Featured Highlights

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition with VOA 
Ty Pennington, celebrity co-host Jewel and a host of entertainment industry stars appeared on the "Rise & Honor" Veterans Day special fromExtreme Makeover: Home Edition. Volunteers of America was among the beneficiaries of net proceeds raised by the program. Read more.

Breaking ground to fight addiction
When Volunteers of America Texas broke ground on a new 29,000-square-foot addiction treatment residence in Houston, it took some imagination to picture the transformation of the bare, empty lot. While it is exciting to imagine the new 29,000-square foot Restoration Hill facility, what is truly moving is to imagine the thousands of lives that will be transformed there in the years ahead. Learn more.

1 out of 6 Texans in poverty
Everything is bigger in Texas. Unfortunately that holds true for poverty too. Recently released U.S. Census Bureau figures reveal that about one out of six Texans live below the poverty line. Read what CEO Melody Timinsky has to say about the challenges facing Texans.

Restoration Hill to Expand Addiction Treatment in Texas
When Volunteers of America Texas gathered recently with partners and supporters to break ground on a new 29,000-square-foot addiction treatment residence in Houston, it took some imagination to picture the transformation of the bare, empty lot. While it is exciting to imagine the new 29,000-square foot Restoration Hill facility that will expand and improve program space, what is truly moving is to imagine the thousands of lives that will be transformed there in the years ahead.

That vision has been the inspiration behind the $6 million campaign to make Restoration Hill a reality. Here, the award-winning addiction treatment programs in Houston will help individuals discover and embrace a sober way of life to the benefit of themselves, their families and ultimately the greater community.

Currently the programs for women overcoming addiction and homelessness are housed on two separate properties across town from each other, one of which is on a rental property. The new homelike residence, across the street from the current McGovern campus owned by VOA Texas, will consolidate all programming into one safe, more permanent, state-of-the-art location. Capacity will increase from 90 beds to 150, including 10 more beds each for initial stabilization and transitional housing.

The construction of the facility is being made possible in part through a collaboration with HomeAid Houston, an outreach of the Greater Houston Builders Association. HomeAid is providing $1 million worth of in-kind services and materials for the construction of Restoration Hill. Member company Camden Builders will serve as lead builder, with more than 40 other vendors generously adding their services. Thanks to their leadership, many other donors have already stepped forward, including The Fondren Foundation, Home Depot Foundation and John P. McGovern Foundation.

The biblical definition of restoration is not merely to replace something that has been lost or destroyed, but to bring it back even better or stronger than it was originally. Restoration Hill will restore the lives of those served to a place of wholeness, strength and peace they may never have known previously.

Make Mentoring Memorable

This year, make a resolution to help someone stay sober for their kids by becoming a mentor for a mom who is just beginning the journey of life without substance abuse. You could be the person who makes a difference in the life of a mom and her children. For more information email ctidball@voatx.org.

Everybody Needs a Second Chance

VOA-Houston is proud to be the only awardee in Texas of the first round of Second Chance Act mentoring funds from the Office of Justice Programs. The grant will be used to mentor mothers who are incarcerated at the Harris County WHO-Atascocita women’s correctional facility.

Restoration Hill Underway

HomeAid Houston has conditionally approved a 30,000 square foot facility for Houston's VOA clients. A master plan sketch has been completed and the project is in preconstruction. HomeAid Houston serves as a housing developer and liaison between homeless care providers, the community at large, volunteers, residential builders, remodelers and developers and their suppliers and vendors. Groundbreaking for this new residential facility for women and families should take place early next year.

What Happens to Children When Mommy’s in Prison?

Starting in late 2009, Volunteers of America and Wilder Research collaborated on one of the nation’s first, multistate studies on the needs of families affected by incarcerated mothers. The study includes more than 200 interviews with the mothers, their children and their children’s caregivers.

Class Act! Staff Returns to Help School

After a month absence, M.G. Ellis Primary School welcomed back long time VOA, TX veteran, Cindy Holmes, a valued Community Service Provider, who delivers prevention education, alternative activities, and support to the students engaged in Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten.

Spotlight on Nicole Haenszel

One way our staff improves our client services is to learn and serve complimentary organizations. Nicole’s experience on the board of directors for the Private Providers Association of Texas (PPAT) - a nonprofit group that advocates for more than 8,700 Texans with mental disabilities - has expanded her education and leadership in the field. Nicole knows that sharing “best practices” is a win for everyone.

New CEO Welcomed to VOATX

Melody Timinsky joins Volunteers of America Texas as an accomplished professional with more than twenty five years of diversified management experience in private and nonprofit environments. Timinsky succeeds Mike King who recently accepted the CEO position for the national organization located in Alexandria, Virginia.

Promise Tree Plants a Pledge

Fort Worth area Charles Baxter Jr. High showed their pledge to be drug free with this Promise Tree. The light green leaves are 7th grade, the dark green leaves are 8th grade, the yellow is staff and faculty, and orange are parents of the students. Together, their pledges form a beautiful Promise Tree of color and care.

Honoring Direct Service Personnel

September 12 - 18 To honor the direct support workforce and the tremendous difference they make each day in the lives of millions of Americans with disabilities, VOATX office of Developmental Services is sponsoring National Direct Support Professional Recognition Week.

Houston Astros go to Bat for VOATX

Major Leaguer Cory Sullivan of the Houston Astros and high school student leaders from the Houston and Dallas Action Teams® step up to the plate to serve intellectually disabled adults at the Volunteers of America Life Enrichment Center in northwest Houston on June 19.

VOATX shows RESULTS

Youth who participated in the Positive Action program had an average of 16% increase in the areas of academic achievement and pro-social skills after successfully completing the program.

Mike King Named New National President and CEO

Michael ("Mike") King, former VOATX CEO, has been named national president and chief executive officer. He will lead the 114 year-old faith-based organization as it continues to expand its existing services to needy Americans while also implementing a new strategy focused on innovative services for older people.

Let there be L.I.G.H.T.

The Living in Good Healthy Treatment Program was the first Volunteers of America Texas program in the San Antonio area. The program offers a residential treatment program for women and women with children. A total of eighteen women, up to ten individual women and eight women with children can be served in this program. The program also offers outpatient treatment.

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