El Dorado’s Magdalene House will accept applications after the new year for two residents.
Becky Choate, president of the board of directors for the house, shared the program’s mission with the Rotary Club Monday afternoon.
“This endeavor is strictly for the community,” Choate said. “What we’re trying to do here is give six ladies another chance at life.”
Choate said she expects the house to be ready in the first quarter of 2020.
Magdalene House is based on the two-year Magdalene program started in 1997 by the Rev. Becca Stevens in Nashville. The program was founded to support women survivors of trafficking, prostitiution and addiction and give them a place to heal.
El Dorado’s house has a six person capacity. The two-year program has three main parts: get a woman accustomed to the house and community, and get her in touch with local resources to recover from past addiction, abuse or exploitation; find a part-time job to support herself and/or help her achieve educational goals (like working toward a GED); and independence, including financial and budgetary knowledge.
Choate said some of the women may have had children, so the goal is also to help recreate the family.
“You just don’t realize there are that many people in our area (who could qualify for the program)...but there are,” Choate said.
She said the program has already received support, including volunteers preparing the three-bedroom home. Choate said the house already has furniture, including a commercial stove, house community T.V., washer, dryer and landline.
Choate said there is no age limit for residents interested in applying, but the application process will be intense. Those who apply who currently face addiction must already be clean before acceptance to the house. There will also be a phone interview.
She said the community and businesses are welcome to donate money to the program or to even sponsor a resident, which could mean donating money to help pay for resources like toiletries.
“It’s amazing the outpour of love we’ve already had, and people don’t really know about us yet,” Choate said. “We need your prayers because it’s going to take a lot of prayers.”
For more information or ways to donate, visit lovehealseldo.org.