Second chances: House of Refuge helps men get back on right track

And, too, the fact that the program is located in a church also acts as a deterrent, says another resident. "I don't think I could go out and drink and then come back and face these guys, or come into the church and be on drugs or alcohol and feel comfortable with myself."

When the two pastors first came up with the program, they figured it would take $25,000 to get it launched. "We looked at our accounts: someone had given us a donation of $100," remembers Pastor Rob. "We decided we can wait till we get the other $24,900 or we can do it on faith."

Later they received a grant from the Homeless Crusade to buy a stove, and Deseret Industries donated beds and dressers. For the rest they've relied on individual donors and help from Central Christian Church, as well as a percent of the paychecks each resident earns. Still, says Pastor Steve, "we're in desperate need of funding." They're in the process now of applying for other grants.

That's why they changed the program's name from Disciple House to House of Refuge, says Pastor Rob. "House of Refuge could be a bird sanctuary, for all you know. When we're applying for secular grants, we don't want to be discarded (as too religious) before we even get to be heard."

"All of these men here are, in my opinion, very courageous," says resident Steve Easter about his colleagues. Easter is something of an anomaly at House of Refuge: He has never been an addict and has never been to prison but instead ended up in the program because of a debilitating depression. When his second marriage began to falter, he moved to Salt Lake City to be near his children and then moved into the Rescue Mission to, as he says, "begin my healing." He was then referred to House of Refuge. Now Easter has a job, he and his wife have reconciled, and he's saving money.

The difference, he says, is not only his new anti-depressant medication but a new way of thinking about himself. "God created me because he needed me; he needed Steve. Reading scripture, I'm basically reprogramming my thinking."

"God is a God of second and third and fourth chances," he says. "But I feel like I need to do it right this time."

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E-mail: jarvik@desnews.com