In Hebrew numerology, the Hebrew word 'ten' means congregation. Ten is a spiritual building block, the perfect number constituting how to exist correctly, relationally in a group and the exponential number for growth. The heart of this reintegration program is the Kingdom 10 method birthed from ancient Biblical times. God told Abraham if 10 righteous people would pray, then he would save the two cities from destruction. This group of 10 program aims to save lives from failure and despair, overcoming the many barriers they encounter.

Our priority is to help poor and needy women who have little to no family support with nowhere to go and who have a humble willingness to be changed into the best version of themselves. Three letters of recommendation are required from prison chaplains, case managers, supervisors, and  one letter can be from an outside source, along with the completion of an entry questionnaire of why they want to be chosen as participants in our program. They are required to have worked a job and earned good work/behavior credits in prison. 

Another priority is to help South Carolina felony DUI women who must overcome more insurmountable barriers than other prisoners. After paying their debt to society, they are not able to drive for five years unless they pass a costly ADSAP course and then get expensive ignition interlocks installed in their cars for five years with monthly payments, along with payments for a car, insurance, and gas. These added costs make it even more difficult to find a job upon release because of this transportation issue. Healing Homes will be providing transportation to and from their jobs. Being labeled violent felons causes them to encounter even more barriers. Felony DUI is an unintentional car accident. An incorrect stigma follows them due to South Carolina classifying felony DUI as violent criminals, serving 85% of a 25 yr. max sentence with no work/good behavior credits and no parole, unlike most other states in our nation who classify felony DUI as a nonviolent crime, even if there is injury or death, serving 51% of much lower max sentences.

Because the ego is the root of all their misfortunes. The ego is the desire to fulfill pleasures at the expense of others to get money, power, honor, and knowledge. The ego is the greatest con-artist, influencing them to make wrong decisions. Many struggle with an identity crisis, trying to find out who they really are. The “I,” who you really are, is completely opposite the ego. The ego hides the true self. Inside our true selves, God has placed attributes to fulfill our mission on earth. We are not to let the ego bury what we know deep inside is our calling and purpose. By learning how to restrict and correct their selfish egos, prisoners can avoid misfortunes that can lead them back into prison. This unlocks a whole new world of personal growth and development.

Dr. Showalter Johnson’s comprehensive, rehabilitative program has an Ego Measurement Toolkit Checklist which helps you understand the ego’s influence and signs of an unhealthy ego, along with exercises to keep your ego in check.

Because it is the community’s responsibility to help its returning citizens to not go back to prison and to work at lowering recidivism rates, which is costly to taxpayers. A recent Prison Policy Initiative showed the unemployment rate for the formerly incarcerated is 27%, five times higher than the rates for the rest of America. Being African American or Hispanic, especially women, reduces their employment chances even more. Jesus speaks about feeding the hungry, helping the poor and needy, visiting the sick and those in prison. He says in Matthew 25:40 NIV “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” In April 2023, the Sentencing Project reported over the past quarter century there has been profound change in the involvement of women within the criminal justice system. This is the result of more expansive law enforcement, stiffer drug sentencing laws, and post-conviction barriers to reentry that uniquely affect women. Between 1980 and 2021, the number of incarcerated women increased more than 525%, rising from a total of 26,326 in 1980 to 168,449 in 2021. Though many more men are in prison than women, the rate of growth for female imprisonment has been twice as high as that of men since 1980.

The article Prison Penalty: Unemployment, Homelessness and Educational Exclusion explains that formerly incarcerated people are at an extreme disadvantage when it comes to rebuilding a safe, stable life. South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, who grew up in poverty, understands the importance of providing opportunities for the poor and needy. He spearheaded the successful program, called Opportunity Zones, which encourages businesses with incentives to locate in disadvantaged neighborhoods offering more job opportunities. Senator Scott's book, America. A Redemption Story is about choosing hope, creating unity. This is what Healing Homes Forever Family program will give to these disadvantaged women. Our communities need to help their returning citizens have better opportunities at reentry success. I have an idea of how to expand this successful program of Opportunity Zones. Further expansion of Opportunity Zones would be zones designated in advantaged neighborhoods. These 8 disadvantaged women participants in our Healing Homes Forever Family can live in an advantaged neighborhood where there is a mall, businesses, restaurants, technical college, university, health clinic, hospital, a public bus transit, bank, post-office, hair salon, fitness club and a grocery store in close proximity, creating for them an abundance of job opportunities and convenient services. This is a "Loaded Recipe for Success”. With the short staffing problems in our communities, businesses will want to hire our participants who have been mentored, trained, healed, and changed into law abiding citizens, bestowers and leaders, empowered to make a profound positive impact in our communities.

South Carolina Senator Tim Scott said it well in his speech to the nation in July 2016, during a time of racial chaos and confusion with tempers flaring high. Scott said, “America, We are family. Let's sit down at the table and discuss our differences and come together.” I envision the group of 10 occupants sitting around the crowded table in our healing home, coming together as a family with diverse backgrounds, races, cultures, but with one sole purpose of finding similarities, which help to bring unity, integration, rehabilitation, and healing. Always remember to make room for that special someone who can join in at the table and become like family. Healing Homes Forever Family’s logo conveys the heart of this ministry. Our logo is a table with a bowl of fruit on top. The table represents coming together as a family in love and unity. The fruit represents Fruits of the Spirit, Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness, Faithfulness and Self Control, which we all strive to attain as we become the “Better Me”. 

Come to the crowded table. Everyone is welcome, seen, and matters. Everything is forgiven with mercy, so come as you are bringing your heart. You will always have a place at the table of grace. The cups never empty and the plates always full. We were hungry. We were thirsty. Just when all hope was lost, love opened the door for us. Come meet this crew of misfits. Sin and shame can be left at the door. Sit down and be set free. Pull up a chair!

I believe misfits can become influential, powerful leaders. David in 2nd Samuel 23:8-38 took a group of misfits and trained them to become mighty champions, David's mighty men. I have a son in a South Carolina prison, and I know the heartaches and struggles both the family and the loved one encounters. My passion is to help these women reenter into society and rebuild their lives. I want to help others with what I have been through myself. Second Corinthians1:4 NIV says it well, “Who comforts us in all our tribulation, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

Click here to watch Facebook Live

This was my 2nd time doing a Facebook live in July 2016 during a painful time in our country and a very difficult time in my life. Brian, my son, entered prison 3 months later. I was so inspired by Sen. Tim Scott so I spoke my heart to America too!

Recently, 60 million was given by Wells Fargo for a new reentry program for prisoners in the Upper State of South Carolina in the Spartanburg and Greenville area. We too need funding for successful reentry programs upon release in the South Carolina Lowcountry. Healing Homes Forever Family wants to meet this urgent need. As participants exit the Healing Homes program, they will leave with the group of 10 as their lifetime family support group and have a rehabilitative model to use for a life of continuous correction and change, striving to become more like God. Our motto, Forever Family, becomes a reality in their lives, etched and engraved in their hearts. They can look back and say, “There is no place like home.” Many have never experienced a home with a nurturing, loving family environment. 

Our goal is to first raise three million to purchase two adjacent homes by Summer 2024. One of the home is already furnished. This homes will also be used as a facility to train other mentors as the project expands and to bless the community. Once the homes are purchased, additonal money raised will help toward startup cost and implementation of the program.