Featured Program: The Grace House
Imagine with me, if you will, what Julie looks like.
She is someone who could be anyone’s sister, co-worker or daughter. She is average height, has long light-brown hair she keeps pulled back from her face in a ponytail and has a bit of a Louisville drawl. Add a little bit of sass and street smarts to that vision and you have Julie.
Julie grew up in a household where both parents were dependent on alcohol. Her father moved out and away from the family, and Julie lost contact with him during her formative years. Julie grew up under her mother’s care, and faced many difficulties as a teenager and young woman. When she was in her early 20s, she found herself without a lot of family support; and because she had no where to go, she lived in her car.
Julie survived on the harsh streets of the city, falling further into a downward spiral of substance abuse. Her life was one of uncertainty. She did not know when she would eat again; if she would get a shower that day; or have a safe, warm place to sleep at night other than her car. It was while homeless and living in her car, Julie discovered she was pregnant. Pregnant and addicted, Julie became very frightened, for she had no place or anyone to turn to for support.
Julie reached out to another local organization for help. She told them she was cold, hungry, had not had a shower in weeks and was pregnant. This organization had to turn Julie away because she was pregnant, and referred her to Volunteers of America’s Grace House. That is where Julie found the help she needed.
When Julie came to Volunteers of America, she was holding on to lots of fear, anger and addiction. She had never been so frightened in her life, because she did not know if she or her baby would survive. But Volunteers of America staff made sure that Julie received prompt prenatal care, parenting support, therapy and treatment for her addiction. She created a new family with women facing similar challenges.
While living at Volunteers of America’s Grace House, Julie gave birth to Jada, a beautiful baby girl born both drug free and healthy. Shortly after giving birth to Jada, Julie graduated from the Volunteers of America drug program, and through the help of an incredible staff, found an apartment and a job. Now Julie and Jada together are living a happy life full of hope and promise.
Added to all of that success, through the help of Volunteers of America, Julie reunited with her father, who has successfully recovered from his alcohol addiction, and has been an outstanding and wonderful support to Julie’s recovery as well. He is very much a part of his daughter and granddaughter’s life.
Without the help of Volunteers of America, it is very possible that neither Julie nor Jada would be alive today. Their story is a true testament to how Volunteers of America helps create positive change in the lives of the homeless and addicted.
About Grace House
Grace House serves eight to10 women and their children in a communal living environment. With a registered nurse on-site, clients have their health and wellness needs met, while also participating in individual, group and family therapy, life-skills training, parenting classes and substance abuse education.
Grace House sees children as primary clients, too. It offers specialized, age-appropriate programs, and evidence-based practices, specializing in family therapy. Last year, 23 women and 25 children exited Grace House with an improved treatment status. These residents successfully graduated the program and continued their recovery journeys in the community.
Grace House exemplifies Volunteers of America’s dedication to strengthening families across the country. “We will be most effective in improving the lives of the children by serving their families as well,” explains Beth Poffenberger-Lovell, national director for children, youth and families. “For us, family strengthening is all about intentionality, about engaging the whole family in a deliberate way to improve outcomes of children and their families.”
