EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The Opportunity Center for the Homeless in South-Central El Paso has officially opened a newly renovated wing at its Women’s Resource Center, adding 20 permanent single-room units for women experiencing homelessness.
The expansion is part of a $3.2 million project funded through the Opportunity Center’s Phase Three Capital Campaign, with support from donors, foundations, and community partners, leaders said.
“The need within our community far outweighs what resources are available to them,” John Martin, deputy director of the Opportunity Center for the Homeless, said.
The upgraded space includes access to recovery programs, mental health services, and housing assistance designed to serve women facing complex barriers, including trauma and behavioral health challenges.
“In the case of women, it is especially challenging because many have experienced intimate partner violence or childhood trauma,” Dr. Eva Moya-Guzman, board member for the Opportunity Center, said. “And we often don’t know what happens to them.”
Before the expansion, many women staying at the center slept in communal areas without privacy or designated space. The new rooms are designed to offer safety, dignity, and a greater sense of stability, leaders said.
The Women’s Resource Center is one of four projects underway at the Opportunity Center. Others include facilities for veterans, elderly men, and individuals experiencing chronic homelessness. Together, the initiatives are expected to add 165 shelter beds by 2026.
The center says continued community support through donations and volunteers will be key as the remaining projects move forward.
For more information or to support the Opportunity Center’s ongoing work, visit www.homelessopportunitycenter.org.
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