Statements
Mission
Aphesis House exists to provide comprehensive transitional services for men returning from incarceration and veterans with a history of homelessness and/or substance abuse.We seek to develop the physical, emotional, and social well-being of the men while equipping them with the personal and professional skills necessary to achieve self-sufficiency as productive, law-abiding members of our community.
Background
Aphesis House, Inc. was formed in 2003 out of the vision of James Settles, who had successfully gone through a transitional program himself and wanted to help others find healing after seasons of incarceration and addiction. James had been speaking in the community about his desire to start Aphesis House, and his prayer was answered when a family decided to give him their home for free to see his vision accomplished. Over the next eleven years, Aphesis House grew from that single house, which could provide space for four men at a time, to operating four facilities across Nashville and serving up to 28 men at once. Aphesis House is now a leader in transitional housing services in Middle Tennessee, and has published materials teaching others how to start effective recovery programs.
Impact
Since its inception, Aphesis House has been able to serve over 700 men in the Middle Tennessee community in the process of getting back on their feet and attaining self-sufficiency. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation reports that 67% of men returning from incarceration will re-offend within three years, but over 82% of the men that we have served have graduated the program successfully, gained steady employment, and found a permanent housing solution without re-offending. We are proud to be working against the harmful trend of recidivism, and are dedicated to continue serving this need in our community. In 2015, we were able to serve more than 80 men through our transitional program, and we are poised to continue increasing this number in the coming years. Over the past two years we were able to purchase three properties that we had previously been leasing, cutting down on agency overhead and building a foundation for program expansion in the coming years. In 2016, we hope to open up new opportunities for community involvement in our work through the development of a mentorship program, which will connect a supportive male role model to each resident in our program. We are also exploring opportunities to expand permanent housing solutions for residents who have successfully completed our transitional program but still have significant barriers to housing options.
Needs
We have needs in three main areas: 1. Resident Sponsorship - With a $475 sponsorship, a donor can provide a resident with the first two weeks of rent, a 31-day bus pass, clothing, and the ability to obtain important documents that are necessary for obtaining employment such as a birth certificate. 2. Employment Opportunities - We are always in need of employment opportunities for our residents, especially ones that are 'felony-friendly.' If you know of or can offer a job opportunity for a responsible man in recovery, please contact us. 3. Apprenticeship Program Partner - We are in the process of establishing an apprenticeship program for our residents to learn marketable trades. If you can teach or know of a business that would take on an apprentice, we would be grateful to partner with you in equipping our residents with skills leading to self-sufficiency.
CEO Statement
Aphesis House, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization and the result of a special calling that God has placed in my life. My vision was to provide a transitional home along with a learning program for men coming out of prison so that they could be taught positive life changing habits to allow them to be more productive citizens as they re-enter society. God blessed us to open our doors in 2003, taking in our first residents in a two-bedroom ranch style home in Madison, Tennessee, and we haven't stopped growing since. What makes Aphesis House unique is that beyond the housing and employment training we provide, we also address some of the root problems that are residents face through classes in Critical Thinking, Anger Management, Family Reunification, and Relapse Prevention. We are dedicated to changing the cycle of recidivism in our community by sowing into the lives of men and providing them with an environment of grace and empowerment. Will you help us pursue this change?
Board Chair Statement
It has been a very humbling and yet rewarding task working for and with the men at Aphesis. We are privileged to be in the business of transforming peoples lives who are in transition. Many of us hit a stumbling block in life, but how great it is when we have a chance to start afresh! It is vital for one to be able to receive training and guidance in order to assimilate into society again.Working for such an organization is a very daunting task, as many people in our society have closed their minds to giving a second chance to 'convicts'. We tend to not see the reason or importance to give support or assistance to this cause that is already 'doomed'. Yet time and time again we have evidenced that many lives are transformed here at Aphesis, and we hold a success rate of over 82%. Therefore, I give you courage and plead with you to give time and thought towards partnering with us in the task at hand.
Service Categories |
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| Primary Category: | Crime & Legal - Related - Half-Way Houses for Offenders & Ex-Offenders |
| Secondary Category: | Housing, Shelter - Temporary Housing |
| Tertiary Category: | Human Services - Half-Way House (Short-Term Residential Care) |
Areas Served
Most of our residents come from penal institutions in the state of Tennessee or from other social services in the Middle Tennessee area. However, we do take in residents from other states who desire to be closer to home.
| TN - Davidson |
