Methodist Mission Home History
Methodist Mission Home was founded in 1895 in the wake of a dramatic and spontaneous conversion experience by Madam M. L. Volino who ran a brothel on San Saba Street. Inspired by a street revivalist, Madam Volino returned to her house in the red light district vowing to begin a new life. Through financial and emotional support of the Methodist community and Travis Park Methodist Church, Volino converted the brothel into a rescue home for "fallen women." By the early 1900's, most of the women who arrived were pregnant and unwed and the Rescue Home became known primarily as a maternity center.
Over the years, a changing social climate was reflected in the activities of Methodist Mission Home. In 1938, residents of the overcrowded San Saba residence moved to the old Baylor Hospital building on 9th street.
Continued growth led to the building of the current multi-building, 25-acre campus which opened its doors in 1968. In 1969, the Mission Home served an all-time high of 321 maternity residents. However, as the 60's closed and the 70's dawned, more options were becoming available for an unwed mother: She could stay at home with less embarrassment; she could be single and parent the baby with less stigma; abortion became more publicly acceptable and available. By the early 1970's, the number of birth mothers being served dropped quickly and substantially, to less than a third of those served just a few years earlier.
With a beautiful new campus being used to only a portion of its potential, the administration started looking for a new ministry for the Home to fully justify the mission of serving people who have special needs. Upon exploration, it was discovered there was a great need to help young adults who were deaf/hard of hearing to transition to the real world. A new program was developed and the first clients came on campus in early 1974. The initial purpose was to help these individuals develop better communication skills, learn how to live alone, learn how to work, and learn fundamentals of basic living. The end result would help each person be able to compete in the job market and be able to live independently. The program goals have remained basically the same since 1974, but in 1998, the SCHI started serving people with cognitive and physical disabilities, while specializing in deaf/hard of hearing services.
More than a century after our humble beginnings, Methodist Mission Home continues to serve hundreds of people each year. Our Family Services helps birth mothers (and fathers!) during a time of great need. We offer domestic, international, and older-child adoption programs to families wanting to adopt. SCHI offers community-based and residential programs for adults who are deaf/hard of hearing, or have other disabilities. For more information on our programs or how you can help Methodist Mission Home, please explore the rest of our website or contact at us at the number listed on this page.
Methodist Mission Home -- Giving God's Children a Faith, a Family, a Future...