For mothers in San Antonio struggling with addiction, losing custody of their children can be one of the most devastating consequences of the disease. A local nonprofit is working to change that by offering women a safe place to heal while they work toward reuniting with their families.
The Lonestar State offers an impressive number of treatment centers for those impacted by addictions. San Antonio alone has dozens of care centers, clinics, and residential facilities for general and specialized care.
Redeemer House, an addiction recovery organization founded in 2023, provides housing and group wraparound support for women seeking addiction treatment in San Antonio. Since opening its first home, the nonprofit has grown to four houses and has served more than 30 women.
Redeemer House Offers Women in Recovery
Women who come to Redeemer House receive stable housing alongside practical aftercare resources: help finding work, educational opportunities, and a supportive community of peers in recovery. The goal is to build the kind of stability that makes long-term sobriety possible.
Erika Schoenhofer is the program director and knows the pull of addiction firsthand. She relayed that even the love of her own child couldn’t stop the disease at its worst, but that understanding now fuels her work helping other mothers find their way back.
“When I first moved into that house, my mom said, ‘Please don’t. I’m scared for you,'” Schoenhofer recalled. “I said, ‘Mommy, please trust me. I need to do this for myself and my child so I can get better.'”
That combination of personal accountability and family motivation lies at the heart of the Redeemer House model.
Signs of Addiction in Mothers and Caregivers
Addiction in mothers often looks different than what many people expect. It frequently involves shame, isolation and a cycle of attempts to quit followed by relapse. Common signs of addiction in women include withdrawing from family, neglecting responsibilities, mood swings, and increasing secrecy around behavior or substance use.
For many women, the fear of losing their children becomes both a barrier to seeking help and, ultimately, the reason they do. Through counseling, they learn to understand that addiction is a disease, not a moral failure. It’s a critical first step for families trying to support a loved one.
Mothers Speak About Recovery in San Antonio
Kristen Carson, a Redeemer House resident, described years of living on the streets before finding the program. She recalled arriving with anger, fear and deep self-doubt, but the community at Redeemer House helped her begin to let those go.
Whitney Reynolds, another resident, said her sons kept her motivated even when circumstances were at their worst. She has a message for other mothers in the same situation: “Just reach out for hope because there is hope out there for you.”
Women at Redeemer House move on once they’re no longer showing signs of instability and are instead ready for independent living. This transition-focused model creates lasting recovery rather than dependency on the program.
Finding Addiction Treatment in San Antonio and Beyond
For Texas families seeking help, knowing where to start can be overwhelming. The state, like many others, has a shortage of providers. But help is available. If you or someone you love shows signs of addiction, reaching out to a local treatment provider is the most important first step.
Addiction treatment options in San Antonio range from residential programs like Redeemer House to outpatient counseling and medically supervised detox. Services specifically designed for women and mothers to address substance use and family reunification are available across Texas and across the nation.
Browse our directory to find verified addiction treatment centers in Texas or any community in the country, or dial
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