Men's recovery housing idea

[Southernscotty]

Hey guys, I am praying on something that might be awesome and want to run it by you guys.
and see what you think?
How about a 40 acre tract of woods and brush that we could put up several small one room cabins and let men who are recovering from alcohol or drugs stay there and take care of a few farm animals and a large community garden that the extra produce would be further given the poor in the community.
These men would have campfire bible studies and Sunday church regularly as part of the program.
I believe there are many areas we could go into here, Like a community corrections team that let guys work off their debts here in our county like community service etc:
We could also help them find jobs and teach them some biblical values.
What are your thoughts? Concerns? etc

 

[Sketcher]

How are you going to keep them from hiding drug stashes in the woods?

 

[Southernscotty]

How are you going to keep them from hiding drug stashes in the woods?

That is something to think about. However they could be drug tested once a month to stay in the program

 

[Sketcher]

That is something to think about. However they could be drug tested once a month to stay in the program

So they purge themselves before their monthly test, and keep using or selling drugs. What then?

 

[Southernscotty]

Well the goal here is that they find Christ and begin a new life.
It of course won't always work, but it might reach some?

 

[Southernscotty]

I just feel that if I could help a few, Then it would be worth it friends. You see many of these guys go back to jail because they have no way to pay fines, So community service, Where they are actually helping others might in turn help them?
Perhaps I am naive but I really wanna help

 

[Sketcher]

Well the goal here is that they find Christ and begin a new life.
It of course won't always work, but it might reach some?

It would have to be well-run to accomplish that mission. Vital to having it be well-run is to have strong policies and procedures in place to prevent the selling and use of the very substances that you're trying to help people to get away from.

 

[Southernscotty]

It would have to be well-run to accomplish that mission. Vital to having it be well-run is to have strong policies and procedures in place to prevent the selling and use of the very substances that you're trying to help people to get away from.

I agree, It would take lot's of prayer and patience to pull this off. I believe it would need a curfew as well and no one allowed behind the fence after 8 pm.
But showing some trust in these men might go a long ways in their recovery as well?

 

[Tree of Life]

Do you have any experience ministering to addicts?

 

[Southernscotty]

Do you have any experience ministering to addicts?

Oh yes Sir, I've Been a jail and prison chaplain and counselor, I spent a lot of time with them and really have a heart for helping them and their families

 

[Sketcher]

I agree, It would take lot's of prayer and patience to pull this off. I believe it would need a curfew as well and no one allowed behind the fence after 8 pm.
But showing some trust in these men might go a long ways in their recovery as well?

Showing trust in the right measure at the right time can be helpful to some. Others however, WILL break it. A former roommate of mine got these lessons the hard way time and again (I am unsure if he ever learned from them). What you have to prepare for is WHEN they break it, will they do enough damage to derail other clients than themselves? If they're selling drugs, the answer is easily "yes."

 

[Kit Sigmon]

You'd have the area fenced in?

 

[Southernscotty]

I agree it wouldn't be easy and it would be disappointing at times no doubt. I have helped many in the past to get out of jail, placed them in recovery homes and they in turn run off the next day, It happens, However; I have helped some who really wanted help and are still sober and living as a productive citizen of society

 

[Southernscotty]

You'd have the area fenced in?

Yes Not to detain them, but the farm animals.

 

[Kit Sigmon]

Yes Not to detain them, but the farm animals.

You said no one behind the fence after 8 p.m.... so I asked the question.

 

[Southernscotty]

You said no one behind the fence after 8 p.m.... so I asked the question.

Yes that would be the rule anyway. but I would really have to pray on the rules and regs first. I want them to have a certain amount of freedom but yet be safe and keep out the sellers, Which I am sure will be the problem.

 

[Kit Sigmon]

I seem to recall that the Salvation Army has many no-fee rehab facilities
in various places.
A new start up place would need financial backing, what plans/ ideas do
you have on raising funds?

 

[Southernscotty]

I seem to recall that the Salvation Army has many no-fee rehab facilities
in various places.
A new start up place would need financial backing, what plans/ ideas do
you have on raising funds?

Don't know that yet either, I would live full time on the property but I know we would need donors of some sort. Perhaps churches around the area? Perhaps a grant of some kind?

 

[Darkhorse]

So they purge themselves before their monthly test, and keep using or selling drugs. What then?

The drug tests should be random and unexpected.

 

[Southernscotty]

The drug tests should be random and unexpected.

I think that would be the best and done often. They would have to be evicted from the program if they break the rules and have anything in them. I would almost say they should have two weeks after incarceration that they would become acclimated and during this time, No visitors?
After that start letting in family and start that progress