Hays Caldwell Women’s Center celebrates grand opening of new housing project

Sierra Martin | Managing Editor

SAN MARCOS — On Friday, March 25, 2022, the Hays Caldwell Women’s Center (HCWC) hosted the grand opening of Marla’s Place, a new housing center built as a refuge for women and children experiencing abuse.

Marla’s Place, or the Marla R. Johnson Housing Center, is named after the former HCWC Executive Director. The 22,500 square foot complex is designed to accommodate up to 18 families in apartment-style units for an extended period. The complex also includes gathering spaces, two Head Start classrooms for childcare, a playground and a sports court.

Melissa Rodriguez, HCWC Executive Director, spoke about the significance of the completed $5 million housing center and how it will benefit women and children of the area.

“At the heart of this project are the hundreds of children who will live here and whose lives will forever be changed as their mothers work to rebuild their futures. In the coming months we will start moving in our first families,” said Rodriguez. “Children will fill our Headstart, beautiful Headstart classrooms and play in our playgrounds and sports court. Moms will begin working with our dedicated staff on their goals, one step at a time. From going back to school, getting job training, rebuilding their credit, parenting support, therapy support groups, all focused on creating a foundation for safety and independence.”

San Marcos Mayor Jane Hughson (left) holding the Marla’s Place Proclamation with Melissa Rodriguez, Executive Director of HCWC (right). Photo by Sierra Martin.

San Marcos Mayor Jane Hughson read a proclamation declaring March 25, 2022, as the Grand Opening of Marla’s Place.

“We look around at what is taking place and who are in attendance at this ribbon cutting, and we see the culmination of 40 years of work by many dedicated and committed people who brought us here,” said Hughson.

Rogriguez spoke about the increasing need for HCWC services as the region grows.

“We are serving over 2,000 adults, youth and children every year with emergency shelter, hospital response, counseling, child forensic interviews, play therapy [and] personal legal advocacy,” said Rogriguez. “And every year, the need for service is steadily increasing. As we continue to serve our community, there will be more opportunities to work together to positively impact the problems of family violence, dating violence, sexual assault and child abuse.”

The McCoy family provided about 40% of the funding necessary to construct Marla’s Place and has helped the HCWC raise over $10 million of local funds. Cindy McCoy spoke about the moment 30-years-ago when she and her family were encouraged to look for ways to assist women and children in abusive households.

“All of us here have our own reasons why we have donated to this wonderful cause, whether you are here from an empathetic heart or experienced abuse personally or in your family,” said McCoy. “I can tell you one of the reasons why I am here today is because my husband Dennis and I were watching the local San Marcos news in the early 1980s and heard of a little two-year-old little boy had been murdered by his own father.”

McCoy said they wanted to help “those undergoing family violence in our little part of the world” because of that little boy.

The McCoy family then agreed to build a bigger and better shelter for the HCWC, and both Cindy McCoy and her late husband Dennis McCoy have served on the HCWC Board of Directors.

Jennifer Moreno, HCWC Advocacy and Resource Program Director, said that she would be working from Marla’s Place to provide legal advocacy, community-based services and state services for HCWC clients.

“Me and the bilingual housing advocate will provide services to both residents in Martha’s Place and clients of Hays County Women’s Center,” said Moreno.

Monica Medina, HCWC Community Engagement Coordinator, will be working with clients to raise the volunteer program and help them get back on their feet.

“I’ll be working with a lot of community partners, people interested in helping our clients because as we know, when people are leaving a recent situation, it’s hard to get back on their feet or to get back out again,” said Medina.

Photo of scrabble board made by HCWC staff thanking donors at Marla’s Place Grand Opening. Photo by Sierra Martin.

Marla Johnson, the namesake of Marla’s Place, thanked all of the businesses and individuals who assisted in making Marla’s Place possible and said the outcome was even better than she could have imagined.

“The kids who come here probably won’t know many of us, but we can be assured that they will be better off because we all stepped up to work together to create something beautiful for them. It seemed like this took forever, but honestly, the timing was perfect,” said Johnson.

HCWC is dedicated to getting you the help you deserve. They provide free and confidential services to women, men, and children who are victims of family violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and child abuse who live, work, or go to school in Hays and Caldwell Counties.  Services are available in English and Spanish. More information on receiving help from the HCWC can be found here.