Gatesville Welcomes Prison Visitors to Hospitality House

It's finally finished! Central Texas Hospitality House in Gatesville will open for guests on November 1.  During the open house and dedication on Sunday, the community got to see what $90,000 in donations built. 

Hospitality house is a place for families visiting inmates in Gatesville's prison units. Visitors can stay for free.

The 8,000-square-foot building, (708 Hwy 36 West), has 10 bedrooms, four of them can be opened into two-room suites.

The building has a central common area with sofas, dining tables and a large kitchen.

There is an indoor play room for children and there will soon be a covered playground behind the building.

Guests have access to a large, well-equipped laundry and a collection of donated clothing to enhance visiting day attire.

Visitors do not have to pay to stay at Hospitality House.

According to the Hospitality House website, the number of people visiting an inmate in the Gatesville area has approached 50,000 people per year!  Many of these folks are economically challenged. Some have a hard time paying for the gas just to make the trip.

There are over 10,000 beds for inmates in the Gatesville area (which also includes Marlin and Burnett).  With 6 units, Gatesville houses over 3000 men and almost 80% of all the women incarcerated in Texas, as well as all the women on death row.  All of these men and women have family of some sort: children, spouses, parents.  The need for hospitality house is great!

You can help keep hospitality house free by making a donation. You can do that right here.

They also need a director, who will be paid, and volunteers. Find out more about Hospitality House at their website: http://cthhouse.org/