H-Town Dream Center offers safe shelter, support to women and children

While Shannon Nelson is no stranger to pain and suffering, she’ll be the first to tell you she wouldn’t be where she is today had she not endured it and persevered.

In fact, Nelson has been beating the odds since before she was born.

“My mom tried to have an abortion with me at six months pregnant,” Nelson said. “Obviously, I'm still here.”

Eighteen years ago, Nelson was diagnosed with breast cancer. Again, she beat the odds.

“I was given 3-4 months to live, but God had other plans and healed me,” Nelson said.

In 2010, Nelson founded H-Town Dream Center in Splendora. The nonprofit provides a range of service to individuals in need, including rescuing women and children in crisis, feeding the hungry and educating at-risk youth.

A closer look

Nelson noted one of the main functions of the nonprofit is providing support and safe housing for women and children who are survivors of human trafficking, domestic violence and crisis pregnancies.

“We listen, we comfort, we show compassion, and we just walk the journey with them,” Nelson said, noting the nonprofit has the capacity to house up to 50 women and children year-round.

In addition to providing safe housing, Nelson said the nonprofit also offers a variety of life skills courses to those in its care.

“They have parenting classes, baking classes, financial classes, anger management classes,” Nelson said. “And they do all this while their kids are in school.”

Additionally, Nelson said the nonprofit provides support through its Care & Share Food Pantry. She noted families are eligible to visit the pantry up to twice a month to receive groceries and essential household items.

Nelson added the nonprofit also provides educational services to at-risk youth members in the community through its NXT GEN program, which offers mentorships to youth members.

Nelson said the aim of the program is to foster increased academic achievement, improved behavior, boosted self-esteem and better social skills. She noted youth members are welcome to gather at the nonprofit’s community center, which features a basketball court, soccer field, fishing pond and additional activities.

“It's free to anyone in the community,” Nelson said. “We do after-school programs, and we have people that come and teach the sports.”

How to help

Nelson noted the nonprofit would not be able to function without the help of the nearly 400 individuals who volunteer to assist at the center.

“We could not do this without our volunteers and the businesses that support us,” Nelson said.

Additionally, she said the center accepts both monetary donations and donated items for its Care & Share Food Pantry, as long as the items are in good condition.

Why it matters

Nelson said having the ability to help others has been one of the most rewarding aspects of launching and running the nonprofit.

“We keep loving on the people, and they just keep showing up,” Nelson said.