“This is exciting because it's been a long time coming,” CEO Rick Brown said.
Taking a step back
Hope Alliance is a nonprofit organization that has been dedicated to providing assistance and shelter to victims of family violence and sexual assault in Williamson County since the 1980s. Those seeking help from Hope Alliance can receive counseling, emergency shelter and housing, and various legal and support services.
The organization operates out of two facilities—one in Round Rock with 30 beds and one in Hutto with 12 beds.
Zooming in
Located at 1161 W. San Gabriel Parkway, Leander, the Hope Center will be roughly 43,500 square feet and feature 26 bedrooms with 96 total beds, Brown said. He said every bedroom in the new facility will have a private bathroom.
Brown said this increased capacity will hopefully alleviate the waitlist for clients.
Because Hope Alliance’s typical client is a mother with two children, the smaller bedrooms in the facility will have three beds, Brown said. The larger bedrooms will have four beds, some with adjoining doors for bigger families.
Law enforcement will be present at the center 24/7, and it will have an emergency shelter on-site, a feature that sets the Hope Center apart from other family justice centers throughout the state, Brown said. Other features in the new facility include a commercial kitchen and dining room.
Additionally, several organizations will have on-site office spaces at the Hope Center, including Asian Family Support Services of Austin, both the district and county attorney’s offices, and Goodwill Industries.
Funding the project
Brown said construction of the Hope Center will cost $20.7 million.
Hope Alliance has been spearheading fundraising efforts to help raise the money. So far, he said the organization has raised about $10 million and will be working to raise the other half until the facility opens.
Stay tuned
Brown said construction on the new building is anticipated to begin by the end of July. However, the exact timeline depends on clearances from the city of Leander.
Work on the Hope Center is expected to reach completion in December 2025.
