After prison, all too many women return to their old drug- and alcohol-infused lives.
It”s easier. And when they”re broke and homeless, shunned by employers, they have precious few other options.
That”s why Kelly Britton and Bill Vaughan started the Avante halfway house and Life on a Prayer program for women Nov. 1.
Avante House, which is south of Highway 182 outside of Columbus, is the first halfway house just for women in Lowndes County.
Britton, who is involved with prison and drug and alcohol treatment ministries, has been thinking about starting a halfway house for 10 years.
“It”s something I”ve always wanted to do,” she said.
So, in October, she called Vaughan. Between then and November, they raised enough funds and support to buy the house.
“It”s like God”s providing whatever we need when we need it,” said Vaughan, who owns a private counseling firm in Columbus.
Avante, which means “to move forward or progress,” is the goal of the house, said Britton, who knows firsthand how hard it is for women to recover.
That”s one of the benefits of the halfway house, Vaughan said. In a halfway house, “you”ve got a lot of support” and accountability.
“As a counselor, I work with a lot of women who get out of prison and go back into the same environment with the same bad influences,” he said.
The three-bedroom, two-bathroom house is large enough for eight women, although only four are living there now, and a housemother. The residents take turns cooking and cleaning, and have to come up with $50 a week in rent or have a sponsor.
Britton took time to answer questions about the project.
What prompted you and Vaughan to found the halfway house?
This is a need here in Columbus. There”s a lot of women coming out of jail or prison here who don”t have the money to stay somewhere.
We wanted these women to have a house. Some of them have never had a home, some have been abused. We wanted this house to be filled with God.
We thought we could, with the help of the community, give them somewhere to live and introduce them to God.
The bottom line is, everybody deserves a second chance. For some, a first one. I deal with a lot of women who”ve never had a chance.
There”re people who are ready to get out of prison and get better. They just need someone to show them how.
We”re going to give these ladies the opportunity. I really believe this house is run by God.
What sparked your interest in helping these women?
I have had some trials and tribulations in my life and I was given a second chance. It”s only right that I show others how to get one.
This has been something I”ve been willing to do for 10 years.
How does the house work?
The house is just supported by a small amount of rent. If people don”t have a job, we get sponsors for them.
The women have to take drug screens. They have to learn living skills. It”s just to teach them how to live a sober, productive life. They are very grateful to be here.
They learn how to cook, clean, balance checkbooks and communicate with people. They learn how to be friends, daughters, sisters and mothers. We have people in the community who come and teach them these things.
They can stay in the house for one year. But if they”re not ready, we won”t make them leave. They slowly become productive members of society without being rushed.
This is the first halfway house we”ve ever run. It”s going to be trial and error, but there”s a desperate need in Lowndes County for this house.
Do you plan to expand the program?
We would like for this house to get up and be self supporting. Once we do, we want to shoot for men. There”s a need for a halfway house for men as well as women.
I heard a man went to his probation officer here just recently and asked to be sent back to prison. He said no one would hire him, that he was broke and was living on the streets.
How is the program funded?
The sad thing about government grants is you can”t speak about God in anymore in the house. That”s why the house is funded privately. It”s between them and God.
I can”t take away from these women how God helped me.
How can people donate to Avante House?
We have an address people can mail donations to: 938 Kincade Road, Columbus, MS, 39702. People can make the checks out to the Avante House. Contributions are very much accepted. If anyone wants to know more about the house, my number is 662-574-1768.
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