hospitality houses [Archive]

tifa_execdir

08-17-2002, 07:18 PM

Hi, Terri.

I haven't heard of any hospitality houses in that area, but it's possible that local churches may know (they are the ones who usually provide the hospitality house services to families of inmates). I'd recommend first contacting the unit to ask if they know of any nearby hospitality or low cost lodging resources.

Then, I'd suggest contacting some churches in the McAllen area. Some listings (I don't know how comprehensive) are here:
http://rgvguide.com/Religious/Churches_-_Upper_Valley/
http://www.hiline.net/users/mitt/catholic.htm

Here are some other McAllen & South Texas links:
http://www.mcallen.org/tourism/hotels/
http://www.edinburg.com/accom.html
http://www1.myrgv.com/portal/texas/
http://www.texashousing.org/txlihis/homeless/Slvtn-Army-McAllen.lasso

Here is some info about the hospitality houses that I DO know about:

Abilene
Eunice Chambless Hospitality House
Capacity: 15 rooms
Serving: Roberts, Middleton and Rolling
Plains Regional Detention Center.
For Reservations Contact:
Billy & Barbara Wilson, Directors
13378 FM 3522
Abilene, Texas 79601
915-548-2180 echhdir@cs.com

Big Spring
Big Spring Hospitality House
Capacity: 9 rooms w/ 35 beds
For Reservations Contact:
Joe & Wanda Bernier, Directors
1202 West 4th Street
Big Spring, Texas 79720
915-263-5752

Fort Worth
Debra Key Hospitality House
Capacity: 6 rooms w/ 16 beds
For Reservations Contact:
Shirley Mann, Director
2836 Hemphill
Fort Worth, Texas 76110
817-924-7776

Huntsville
Huntsville Hospitality House
Capacity: 48 beds
For Reservations Contact:
Bob and Nelda Norris, Directors
They do not charge but request a donation.
912 10thStreet
Huntsville, Texas 77320
936-291-6196 Email: hosphse@txucom.net

Jacksboro
Regional Family Resource Center
Capacity: 8 rooms
Blaine Whaley, Director
For Reservations Contact:
Regional Family Resource Center
520 North 3rd Street
Jacksboro, Texas 76458
940-567-3894

Jacksonville
Hospitality House
Capacity: 17 rooms, sleeps 50
Katie and Ed Wilson, Directors
For Reservations Contact:
Mail: Hospitality House, P.O box 949,
Jacksonville TX 75766
Email:office@dtba.net 903-928-0116 or 903-586-5156

Palestine
My Fathers House US Hwy 287
7 Miles West of Palestine
RT 6 Box 6807
Palestine, TX 75801
903-731-4579

Port Arthur
Shepherd’s Inn Hospitality House
Capacity: 30 rooms
Barbara Melancon, Director
319 E. Sixth Street
Port Arthur, Texas 77640
Serving: Stiles, Gist, LeBlanc, Federal Units,
Jefferson County Jail or the Texas Youth Commision
For Reservations Contact:
Golden Triangle Baptist Association
Dion Ainsworth 409-898-8797 or
toll free 866-898-8797 ext. 21
Mail Reservations to: Shepherd's Inn/GTBA
2750 IH-10 East Beaumont, Texas 77703
Email: dion@gtba.org

These Centers are undertaking the herculean task of serving:
1. Huntsville, serving families of about 11,000 prisoners.
2. Big Springs serving the families of about 5,000 prisoners.
3. Palestine serving families of about 10,000 prisoners.
4. Jacksboro serving families about 2000 prisoners.
5. Abilene serving families of about 9000 prisoners.
6. Tennessee Colony serving families of about 10,000 prisoners.
7. Port Authur serving families of about 9000 families.
8. In the process of construction for the families of prisoners who are housed near Tennessee Colony, East Texas near Corsicana and Palestine. Amarillo, Gatesville, and Beeville have clusters of prisons which are in need of Hospitality Houses.
*******************

Another good source of very low cost lodging is youth hostels (which don't require that you actually be a "youth"), but these are usually only available in major metropolitan areas. Here are links to hostels in Texas:
http://www.hiayh.org/hostels/texas/tx.htm
http://www.hostels.com/us.tx.html
http://www.hostelhandbook.com/usa/txother.htm
http://www.bootsnall.com/hostels/usa/#tx
http://www.budgettravel.com/hostelus.htm