NewsWest 9
MIDLAND - Hundreds of beds will soon be filled. That's according to directors at the Genesis Center of the Permian Basin located in Midland. The facility will serve as a safe house for women and children throughout West Texas. Officials say it's slightly different from other homeless shelters.
"Our number one goal is introducing the Lord Jesus Christ to these ladies and their children. We're trying to reconcile them to their God and restore them into the community to get them plugged back in again and to have a reason to wake up in the morning," Eric Griffin, a Genesis Center Board Member, said.
Plus they're also trained in life skills and provide career help. They say most centers offer housing for about three months, but Genesis Center Director, Alan Austin, purposefully developed a longer model.
"Alan has found that a year is more in line with what he sees the requirement is to rebuild a broken person and introduce them to Christ," Griffin said.
Even though the Genesis Center isn't even open yet, directors say they've already received a multitude of referrals from the Sheriff's Office.
"There is a need. In Midland, you see alot of the success stories because of the boom but there is hurt out there. There are people that are hurting. There are women that are hurting and a victim of circumstances alot of times," he said.
Circumstances like domestic violence. That realization is why the center is already stocked and virtually ready to help. Officials say they've already received a warm welcome from the public.
"The community is rallying behind us. I'm amazed to see God's handy work here and open doors and money that we're starting to see come in to redo this building, to renovate this building," Griffin said.
