Our Story
Hannah Durrance - Founder and Director of H.O.M.E. Center
Hannah came to San Marcos, Texas almost 10 years ago to further her education. She brought along her four children, the youngest only five months old at the time, and struggled to find housing for her family. Because she was fleeing an abusive situation, she hoped to stay at the woman’s shelter only to find that it was full. She contacted every shelter in the area only to find they were the same: full. Hannah resorted to sleeping in her car with all four of her children, taking them to her classes at Texas State University, and working several jobs. The only resource given to her was a sheet of paper with how to access grocery and utility assistance. Hannah was able to eventually get into public housing but the struggle made her realize just how taxing and traumatic getting out of the vicious cycle of homelessness is. Her hope and drive to help other unhoused individuals gave rise to H.O.M.E. Center.
“I just feel like I’m doing what everybody should be doing... I am doing this because I feel like our community needs this, and our children shouldn’t have to suffer.”
The Founding of H.O.M.E. Center
Hannah contacted the Texas Homeless Network in Austin because her goal was to create a coalition that could assist unhoused individuals in the community. She wanted to be able to work one on one with people in need and help provide resources that fit their individual needs. H.O.M.E Center became a 501(c)(3) in 2019 and began working with unhoused persons and would assist individuals in applying for social security, food stamps, etc. H.O.M.E quickly realized that there was a bigger housing crisis than initially thought, with individuals facing ongoing housing insecurity, and they eventually were able to partner with the city and county Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) programs. With this partnership, H.O.M.E. was able to get these people in need off the street and into motels where they could have the security of a safe and consistent room. This also gave them access to case managers that would partner with them to apply for housing, jobs, and various forms of assistance to hopefully end the cycle of housing insecurity. H.O.M.E. Center continues to serve as the largest shelter in Hays County.
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