DOES IT WORK?

Tennessee releases approximately 4,000 inmates each year. Most of them are from low-income families in cities other than where they are released. The state opens the front door at the correctional facility and says “Be a good citizen.” And we wonder why so many re-offend and return to incarceration. Setting aside the moral issue, think of what this is costing the taxpayers on Tennessee. Each inmate costs the State of Tennessee over $20,000.00 per year.

At Aphesis House, Inc. we accepted a man named Harold in November of 2004. He has spent 27 years incarcerated. He was released from prison at midnight on a Saturday night. There was no one waiting to help him. He rode a bus to Nashville, hoping to find a place to live. The following Monday, a non profit agency which assists former offenders called Aphesis House. Harold had not eaten in two days and he had no money. We readily agreed to accept him as a resident. “Big Harold” now has a part-time job as a cook in a restaurant and clothing. (He wears a 5X)

When James Settles and Jim Boyd decided to establish Aphesis House, Inc., it was with a goal to offer the following:

• A house that would accept men that many other halfway type houses would not accept. This could be men with 25 or more years within the prison system. We believe in giving everyone a chance.
• Men who are 60 years of age or older that no one seems to want.
• Men with low job skills.
• Men like Richard Simon, a Muslim, who served 25 years (15 of them on Death Row) and was totally blinded while incarcerated. He successfully completed our 90 day program and is now living on his own apartment.
• A house that accepts all faiths or non-faiths.
• A house that does not charge “rent.” We have a weekly $100.00 program fee. Aphesis House offers a 90 day program or re-ente4ring society which includes shelter and food.

Yes, it definitely does work. We have a short but very successful record of seeing men change their lives. We have a house of wonderful men. It is a safe and quiet place to live. Every one has a job. The residents seem to be putting on weight, so that attests to the quality of the meals. Staff is there every night working with the residents, as are other volunteers and counselors. We have a caring house manager who has served time.

Inside the house, there are no locks on the doors or personal items. We are family and families do not take from their own. For many, this is a new way of life.

Each Tuesday and Thursday night we offer “learning to live” classes complete with a family “round table” discussion of what is happening in each man’s life. This fosters the idea of caring and watching out for other members of this family. There are strict rules for living within the house. There is a curfew. There are personal appearance rules Recently a new resident said at his first house meeting, “This sounds like being back in prison.” Another resident, who had been in the program longer spoke up saying, “Man, this is the most liberal house in Tennessee!” It’s a new way of living for all of them. Therefore, YES, it does work. They have never had this kind of living experience before. Once they do, they learn to like the results, and to like themselves. Good guys…Bad Past…Bright future…That’s Aphesis!