When Connie and Denis McGovern first arrived in Dripping Springs in 1985, they found a rural haven hidden in the hills with just one traffic light and one grocery store.
What was then a quiet and affordable town has since morphed into a booming suburb with median home prices of $672,000 (Redfin).
As the city's population soared, so has the cost of living. And not all residents have managed to stay afloat.
After Denis suffered a debilitating head injury in 2009, Connie took on more work—cleaning houses as well as cooking at Hudson’s on Mercer and at Hill Country Nursing and Rehab—to make ends meet.
“My husband's injury and the increase in the cost of living required me to start working three jobs,” Connie explains.
The McGoverns lived in a manufactured home in west Dripping Springs she inherited from her parents. While they didn't have a mortgage, the aging structure was rapidly deteriorating and required expensive repairs.
“It was already 30 years old when my parents bought it, and they aren't built to last very long,” Connie says.
She remembers the moment she realized it was no longer safe for her family: “There was a big hole in the floor,” Connie recalls. “The day my grandbaby was born, I realized it wasn't a safe place for him.”
Hidden in Plain Sight
This is where exploring Dripping Springs takes on new meaning. Beyond the breweries and wedding venues that draw visitors from across Texas lies another Dripping Springs—one with generational families living in homes dating back to the 1950s through 1970s.
“They need help, but you wouldn't know it. They're hidden in plain sight,” says Chris Kelker-Newlan, operations manager at Hometown Missions, a local faith-based nonprofit that builds and repairs homes for neighbors in need.
“They could sell their land for a lot of money, but that’s not what they want,” Kelker-Newlan explains. “Dripping Springs is their home, and they are our neighbors. They work in our stores, our restaurants, and school district. They cook and serve our food and take care of our elderly.”
Despite skyrocketing property values, “they don't want to leave, and they shouldn't have to,” Kelker-Newlan says.
This is certainly the case for Connie.
“This is where I want to be. I love Dripping Springs,” she shares. “I can’t imagine living anywhere else.”
When traditional financial institutions turned Connie away, her longtime family banker connected her with Hometown Missions, which determined the McGoverns qualified for their “Home in a Month” program.
The organization carefully considers sustainability, ensuring families can remain in their new or repaired homes without being taxed out of their properties.
“We're never going to give someone a new home if it's going to tax them out of their place,” says Kelker-Newlan.
Exploring Transforming Experiences
What makes Hometown Missions unique is the dual transformation it creates—both for families receiving help and volunteers giving it.
“Some of our neighbors can’t have friends or family come over because of the state of their homes," Kelker-Newlan says. “Our hope is to bring them back into the community by restoring their homes.”
For volunteers, the experience offers a chance to explore the true meaning of service.
“Answering the call to help your neighbor is one of the most powerful examples of what Christianity is supposed to be,” Kelker-Newlan reflects. “It inspires and spreads the message: Love your neighbor.”
Connie says Hometown Missions helped her family in a time of desperation.
“Hometown Missions was my last hope,” she says. “It means everything to me and my family to have a safe and healthy home. This will be our forever home.”
Connie says she plans to volunteer with Hometown Missions on future projects. This kind of response is one of the reasons Kelker-Newlan does what he does.
“When I see the families we’ve helped come out and help on a project, it warms my heart,” he shares. “It reinforces a strong sense of community. We all live here and we all love living here.”
The Journey Continues
So far this year, six families have requested assistance; the McGoverns’ home was the third replacement project completed.
For Connie, who has watched Dripping Springs evolve from a one-stoplight town to a thriving suburb, Hometown Missions has made it possible to remain part of the community she loves.
“I’m so excited to live, love, and laugh in our new home, and I’m truly honored to live in Dripping,” she says.
Volunteers ages 12 and older of all skill levels are always needed. Donations support Hometown Missions’ goal of funding one to two home builds, two to three mobile home replacements, and numerous repair projects annually. Donations can be made online or by check.
HometownMissions.org | @drippingspringshometownmission
"When I see the families we’ve helped come out and help on a project, it warms my heart."