Texas Reach-Out Inc

I've been on the board of TROM for over 20 years. In that time the ministry has grown from one home to ten and we now serve over 70 men and women. I can honestly say that this organization has changed my life as I've witnessed many lives changed by focusing on the love of Christ. Many volunteers pour into these men and women, and it is so much more than a house, it's a home. We provide mentors, bible studies, jobs and vocational training to help ensure the success of our residents upon completing 6-18 months with us. We continue to strive to achieve our founder's vision (David Pena) of having 18 homes in the Austin area.
NMann

I have been affiliated with TROM for over seven years as a board member and bible study leader and have personally know many of the men and women. TROM gives all men and women the best home environment possible which is safe, free of drugs and alcohol. Michele Director of Women's services and William Director of men's services pick up the respective woman or from the bus station after release from prison at all hours of the day or night. They taken to a home, given a room, new bed linens, towels , etc. They are driven to the grocery store, parole meetings, help them obtain documentation such as birth certificates, drivers license, training and jobs. In addition, the women and men are given the time to acclimate to the free world and are placed in the best possible position to make a successful transition back into society. The Board fully supports both Michele and William who tirelessly pour themselves into the lives of the women and men on a daily basis.

TROM provides essential services to men and women exiting the criminal justice system in Central Texas. Their leadership is so passionate and committed to helping individuals re-enter successfully. I love this nonprofit and volunteering with them!

Trom gave me a chance at a new start in life..Because of that chance I'm living the best life I can possibly live. Its a great ministry would recommend it to anybody as long as your ready to live right.Mr Will Payne is a great guy as well Will help u if you are ready to succeed

Because of TROM I am living right now than I ever have in my life. My beliefs are respected as I am catholic and this is not a catholic organization. TROM has given me a chance that I never would of had if it wasn't for this organization. I strongly recommend this program to anyone that is sincere in wanting to get their life straight

I have been a volunteer with Texas Reach Out for over 5 years. I am mentor and also do a monthly women's bible study. When I first started, I had no idea what to expect. I stepped out in faith and the experience has changed my life. Getting to know these women and the challenges they face every day has changed my perception of those men and women who are incarcerated and now trying to make their way in the world. We do not make it easy for them. I had no idea how hard it is for them. You see and get to know them as real people who made bad choices. I have been blessed more than I can say with their faith, determination and grit. I am so glad I stepped out in faith and became a part of this wonderful group. I would recommend it to anyone who will listen.

Allison

I started volunteering services for Texas Reach Out, TROM, at first then was able to do a bible study and mentor soon after. It didn't take long to see and understand just how awesome this organization is. The homes and staff not only help ex Texas inmates but also be proactive for the homeless. The true loving care put in to each individual is setting them and society up for success vs. the opposite for ex inmates. I LOVE TROM and greatly appreciate all they do!

I was incarcerated for 12 years; I have been a recipient of the amazing program offered by Texas Reach Out Ministries for exactly 6 months. Upon my release I was unsure of what to expect in the program. I was fearful about the future ahead of me and uneasy about my newfound freedom from incarceration. A lot had changed in the years I was away, and I didn’t even know what I would need in my first few days of release. I had the wonderful experience of meeting the women’s amazing program director who was not only hospitable and kind but wrapped her arms around me in the most inviting hug! It wasn’t what I would have expected, you think of Christian households, and everyone gets this idea of strait laced and strict. What I experienced was warmth and an overwhelming flow of God’s love and acceptance. The home I was taken into was clean and organized, with laptops readily available for job search, and any other need I may need. I took my college entry exams on one of those very laptops. The women’s program director was in constant contact with me guiding me in all the relevant details of what I would need to do my first few days out, ad giving me transportation, and even waiting for me for almost an hour in the parking lot of the parole office while I did my initial office visit. In the following weeks I already had a job, of my own choosing, I was given the freedoms of living life as a free woman. I didn’t have someone hovering over me every step of the way, but I definitely had TROM lovingly encouraging me and offering help and guidance when I needed it most. The volunteers that come into the house twice a week for bible studies are amazing individuals, and our women’s program director is there with us participating and engaging every step of the way. I have never once felt like I had zero support, if anything I have had the most support through TROM than I have ever had my entire life. This program and the people that operate it have such a heart for people and helping them rebuild their lives it’s almost like something from a movie. Sometimes I can’t believe it’s real. I have been given a second chance and TROM has given me the opportunity to take hold of it. The house I live in is homey and warm. The bed I sleep in at night is comfy and safe. I have watched our program director bring in bags of groceries and hygrines and beddings and clothes for women who haven’t been able to get these things for themselves. We have goal sheets that help guide us through the first 18 months of our lives outside of prison, and they work with us individually catering to our unique and specific needs. I ran into some road bumps and they worked with me every step of the way where I needed it most. Today I am in college maintaining a 4.0 GPA, I have a license, I just purchased a car, I have a job, I have got to experience some amazing things that my old life would never have given me, and I am learning everyday how to live a full life. One thing that is sticking out to me as I type this is when I went into the dealership to buy my first car ever. I thought I was alone, and I was kind of freaking out and the program director of the women’s houses called my phone and sat there encouraging me, talking me through the process, giving me insight on what kind of information I needed to make this HUGE decision…and she reminded me how I wasn’t alone at all. I had all the support in the world in that moment because I knew that when she told me how proud she was of me, she truly meant it. I don’t think there could have been a better place for me. I had set a 6-month goal list for myself, what I wanted to achieve within the first six months of me being a free woman, and I have checked every single one of those goals off my list, and now I can reassess my goals for my next step in life….in the right direction….and TROM 110% helped me the entire way. I love this ministry and this program and most of all I love the people that work their hearts out to make this program possible!

Upon coming up for parole review I knew that I had to make some serious changes in my life and that meant a totally new location. So I started checking put transition homes. TROM stood out most to me because it was more then just a new place to parole to it was in fact a new family to love me and to encourage me to grow. I have been at TROM for almost a year and I love absolutely everything about it.

I think it unfortunate that some of these review sites don't give the public the whole truth, in that, when a person writes a review detailing their horrible experience, those reviews are censored.
I was in "ministry", living in one of their homes after my release from incarceration in early 2022.
TROM's manager--himself a ex felon-- was a very strange fella who habitually lied to residents and manipulated them, dictating to them who they could associate with and where they should work. This particular 60+ year old manager has a son who works at Goodwill, and he encourages TROM residents to apply at that Goodwill store. His son then receives a $500 referral fee for the new hire. This Manager repeatedly played one resident against another during my stay. I have listened to him lie to the face of potential donors about the transitional success rate of residents. Painting an unreal picture of the true outcomes of parolees' stays at the homes. The homes have no supervision, or on-siter manager. This semi-autonomy often results in bad actors without Christian principals to feel the freedom to behave as they please. I personally observed methamphetamine use and prostitutes being brought into the home and snuck into one of the rooms of the "Matthew" house. This "Ministry" operates as a 501(c)(3), but in all actuality, this is merely a legal entity camouflage, as they do function more like a for-profit. I would seriously encourage others considering this place for themselves or their family members, to seek out a genuine Christian ministry