Reconciler Houses

Reconciler Development, Inc., a non-profit corp. related to the Church of the Reconciler, UMC, has developed a partnership with the City of Birmingham, Community Development Department; Birmingham TASC; Birmingham Municipal Court; Other Municipal Court Systems; Birmingham Coalition of the Homeless; local businesses and business leaders; neighborhoods; and local communities of faith to build a Highway out of Homelessness.

The Highway out of Homelessness is for individuals, female and male, who enter into a covenant relationship with Reconciler Development Inc. to actively create healthy community and respectful neighborhoods where the Reconciler Houses are located; have no current obligations to any criminal justice system; have tested clean form drugs and alcohol for six (6) months and continue to test clean; pay 30% of their income for housing expense to Reconciler Development, Inc. from their income earned from employment arranged by Reconciler Development, Inc. or other sources of income.

Persons, female or male, who are free and clean from drugs and alcohol and have no obligations to a criminal justice system are often trapped in homelessness. The employment they have access to with out transportation most often does not provide an income adequate to move out of homelessness. To move out of homelessness a person has to have three (3) things simultaneously: 1) housing; 2) transportation; and 3) a living wage job. Reconciler Development Inc. and its partners will provide this highway out of homelessness.

Reconciler Development and its partners will provide the following resources to build the Highway out of Homelessness:

Reconciler Development Inc. will provide general oversight for the program; own the Reconciler Houses; locate businesses that will provide living wage jobs for persons in the program; provide support for employee-employer relations; manage job transportation support; develop and monitor covenants.

Church of the Reconciler, UMC will provide through its Day Program for the Homeless the context and support for the community service needed to clear up obligations with area criminal justice systems and participation in the Free and Clean Drug testing Program, access to a clothing closet and a church home for the spiritual support for individuals in the program to sustain a healthy life style. Provide the vans that give job transportation support.

Community Development Department, City of Birmingham will initially provide two fully renovated houses; additional future houses as the program proves successful; and leverage the grant funding for the cost of transportation expense including van driver salary, insurance, tag, fuel and maintenance for two years.

Birmingham TASC will provide drug testing and supplies for the Free and Clean Program that provides the initial six-month testing as well as continuing weekly testing.

Birmingham Municipal Court and other municipal criminal justice systems will provide relationships needed to clear up fines and warrants with community service.

Local businesses and business leaders will provide living wage jobs for persons in the program who participate fully and faithfully. The individuals will be expected to give a full days work for a full day’s pay. Employers will have access to Reconciler Development, Inc. for resolution of any problem job performance that may occur.

The Birmingham Coalition of the Homeless will be a supportive community for persons who are considering and becoming involved in the program.

Local Faith Communities will establish a relationship with The Reconciler Houses to provide supportive services that sustain healthy community and respectful neighborhoods.

Program participants will participate in the Day Program at Church of the Reconciler to establish their six (6) month free and clean drug testing; arrange community service to clear up any outstanding fines or warrants with any area criminal justice system; participate in the Birmingham Coalition of the Homeless for support; fill out an experienced based resume to establish a basis for job placement; enter into a covenant relationship with Reconciler Development, Inc. to commit to working for healthy community and respectful neighborhoods; pay 30% of income for housing expense; pay a reasonable fee for transportation to and from work; continue in the free and clean drug testing; and give a full day’s work for a full day’s pay. Participants will have access to Reconciler Development, Inc. to resolve any conflicts with employers.



R. Lawton Higgs, Sr.
Reconciler Development, Inc.
112 14th Street North
Birmingham, AL 25203
205-613-1858

5/24/06