The vision for Place of Grace began in 2009 when a group of concerned community members began volunteering at the local jail. These volunteers quickly noticed a pattern among the female inmates: Jail was not the solution many of them needed. Instead, they needed a support system to help them break free from addictive patterns and destructive cycles.
In 2011, a committee was formed to create a home for women being released from jail. Representatives from 10 different churches came together to start making plans for the transitional home. A board of directors was selected, and in 2015, Place of Grace was established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
2016 was devoted to hiring an executive director, securing a facility, finding staff and spreading the word of the organization’s mission throughout the community. This led to Place of Grace accepting its first resident in February 2017.
So much has happened since the doors opened more than five years ago. God has blessed the ministry with amazing staff, volunteers and partners who are helping change the lives of women every day. But there is still more work to be done.
“There is a great need for transitional step-down housing in Indiana, and specifically in Huntington,” said Executive Director, Brittany Renkenberger. “The county jail is currently being expanded to accommodate the growing number of arrests, many of which are related to substance abuse. At Place of Grace, 98% of residents were involved in the criminal justice system at the time of intake, and 89% were in the program as an alternative to incarceration. These women need safe, supportive environments where they can focus on their recovery and find true healing.”
In response to this overwhelming need, Place of Grace is now making plans to open a second transitional home! Construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2023, with a projected opening date in fall 2023.
This new project will be built upon the same proven programming and strong leadership that is the foundation for the existing home. However, additional funding will be necessary to make this dream a reality. The organization has set a fundraising goal of $140,000.
Place of Grace is looking for 12 partners to pledge $1,000 per month to cover rent expenses for the facility as new construction is going up. There are several other giving opportunities available for donors who would like to bless this project in a special way:
- Name the Kitchen: $25,000
- Name a Bedroom (4 Available): $20,000
- Name the Office: $15,000
- Name the Living Room: $10,000
- Name the Bathroom: $5,000
- Name the Garden: $5,000
- Name the Laundry Room: $2,500
“We are thankful for and humbled by this opportunity to serve even more women in our community,” Renkenberger said. “There is a long road ahead, but we are confident that the Lord will make a way for the vision he has placed in our hearts.”
