Abba House, another of DWC’s shelters, includes 10 efficiency apartments for homeless women with and without children. The women are completing the program just like the residents at Haven House with its meticulous schedules and mandates to which women must adhere. The individuals at Abba House may also have the additional responsibility of preparing their children for life after addiction by working with a case manager.

Once all of the trials and hard work the women with or without children complete at Haven or Abba House, they are eligible to move to Gratitude House.

Baptist Community Services gifted Gratitude House to the DWC in 2016. Here, the residents’ journeys have led them to a 40-unit complex where they proceed to the second phase of recovery. The units are fully furnished, and the residents pay a nominal fee for either a one-bedroom or two-bedroom apartment.

Gratitude House also requires adherence to stringent guidelines. The residents still have to attend AA/NA meetings, group interactions, counseling and case management. In addition, they must learn budgeting, parenting, homemaking and life skills. While they are participating in all of these prerequisites, they are also employed and/or are in school.

DWC partners with Opportunity School to provide childcare and early childhood education for children of residents.

If all of these services seem overwhelming, consider this: All three of the houses provide 24/7 staff. Take a moment to contemplate that aspect of DWC’s mission and vision. These are kind, caring and open-hearted employees who work shifts to ensure that the residents are safe, sober and maintaining the program. To do this every single day displays dedication and diligence.

An addition to the Downtown Women’s Center program is called “Transitional Housing.” Graduates of the DWC Recovery Program can continue living at Gratitude House in the same apartment (with or without children) while they receive services and pursue their education and employment choices.

I don’t know of many other initiatives that are as comprehensive and thorough as the one DWC affords.

May fundraiser aims to help program expand

Maybe we can ask for one more miracle. With the number of homeless women struggling with addiction and homelessness who are seeking help, one Haven House is not enough. The DWC would like to open another entry-level home, and they need our help.

On Tuesday, May 7, 2024, Downtown Women’s Center is hosting a 35th anniversary fundraising luncheon at the Amarillo Civic Center North Exhibit Hall from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM. Tickets are $50. Some of the proceeds will extend to the opening of Haven House Too, which will expand the Recovery Program to serve 9 additional homeless women and their children.

One of the many exciting features of the luncheon will include the newly published book, "Everyone is Redeemable Daily Devotional." In this book, each month commences with a poignant narrative recounting one woman’s struggle with addiction and her path to recovery, followed by daily scriptures and meditations. Luncheon guests will also be eligible to buy from a tax-free Pop-Up Shop featuring the best thrift store donations, the devotional book, and Trees of Life ornaments.

For those who cannot attend the luncheon but are eager to support the mission and quality of life DWC bestows upon so many in our community, feel free to mail a contribution to: Downtown Women’s Center, 409 S. Monroe, Amarillo, TX 79101.

If it is easier to give online, that address is www.dwcenter.org. All donations are tax-deductible. One can even donate a car to the non-profit!

In the next piece about Downtown Women’s Center, we will discuss trauma and its impact on women who are struggling with addiction and homelessness.

Let us take this opportunity right now to help as many people live in faith and joy as we can. No one should have to dance only with her eyes.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Elise commentary: Downtown Women’s Center offers hope and healing