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Overview
 Grace Unlimited is a Dallas based 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2003 that provides a residence program for sober woman who have been recently released from incarceration and desire to stay drug, alcohol and prison free.
In this safe, sober and supportive environment the Women of Grace develop the social and living skills needed to pave the way for transition back into the community as contributing citizens. Women of Grace are inspired and empowered to safely and proudly stand on their two feet.
Grace Unlimited requires a minimum one-year commitment to the program from each woman upon entering the program. Progressing alongside others with the same challenges, the women will learn and develop social and living skills. It is the project’s aim that the women become self-reliant, self-motivating and self-supporting – women who can safely stand on their own two feet.
 The goal of the Grace Unlimited program is to remove the stigma of being an ex-offender that haunts women as they transition back into society. Although these women have served their time, when newly-released, they find that their past creates a series of hard to overcome roadblocks to earning stability. Their criminal record makes it near impossible to obtain housing, education, healthcare or quality employment upon their release. The fifty dollars provided to start a new life is gone in the blink of an eye. Without a plan for the future, without the help of mentors, and without self-esteem, women will relapse into a life of dependency and, eventually, defeat and re-incarceration.
Grace Unlimited is a four-bedroom house located in Oak Cliff. The residence has an onsite manager and has room for up to six women, two to a room. Located in the back is a separate Learning Center where the women receive instruction and have computer access. The majority of women come from units as far as Gatesville TX and as nearby as downtown Dallas. Each candidate is researched, interviewed and has initiated the process of recovery from addiction/alcoholism while incarcerated.
A year in review…
June 2006
The Melba House undergoes serious rehab. Just about 100% of the work is done by volunteers primarily from the local recovery community. Walls are scraped and painted, floors are scrubbed and a multitude of other jobs are preformed with love and vigor to prepare the house for its first Woman of Grace.
August 2006
Grace Unlimited has its first “huge” garage sale which raised over $2,000, while realizing August in Dallas is no time to hold a garage sale.
October 2006
$30,000 is raised at the Life is Good benefit concert, allowing us to establish a financial portfolio to provide stability for Grace, get a much needed alarm system for the house and insurance for our vehicle.
Pepper, our first Woman of Grace, arrives. Upon arrival, Pepper and the hands of Grace get busy, establishing and maintaining her wardrobe and personal needs, health insurance, a Texas Driver’s License and her sobriety by integrating her into local meetings.
December 2006
The Grace family welcomes Sara and Tammy, our second and third Women of Grace. Tammy walked out of the Gatesville Prison directly into the Grace family’s arms and we whisked her to Dallas and her beautiful new home.
January 2007
 - Resolana Classes begin in Grace’s Learning Center, teaching living and communication skills.
- Gracie's Girls opens as a cleaning service company and now employs not only our ladies, but also other women just released from jail, providing them with the opportunity to make an honest living through an honest days work.
- Grace Unlimited receives the Bingo Charity Distribution. Thanks to Ridgewood Bingo, some of the profits from games played are donated to Grace Unlimited.
February 2007
Through the loving donations of their time, love and money, The Young Family completes the full renovation of the Grace Unlimited Learning Center. Our center now has fully operational computers and internet connections along with brand new office furniture and workstations donated by Dallas Desk. This allows Grace to begin Computer Proficiency classes taught by our volunteer Mary Ellen.
March 2007
- Ladies have Health Care Plus from Parkland, driver’s licenses and they are working. Pepper has extensive dental work done by caring and generous dentists.
- Therapy Service Donation is received and all ladies began a road of personal healing.
- Grace Unlimited receives our largest grant award of $5,000 from the Harold Simmons Foundation.
April 2007
- Grace holds a successful yard sale which brings in money for groceries and to support renovation work on the garage.
- The Women of Grace respond to the April storms that have left the neighborhood littered with debris by initiating a Neighborhood Clean-Up. During the clean up Grace Unlimited cut down a fallen tree, collected and bag scattered and damaged belongings. The ladies were featured on the KTVT CBS-11 5 o’clock News highlighting their efforts.
- Added text: Greater Dallas Council on Alcohol & Drug Abuse sponsors a National Youth Services Day at Grace Unlimited. The Grace house was filled with entergetic young people who helped repair the garage and front porch.
May 2007
Grace proudly watches Pepper complete the Grace Program earlier than expected and march confidently into the world on her own. She left Grace clean and sober, gainfully employed and with $300 in savings. Pepper is now furthering her integration back into society and residing at the Oxford House.
June 2007
 - Program Director, DA Starkey, continues reviewing applications and organizing teams to interview new candidates for the house. This process is exhaustive as it requires Starkey to write personal letters to each applicant, then a trip to Gatesville, Lew Sterrett or Jesse Dawson is scheduled for a personal interview with the applicant.
- Women of Grace venture out to Samuel Farms to pick fruit and then share the extras with their neighbors on the block.
To find out more about Grace Unlimited, please visit our website www.grace-unlimited.org.
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