Ten years ago, the doors to a little brick house out on Old Jesup Road opened to help women in need in our community. Ever since that day, Heather House has been a powerful force in changing lives.
In 2005, at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting at a local jail, Luck Flanders met a young woman who lacked funds to enter a live-in treatment center to continue recovery. It was at that point that Luck realized the need for a local residential recovery home that did not require a large entry fee. She and her friend, Gaby, who had dreamed about running a halfway house, began the process of achieving non-profit status and establishing Heather House, a non-profit long-term residential recovery program. Davis Love III and his wife, Robin, offered the services of the Love Foundation to help raise startup money, and thanks to their generosity and the AA community, Heather House was able to open three months later, in February 2006. Women in recovery now have an affordable loving, supportive, and safe, drug and alcohol free environment to call home while they work to maintain sobriety.
Julie Andrew Tharpe
Heather House
Heather House Director Heather Rosenberg (center) with board members (from left) Lucy Bryson, founder Luck Flanders, Alexandra Carlyle, and Rebecca Robinson.
Heather House is a 12-month residential program with up to 10 women in the program at one time. In accordance with the AA Twelve Steps of Recovery, residents are required to attend AA meetings, which helps build a community of sponsors and supporters outside the house.
Education is another important requirement of the Heather House program. Any women lacking a high school diploma or GED must attend classes to earn their GED. Luck explains, “Many of these girls think that they aren’t capable of academic success, but often we find they excel and graduate with honors.” She shared stories with EIL of a program graduate who has made Dean’s List each semester she has been in college and others who have received Certified Nursing Assistant Certificates. She says, “The success these women experience in these settings encourages them to work harder and raises their self-esteem when they realize they are smart and capable of more than they once believed.”
In addition, all residents must work to support themselves and actively participate in community service. They do regular volunteer work with Manna House, Faithworks, and Alcoholics Anonymous. The Heather House staff helps the women find jobs in the community. Maggie Baumann of the new Jekyll Market store employs two Heather House residents. She shares, “It has been our absolute delight to have staff members join us who are with Heather House. Each employee brings their own unique talents and experiences to the table, whether they are with us long term or just short-term. Being able to see their growth and share their successes, both personally and professionally, has been quite rewarding. While they appreciate the second chance that we have offered them, we appreciate their hard work and dedication to our store and customers.”
The program also includes individual goal setting, in-house and outside counseling, and opportunities for residents to complete education and job training programs. Rent includes utilities, food, transportation to work, meetings, and sober group activities. When the women are ready to transition out of the home, the Heather House staff assists them with finding and setting up a new residence.
Flipping through scrapbooks with current residents and board members, Luck says with a bit of surprise, “There are a lot of sober women out there today!” There are so many stories about the women who passed through these doors and how much their lives have improved since their time at Heather House and how that has touched others in their lives as well.
Julie Andrew Tharpe
Heather House board members and residents look at scrapbooks over coffee.
A letter from Jolea, the 15 year-old daughter of Kristy T, a Heather House “graduate” who has been sober for 5 years now speaks volumes. “Heather House affected my life in a very positive way. Not only did it teach my mother how to live a sober life, but it also showed her how to build genuine relationships with family members and other addicts and alcoholics. I learned through the Heather House girls how easy it is to get on the wrong track. But I also learned how easy it is to get help for your addiction.”
Heather House volunteer Norma Hatfield says that it’s that type of story that shows the profound impact the program has in the community. “One of my favorite stories is that Kristy and her daughter, Jolea, were talking one night and Jolea was telling her mom about a friend whose dad drank a lot and tended to get mean when he did. Jolea shared with this little girl about her mother’s experience with Heather House and that there are solutions. When Kristy praised her for being so supportive, Jolea said, ‘But mama, isn’t that what we’re supposed to do?’ Recovery has a ripple effect and her friend could help somebody else only because Kristy came to Heather House.”
Julie Andrew Tharpe
Current Heather House residents with Director Heather Rosenberg (center)
What might be even more astounding is that Heather House has been helping women to learn to live a drug and alcohol free life for 10 years without any type of state or federal government assistance. Heather Rosenberg recently took the helm as Executive Director, joining Luck, and a small but very actively involved board of directors made up of Lucy Bryson, Alexandra Carlyle, Rebecca Robinson, and Brad Butler. Aside from some small community grants, all funds to support the program have been raised through bake sales and yard sales and an annual oyster roast. They welcome financial contributions as well as additional community involvement and support. Luck and Heather stress that Heather House residents can provide needed services such as pick up and haul away of unwanted household items and clothing, painting and odd jobs for local individuals and businesses. Any financial contributions allow the residents to have low rent so they can save money for their transition to living independently. They have also initiated a GoFundMe campaign to obtain a new vehicle for transportation, since the van they have is also ten years old. Visit gofundme.com/wcakf4us if you would like to donate.
Other ways to help Heather House are to volunteer for a position on the board to assist with grant writing, fundraising efforts, and community outreach. Mentor or offer workshops in skills like basic personal accounting or computer literacy. Share your passion by leading a workshop in art, gardening, music, or other talents. Help with the upkeep of the house, yard, or landscaping at the property. Offer to provide transportation for residents to work, doctors’ appointments and meetings. There are so many opportunities for our community to show our support for these women on the path to a lifetime of sobriety.
Please call 912.996.3950 or 912.554.3660 if you would like to make a financial contribution or talk about volunteer opportunities. Also put March 5 on your calendar and plan to come out for the oyster roast. For only $20, you’ll be treated to a feast and what is reputed to be the best crab stew in town. We’ll be sharing more information on the EIL online calendar and Facebook page as the event nears.
Heather House was founded on the belief that through hard work and community support, the women in the program can become sober, self-supporting, productive members of society. Now as Luck looks back over ten years, she is able to proudly say this is proving to be true.
