With a growing need for the homeless community in the South Plains, a local minister opened a new shelter for women and children on the south side of town, called Restoration Empowerment Center.
“This has been a long dream of mine and passion,” Founder and Executive Director of Restoration Empowerment Center Janet Railey said.
Railey grew up with a passion to help others since the age of 12 in Baltimore, MD. She said she traveled across the country preaching to various communities and became an advocate for the homeless.
After moving to Lubbock to join her son and his family, she got out of retirement to build a center for the local homeless community.
“I think that it needs to be addressed,” Railey said. “As for me being a minister and a Christian, I believe the ball falls in the pocket of Christians. If we are who we say we are, then we should go out and take it outside of the four walls and go into the community where we say God called us to be.”
In December she started the Restoration Empowerment Center project that just opened its doors on April 1.
“I could’ve named it Jan’s Shelter, but I named it the Empowerment Center because we want to inspire, uplift, and show them unconditional God, and most of all we want to restore them,” Railey said. “To be able to go back into society and be able to cope. We don’t want them to ever be homeless again.”
The Center has a six to 12 month program where any woman could come in and work with counselors, in-take coordinators, volunteers, and Texas Workforce Commission to work on their rehabilitation back into society.
They can hold up to 50 people, and currently house five women and children at this time, with eight people on the waitlist.
The facility is built completely on donations, ranging from the paint on the walls, to bedding and furniture, outdoor equipment, and even staffed by volunteers.
However, Railey said they are still in desperate need of showers and twin beds. They also accept any other donations, like food and clothing.
Donations can be made at their building located at 1409 130th Street. Anyone interesting in signing up or have questions can call them at (806) 535-3082.
