Transitional house almost open

A new transitional house will soon open in Pettis County, and members of the community are invited to take a look.

Prison Recovery Ministries/The Lighthouse Mission will open the house this month to help those just out of jail or prison, homeless or needy.

Executive Director Rick Tolliver said the location, in rural La Monte, will be the fourth transitional house the organization runs.

The organization runs an Osage Beach house, opened seven years ago, a Camdenton house opened in July and one in Jefferson City opened in August.

“We have been acutely aware of the needs of many inmates with respect to the need for a safe place to start their lives over,” said Tolliver. “A lot of people who are incarcerated do not have a good home plan. They don’t want to go back where they came from” and don’t have anywhere else to go.

The homes do not accept people with a history of violent or sexual offenses or those on psychotropic medications.

Prison Recovery Ministries started as a volunteer-based effort to bring a Christ-centered 12-step program, called Celebrate Recovery, into prisons, Tolliver said.

The organization merged with The Lighthouse Mission, which ran the house in Osage Beach.

Those who wish to enter the house must apply, undergo a background check and agree to follow the organization’s program during their six- to 12-month stay.

Program participants must find gainful employment, pay rent and share expenses, do chores, attend church services, attend Celebrate Recovery meetings and attend life-skills training.

Tolliver said the Osage Beach house has a 70 percent success rate.

Angela Farr, outreach coordinator, counts as one of organization’s successes.

She entered the Celebrate Recovery program after an arrest as a user of marijuana, methamphetamine and Xanax. Farr has been sober for five years.

“The program works,” she said, because of its focus on Christ and the support and accountability members have within the program.

“That’s how it’s going to be with this house. They’re going to have strong accountability and support. They’re not just thrown out there,” she said.

The organization works with social service agencies and churches, as well as the Department of Corrections and probation and parole offices.

“There are precious few good places to send people,” said Tolliver.

The house will take referrals, but people may also apply independently.

“We want to give preference to people that are going to be coming back here anyway,” he said.

For more information, visit the organization’s Web site at www.recoveryprisonministries.com or call (660) 221-0782.