The Love Rules Our City Gala promises to be an inspiring celebration as Viola’s House honors Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, with proceeds benefiting the transformative Purpose Palace on Park. This annual event highlights the resilience of women who have overcome adversity and showcases the vital support being offered to those in need within our community.
At first glance, 1810 Park Row in South Dallas is not much to look at. The once stunning home, which was built in the 1950s, has been all but ignored by a community in transition and has long stood silent. Any evidence that the aged structure ever held the warmth of family has long since gone. But if Thana Hickman- Simmons has her way, the old mansion will soon be full of children and mothers in its new life as the Purpose Palace on Park Row.
Hickman-Simmons is CEO and Founder of Viola’s House, a Dallas-based nonprofit dedicated to providing maternity housing and support services to mothers who are faced with an unplanned pregnancy. Park Row property was donated to Viola’s House by Cornerstone Community Development Corp in 2023 with the hopes of transforming the 26 room mansion into transitional housing for a fast-growing demographic seeking services— pregnant mothers with multiple children who are navigating the challenges of raising their growing
families alone.
As a social determinant of health, stable housing plays a critical role in preventing maternal health complications such as low birth weights and postpartum depression. When the remodeling project is complete, Purpose Palace will be an essential resource which expands the network of wraparound services offered by Viola’s House. According to Hickman-Simmons, the project will make a significant and positive impact, one family at a time.
“Many young, pregnant women don’t have the financial resources or community support to care for themselves and their children and are more likely to experience poverty, abuse, homelessness, and other negative consequences that can harm them and their children for generations. Our goal is to offer a supportive environment for these moms while providing access to essential services such as job training, education, transportation, and access to health care.”
Hickman-Simmons’ vision for Purpose Palace is ambitious. Plans are drawn and some work has already started to revitalize the 5,600 sq. ft building into a modern, multi-family dwelling. The Purpose Palace will offer suite-style housing for four mothers and their children. The site will also sustain an onsite daycare for up to 40 children. The project comes with an estimated $1.5 million price tag for the down-to-the-studs renovation and ancillary work needed to bring it to life. Hickman-Simmons knows her work is cut out for her, but says the project comes at a crucial time for underserved pregnant women in the community. “We are experiencing an affordable housing crisis that is unprecedented. Southern Dallas has the highest percentage of cost-burdened renters and single mothers are hit especially hard. The added pressure of an unplanned pregnancy often pushes them over the edge into unstable housing and homelessness.”
The Purpose Palace will welcome both expectant and new mothers and their children. Residents can stay for up to 12 months with access to essential childcare services enabling them to pursue opportunities for educational and career advancements. The program requires mothers to work and pay a small portion of their income towards room and board. The payments will be refunded upon completion of the program to help the mothers secure permanent housing. “In 2023, we piloted our Transitional Housing Program and found that the requirement to contribute a small portion of their income gave moms who had already been through a great deal of trauma a sense of worth and a feeling that they were in control of their lives,” said Hickman-Simmons.
Just as it takes a village to support families, Viola’s House is relying on its own network of long-time supporters to make the Purpose Palace a reality. The organization has enlisted the help of Studio V Architect and The Inkognito Group. “We’re learning more and more about how stable housing not only improves the wellbeing of the moms, but it also contributes to better outcomes for their babies and older children too. As we work with the team at Viola’s House, we are seeing the impact of our partnership firsthand,” said The Inkognito Group. “We are proud to work alongside Viola’s House to help create a bright future where vulnerable mothers and babies in our community are thriving.”
The anticipated impact of Purpose Palace will be profound:
Improved Maternal Health: By offering a nurturing environment that supports mothers postpartum, Purpose Palace will improve health outcomes and decrease the risks associated with homelessness after pregnancy.
Reduction of Health Disparities: The project will address critical gaps in maternal and prenatal care to reduce health disparities and promote equitable access to necessary services.
Empowerment of Mothers: Comprehensive programs include education, counseling, and skill-building, among other services. Purpose Palace mothers will gain the tools needed for independence and the ability to create stable homes for their families.
Sustainable Change: Purpose Palace programming is designed to break the cycle of poverty and instability for underserved mothers. The year-long access to secure housing will also help address other social determinants of health such as food insecurity and the lack of access to health care, job training and employment opportunities.
As Hickman-Simmons stands outside the construction site that will eventually become Purpose Palace, she is beaming and seemingly unphased about the challenging work and fundraising goals ahead. As we chat about the project, it is clear that she is already imagining a sunny first-floor daycare and the comfortable family suites above it. When asked about the source of her deep belief that this project will be a certainty, Hickman- Simmons explains she’s been here before.
“When I was faced with an unplanned pregnancy at 17, my blessing was that I was surrounded by the support I needed to build a stable life. In other words, a loving community was there for me and now twenty-eight years later, a loving community is here for Viola’s House and the moms we serve. This includes the Purpose Palace.”
The Purpose Palace on Park Row represents the next chapter in Viola’s House’s evolution to support pregnant and parenting moms. Every day, staff is working collaboratively around the clock, with licensed counselors, mentors, and educators to ensure the growth and success of all its residents. Visit www.violashouse.org to donate to the Purpose Palace on Park Row project or contact them at email@violashouse.org to learn about volunteer opportunities and other ways to engage.
