Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, Gracewood offers the following additional services to all moms in care:

• Education and training assistance
• Employment resources
• Housing and transportation assistance
• Money management program
• Recreational opportunities
• Connection with community resources
• Aftercare Program
• Patti’s Place Boutique

When a family completes the residential program at Gracewood, they have achieved independence and have learned to maintain a healthy family dynamic. They move into their own place, but not without the ongoing support of Gracewood staff and resources.

No, Gracewood is not an emergency shelter. Rather, we are a transitional living program. It often takes weeks or even several months for even one room to become available and a family admitted.

Gracewood, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is an independent, Christian-based ministry that assists single mothers and their children by providing residential services, counseling, and other services that will help them lead healthy, successful lives. Gracewood is part of the Children At Heart family of ministries, along with Miracle Farm Boys Ranch and Texas Baptist Children’s Home.

While the average length of stay is one year, the situation of each family is different and the length of stay varies according to the family’s needs.

The average age of mothers in residence at Gracewood is 32 years old. The average age of children in residence is 8 years old.

Yes, the mother must have custody of at least one child who is living with her.

There is a required fee of $50 a month. This fee can be waived for the first month if necessary.

Future plans for Gracewood include opening additional campuses in the Houston area, expanding services for families not in residence on campus, and increasing the programs available to the families in residential care.

No, the Family Relief Program provides rental assistance to single mothers who already have stable housing. If you are in need of housing, please consider applying for our residential Family Care Program.

Participants who are accepted into the program are eligible for $500 of rental assistance per month for the duration of the six-month program. This equals a total of $3,000 of assistance for participants who meet all program participation and attendance requirements.

In-person case management meetings, group cohort meetings, educational classes, and program support services are all located on Gracewood’s campus. To attend the required meetings, you will need to drive to Gracewood’s campus approximately 3 to 4 times per month. All participants should live within a reasonable driving distance of the Spring Branch area of Houston.

Yes, childcare is provided on Gracewood’s campus during scheduled client meetings and events. Childcare is available for all ages, and they will be supervised by Gracewood staff and background-checked volunteers.

The Family Relief Program lasts for six months, and rental assistance is provided during that period only. After successful completion of the program, you may be eligible for Gracewood’s Aftercare Program, which continues to support former clients by providing access to clothing and food pantry support services.

No, applications that do not meet all the criteria will not be considered for the Family Relief Program. Additionally, please be aware that while it is not required for mothers to have English as their primary language, they do need to have a good understanding of the English language in order to interact with the staff and other families.

Some volunteer activities will be identified as “family friendly,” and children are welcome. Other activities may not be appropriate for children under the age of 16. When in doubt, check with the ministry’s volunteer coordinator. We do not provide child care for volunteers.

Yes, we have volunteer opportunities to work with the children living at Gracewood. However, under state law a full background check is required before a volunteer can have contact with children. Even if a background check is completed, we place the interests of the child above all else. Not every child will welcome a volunteer’s efforts, no matter how well-intentioned. Additionally, there often are privacy and confidentiality issues, which will vary from child to child. Thank you for your understanding.

There is no age limit, although we ask that teenagers be accompanied by an adult at all times. Opportunities for those age 12 and under are limited to activities identified as “family friendly.”

The opportunities to volunteer vary widely across our family of ministries, but we can’t always accommodate every person who wishes to volunteer. For instance, there aren’t going to be many opportunities for an individual who wants to read to children or play games with them. Keep in mind that our goal is to give children in our care as much of a normal childhood as possible. We don’t want them to feel like they are on display.

If you have a special talent you want to share with any of our ministries, we welcome your ideas. Please contact our Volunteer and Recreation Coordinator at kelsey.sellers@gracewood.org or 346-440-1277.

No, we have other options for volunteering. We welcome individuals to organize drives that help fulfill items on our needs list. These drives can be coordinated anywhere, at any time, by individuals, church groups, businesses, or organizations.

• We accept new or gently used clothing. Please note that underwear, socks, bras, hats, and pajamas must be new.
• Clothing should be clean and in good condition. No holes, stains, rips, broken zippers, or missing buttons.
• No personalized clothing, please. Clothes customized with embroidered names, camp logos, business logos, or school logos are not accepted.
• We are in need of clothing appropriate for various daily activities such as job interviews, business attire, school uniforms, parent and teacher conferences, or social events (no formal gowns).
• Donated clothing should be in season and in modern, current styles.

Yes, we often serve teen boys on campus and accept men’s clothing, particularly items suitable for tall teen boys.

At this time, our food pantry is well-stocked thanks to the support of our generous church partners. However, our Rec Center is always in need of snacks for the children. If you’d like to help, please check out our Amazon wish list.

Our daily needs include toilet paper, paper towels, laundry detergent, various cleaning supplies, and snacks. If you would like to get these shipped directly to Gracewood, please see our Amazon wish list.