[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 142 (Friday, October 11, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1498]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            CELEBRATING THE GROUNDBREAKING OF THE GATEHOUSE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. KENNY MARCHANT

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 11, 2013

  Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to announce and celebrate 
the ceremonial groundbreaking for The Gatehouse, a truly transformative 
community for women in difficult situations, which will occur soon on 
October 16, 2013, in Grapevine, Texas.
  The Gatehouse will be a unique community of transitional housing for 
women (and their children) coming out of abusive, impoverished, or 
other challenging situations. Gatehouse will be an entire suburban 
neighborhood complete with new houses of various sizes, a community 
center for counseling and events, a general store, a clothing boutique, 
and plenty of beautiful open green space. In addition to the physical 
amenities, Gatehouse is extraordinary because of its Independent Life 
Program--a two and one-half year program of practical and emotional 
assistance to ensure that women and families at Gatehouse are not just 
shuttled through life but make a positive long-term life 
transformation. The Independent Life Program at Gatehouse is also 
faith-based, though it does not affiliate with any particular church or 
take government funding, and is purely funded by generous private 
donors.
  Gatehouse was founded by Lisa Rose and grew out of projectHandUp. In 
2008, projectHandUp began as a group providing wisdom, hope, and 
practical resources to abused women at monthly ``First Friday'' 
meetings. Their first meeting drew 169, and they now are attended by 
350 to 1,000 people. Financial assistance was also made available in 
some cases to those in need. Over a period from 2011 to 2012, a group 
of women from the project worked with the Grapevine City Council to 
develop the idea for Gatehouse, and approval was granted on August 21, 
2012.
  In June of this year, work began on the roads and infrastructure for 
The Gatehouse. The groundbreaking ceremony will occur on October 16. 
The community is expected to open in the Fall of 2014 with the first 
neighborhood, Phase I, providing 24 units. At Gatehouse, great 
importance will be placed on healthy and compassionate relationships 
within the community in order to foster a sense of dignity and lasting 
improvement in women's lives. I commend the good work done by those who 
are laboring to make The Gatehouse a reality and look forward to seeing 
the success of their mission to provide women with a ``hand up.''
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 24th District of Texas, I ask all my 
distinguished colleagues to join me in celebrating the groundbreaking 
of The Gatehouse in Grapevine, Texas.

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