Salvation Army's Renewal Place Offers Renewed Hope

Transition Program Helps Hundreds Of Women Once Homeless & Addicted To Drugs

FAST FACTS:

• Salvation Army's Renewal Place offering hope to women and kids
• Thirty-one year old Brandy Buford going through program and says it's a lifesaver
• Public donations to the Red Kettle Campaign support Renewal Place

Alex Coleman

4:38 PM CST, December 23, 2009

(Memphis 12/23/2009) Inside the Salvation Army's Purdue Center of Hope, life does begin again for hundreds of women enrolled in a unique transition program simply called Renewal Place.

Sharon Cash is the director of Renewal Place. Cash says the program serves a huge need in the Memphis area.

Cash said, "This particular population the criteria is they must have issues with drugs and alcohol and have children and be homeless."

Renewal Place allows children to stay with their mother in a clean and comfortable environment while she undergoes treatment for chemical addiction.

"No matter how long they stay we truly believe their lives are changed and not just their lives, but the lives of their children."

The program is a non-traditional approach using case managers who seek to preserve the family unit in a two year program.

"Basically, the second year of the being here is observing and assisting this mother to be able to manage their family without drugs and alcohol and become totally independent."

Some of that independence comes from mothers spending time in classrooms learning job, education and life training skills.

"Our success rate is 75% and this is based on who isn't using drugs anymore and who is independent and who has custody of their children."

Speaking of the children, the success of their moms re-entering society can be seen on their faces.

"I love saying that part for a child to be able to say that's my mom. That's enough for us."

For mothers once addicted to drugs and once homeless, life can begin again, at Renewal Place.

"It's not just a testament of the Salvation Army. It's a testament of the community and where she's going for others to see that you can begin again."

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Alex Coleman
WREG
December 23, 2009