House of Promise
For single mothers Milinda, Danise and Daniell – the residents of Promise House on Gracewood’s Wanda Lane campus – earning degrees in the healthcare field is not only instrumental for their futures, it’s part of what bonds their cottage and makes them a family.
Part of Gracewood’s vision is to equip single moms with the tools they need for long-term success. This often means helping them complete their educations. Because all three of these single moms are working toward similar goals, Promise House has become known as the “healthcare house” in the Gracewood family.
Before coming to Gracewood, Milinda completed three years of nursing school at Houston Baptist University (HBU). But when her older sister’s five children were being taken away by Child Protective Services, Milinda and her younger sister decided to step in and care for them.
Because of the pressure she was under, Milinda failed her final year of nursing school and was forced to find a job. Shortly afterward, Milinda became pregnant and had a baby of her own. Struggling to provide for herself and her daughter, Elena, Milinda was referred to Gracewood by another Gracewood mom for counseling.
After six months of counseling, Milinda decided to apply for residential placement at Gracewood. She and 2-year-old Elena moved into the cottage in July 2012. With the encouragement and help of staff, Milinda appealed her case to HBU and was given credit for all of her past courses even after being out of school for three years.
“I was completely amazed,” she said. “It was such a God thing and a wonderful reminder that He is always in control.”
Milinda is currently completing her psychiatric clinical rotation at Texas Women’s Hospital and will graduate in May 2014.
Danise came to Gracewood in September 2011 after being laid off from her job of 16 years due to a corporate merger. After nearly two years of unemployment, Danise was struggling with two sons in college and her savings almost gone. She and her 8-year-old daughter, Danisha, were living with one of her grown sons in a one-bedroom apartment when someone from her church referred her to Gracewood.
Shortly after moving into Gracewood, Danise accepted a job as a nutritionist at a local charter school. After working an entire school year, her contract was not renewed because she lacked college hours.
“At that moment, I was determined that I would never lose another job because of a lack of education,” said Danise.
Danise was accepted into the surgical tech program at Houston Community College and is scheduled to graduate in May 2014. She is currently interning at Texas Women’s Hospital.
“It has been such a blessing to live with two other women who are experiencing the same things I am. We pray for each other, support one another and study together,” said Danise. “I could not be more appreciative of Gracewood for making this dream a reality.”
Daniell arrived at Gracewood in August after spending time as a client in the Family Care Program at Texas Baptist Children’s Home in Round Rock. After surviving both a childhood and teenage marriage filled with abuse, Daniell came to Gracewood because she wanted a better life for her children filled with more opportunities, more choices and a hope for the future.
Daniell was accepted into the University of Texas Dental School in Houston, where she is studying to become a dental hygienist. Daniell, along with her twin daughters, Jordyn and Destiny, and her son Cruz, have quickly become part of the Promise House family and Daniell faithfully shares her testimony as an encouragement to the other single moms.
“It has been amazing to see how God has put these three wonderfully unique women together,” said Debbie Rippstein, Executive Director of Gracewood. “It has been a blessing to watch them encourage each other and give one another confidence as they keep the promise they’ve made to ensure a better future for themselves and their children by completing their educations.”
