How a homeless shelter in Lubbock does more than feed the hungry

By: Jake Cooper - jacob.cooper@ttu.edu

Restoration Empowerment Centers offer 6-12 months of rehabilitation, sheltering the chronically homeless and transitioning them into functioning members of society. 

According to endhomelessness.org, 18.4% of people experiencing homelessness in the United States struggle with some sort of mental illness, and 14.5% with substance abuse.

“It goes beyond just not having a place to stay,” said Dr. Jan Railey, director and founder of Restoration Empowerment Centers, “[it’s] a lack of services. However, if you do not have an address, you can't get mental health services.” 

For up to three years after their stay in REC, they can return and take advantage of those services. 

Over the years, REC has served 600 women and children, Dr. Railey said. In 2022, it opened for men as well, serving 30 since then. Residents at REC have access to mental health counselors and a volunteer nurse.

Mark, a resident of REC who did not provide his last name, said he uses the Center’s services while he is on dialysis. He lived in a motel before being admitted to REC. A mechanic by trade, he works around the center.

“She’ll just pay me what she can because I live here too,” Mark said, referring to Dr. Railey.

Another resident – Jennifer – makes use of services at REC as well as the camaraderie

of the community around her. 

“Dr. Railey gave me a place when my own family gave up on me,” Jennifer said. “So if it wasn't for the [REC], I'd have been on the streets homeless.”

REC began offering permanent housing services in 2021 after finding that some people can’t live on their own. 

Restoration Empowerment Centers has helped some people to go to college, and when able, to move back with their families, or into their own homes. 

“One of our models is we don't give a handout, we give a hand up,” Dr.Railey said. “Some people just want to sleep in for the night and a meal and then they want to just go and do whatever during the day, but they're not productive members of society.”

What the REC needs

Restoration Empowerment Centers is a non-profit organization, that relies on donations and volunteers.

“We need more hands, more buildings.” Dr. Railey said, “I have my eyes on a hospital that’s been shut down and that would be large enough.”

“The building in mind would cost $13 million,” Dr. Railey says.

Dr. Railey explained that a shelter program could be started in an abandoned hospital. Those willing to enroll would be admitted into a 12-month program where they would have a case manager and counseling. 

“I believe once we can do that, it would alleviate a lot of the homeless problem here in Lubbock,” Dr. Railey said. “Then we’d take that model and go forth all over Texas … That's my ultimate goal.”

At the moment, however, the organization doesn’t have enough funding to have full-time staff. Dr. Railey has never taken a salary. In fact, she donates 30% of her personal earnings to the REC.

“I'm also a professor at Eastern New Mexico University, and then I do this as well,” Dr. Rainey said.

You can contact Restoration Empowerment Center at (806) 775-0851, or visit their website at https://www.restoration-empowerment-center.org/ for more information.