PUBLISHED Oct. 6, 2016
Beauty for Ashes offers new hope
By ANDREA SHAY
The residents pose for a picture in the living room with Debbi Hanna and volunteer Brandy Coons. The German shepherds belong to Hanna, who brings them to work regularly, and one has been trained to detect marijuana, cocaine and heroin. ANDREA SHAY PHOTOS
The Beauty for Ashes Women’s Recovery Home officially opened in August. So far, the residents as well as Director Debbi Hanna couldn’t be happier. Hanna has been doing ministry in the jails for more than eight years, and now, along with some help from City Life Church, the faith-based recovery home is providing several area women a chance at a whole new life.
Fueled by her passion for serving God and for helping others, Hanna still visits jails regularly to perform ministry and recovery work even as she runs the new Beauty for Ashes home and program. After seeing women make progress following a recovery program while in jail, Hanna wanted to get involved in creating a Christian-based, long-term recovery program.
While ministering in jails, Hanna said, “I saw [ladies] start to believe that they still had worth.” But after getting out of jail, Hanna said, “many women would not have support. They’d go back to the same friends, the same family and have a hard time getting jobs.
Denise is grateful to have another chance. “What we learn here is a transformation that we can pass on to our children,” she said during our interview.
“Even though they wanted to do well, circumstances — lack of places to live, lack of encouragement, lack of job opportunities — land them back in the places they shouldn’t be. The cycle continues. They end up back in jail and even more discouraged than they were the first time.”
The program is set up to last 18 months, and it is broken up into three sections, each of which focuses on different aspects of healing, recovery and the transition from incarceration to normal life. The first 90 days of the program, the women’s priorities are simply healing and sobriety. They are not allowed to start looking for work, and they have to stay accountable. “We want them to be growing during that time,” said Hanna. “We want to see that they’re not seeking the same things that they were before. It’s a time of building them up. This to me is the biggest healing time that they’ll have here.”
While living at the Beauty for Ashes home, the women participate in step-based recovery and Bible classes, and they give back to the community by cleaning at City Life Church.
April is one of the residents at the Beauty for Ashes Women’s Recovery Home. She looks forward to her ongoing recovery and being able to care for her three children.
During the second phase of the program, the women can begin looking for work or applying to a school. During the final phase, Hanna said, “They continue with classes, but it’s more of a transition. [It’s called] ‘working on your exit’ — it’s an opportunity to save money and plan for the future. Our goal is to help them save enough money for rent deposit and emergencies.”
The residents all expressed their gratitude for Beauty for Ashes and what it’s been able to offer them so far.
“By the grace of God I’m here,” said Denise. “I should be in prison.” She talks about what the program has done for her: “I gained an understanding that the root of my problems was selfishness … For so many years, all I did — I’ve been in denial — I thought I needed [drugs]. I’m very grateful for another chance to make things right and to become the person that God intended me to be and to be able to give back to my friends and family in the community.”
Another resident, April, was moved to tears when I asked her to talk about what the program has done for her. She reflected on her life when she was still actively addicted, saying, “I knew I was near death, and I needed more than a program. I needed Christ. I didn’t want to die. I have three children who need me, who need a mother.”
Director Debbi Hanna and a resident hug while sitting on the front steps outside the house.
Resident Krystal likes the program’s length as well its emphasis on Christianity and healing. “For most people at places that are only three or four months, that’s the problem. It’s not enough time to establish a new life … With secular programs, people just stop using, but they don’t get the healing.”
Krystal also reflected on the time she spent in active addiction, “It was like a vicious cycle that I thought was never going to end.”
Based on her experience, though, she wants people to stay open-minded about helping people in recovery or those who are still in the throes of addiction. “A lot of people are standoffish about [recovery] programs because they think we’re different. But we’re not. We’re just like everybody else … I think that people, when they use, don’t have any hope and so they don’t reach out and get the help that they need. Nobody wakes up one morning and wants to be a drug addict.”
The Beauty for Ashes Women’s Recovery Home is supported by Hanna and her husband as well as donations from the community, and they currently have one volunteer. The residents get spiritual guidance from City Life Outreach Pastor Brandon Mitchell and meet individually with some members of the church as well.
Anyone looking to donate to Beauty for Ashes, or assist the organization with its mission, can call Debbi Hanna at 941-400-0592, or email her at debbi@b4ashes.com. The organization also has a website at b4ashes.com and a Facebook page at facebook.com/beauty4ash.
City Life Church is holding a rummage sale on Saturday, Oct. 22, at 3522 Southern Parkway W., Bradenton. They are currently accepting donations of goods for the sale.
There’s a full kitchen where residents can prepare meals together.
The house can accommodate up to eight beds when full. The women share rooms, which not only helps to maximize space, but also provides a built-in social and support network and prevents isolation.