October 1, 2020
Dear Friends and Community Members,
In the spring of 2019 we achieved one of our ministry goals of opening a men’s transitional home, called Jake’s House. The men in our 1-year, 3-phase program are given assistance as they learn how to live life outside of addiction. In June, we celebrated our 1-year anniversary which was full of victories, challenges and growth for all of us! Here’s a look at our year in review:
- 13 men came into our program with 8 staying committed, giving us a 62% success rate.
- As of August 31, 2020, 5 men have successfully completed our program.
- 5 of the 8 committed participants have obtained their Driver’s Licenses.
- All 8 are employed full-time.
- 4 of our residents came to us right out of homelessness. 2 went from homelessness to rehab to Jake’s House, while 1 went from homelessness to jail directly into our program.
We know that homelessness and drug addiction often go hand-in-hand and are controversial issues locally, state-wide and nationally. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the US had 67,300 drug involved overdose deaths in 2018. The Gateway Foundation estimates that 24 million people in the US are addicted to drugs and alcohol costing society an estimated $820 billion dollars each year. Similar suffering is reflected in our resident’s personal stories as 7 of our 8 residents grew up with parents in active addiction, and 6 of the 8 grew up in fatherless homes. These men have had much to overcome, and our ministry offers them a combination of wrap-around care and accountability. To read our program requirements and specifics, please go to our website mightytosaveministries.org, then Transitional Home and Forms.
I wish to share with you a wonderful opportunity that God has put in our path! The owner of the home has offered to sell us Jake’s House for no profit but merely what is currently owed on the loan, which is $385,000. The home has been perfect for our program as it sits on 7 acres, has 5 bedroom, 3 bathrooms and large community spaces. Our goal is to raise $400,000 to cover the cost of the house and taxes. We realize this is a HUGE undertaking, especially while our country is in the middle of a pandemic, but we are stepping out on faith and giving God the opportunity to show up in a big way!
If we are successful in purchasing this property, Jake’s House will be financially self-sustaining with the $400 per month program fee that each of our residents pay. Our ministry team would then be able to pursue opening another transitional home that would allow us to reach even more people who wish to find fulfilling lives outside of addiction.
The WA State Dept of Corrections estimates it costs an average of $128.57 per day to house an inmate. Meanwhile, a 30-day stay at an inpatient drug and alcohol center can cost anywhere from $2000-$25,000 per month. Our estimated costs to run Jake’s House over the past year is $20.46 per resident per day! Therefore, our program offers a worthwhile option and we believe your investment in Jake’s House would have long-lasting and sustaining value not only to our Whidbey Island community, but for the state and country as well.
How To Help: Click the link below to donate and help us reach our goal of $400,000 to purchase the house and property. You may also donate by sending a check to P.O. Box 1738, Oak Harbor, WA 98277. We are truly grateful for your prayers and donations as we move forward with this important endeavor.
Blessings to you,
Christina Bowling and the MtSM Team