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SUNDAY'S CHILD
Sunday's Child "Christopher" 2/7/10
Just in time for the Winter Olympics, CBS 7’s Tatum Hubbard hit the ice with a very athletic 15-year-old for a little "speed skating."
Just in time for the Winter Olympics, CBS 7’s Tatum Hubbard hit the ice with a very athletic 15-year-old for a little "speed skating."
Inside "The Pearl House" in Goldsmith 10/21/09
CBS 7 News
bberman@cbs7.com
October 21, 2009
Goldsmith, Texas -
Both Goldsmith residents and the Ector County Sheriff have concerns about the “Pearl House” shelter in Goldsmith.
Emmitt Beasley founded the Pearl House last year in Goldsmith's former school building as a "clean and sober living environment", a facility he struggles to keep up.
"It's a very big facility that takes a lot to keep it maintained", says Beasley.
But Beasley has worked wonders, transforming former classrooms into bedrooms.
"It's not the greatest home in the world, but we have two big rooms like this, the living area and the sleeping quarters and another big area over here", he says.
As of last week all that anyone really knew about the Pearl House is what he or she saw of it through a window in a dark hallway. But when you really step inside like we did today you get a different picture of the Pearl House, a brighter view. You can see the books in the library room of the Pearl House where residents can read and get an education. There are even televisions to watch TV, here in this library room and this is just a taste of what the Pearl House has to offer to these residents, who say they enjoy living here and hope it can stay in operation.
"Nobody's ever come to me or called me and said they have a problem with the Pearl House still to this day", says Beasley.
He answered a barrage of questions: He says that he his kids live here but he says they are safe. The mentally disabled Deborah Woods has been taken away by Mental Health officers, and it became evident food isn't a concern for residents.
"You can come get a drink of cold, fresh water any time that you want to", says Beasley.
Beasley admits the Pearl House needs some polishing, but he says his resident's stories provide the shine.
"I needed help. I was on the streets and out of all the organizations out there, nobody would help me and Emmitt Beasley was the only man that would help me", says Pearl House resident, Chris Binns.
"By the grace of god and my Lord and this place I can say I have 50 days of sobriety", says resident, Buford Howell.
Shelves and shelves of hygiene products and a pantry full of food sit caddy corner to piles of clean linens.
"All that's been said is nothing but lies. We're not mistreated, we're not hungry", says Binns.
Beasley describes the Pearl House as refuge, a Salvation Army without the brand name, an open door for those who've been locked out for years.
But Beasley’s takes it one day at a time.
"Hopefully it will be open tomorrow and hopefully it will be open the next day", he says.
We asked Emmitt Beasley if the accusation from some town members have been frustrating.
Beasley says it’s not frustrating at all because he says there’s nothing to hide and nothing wrong with the Pearl House.
