SOMERSWORTH — Families graduating from Lydia’s Residence of Hope will now have a protected place to get started their unbiased lives, Grace House.
Theresa Tozier, executive director of LHOH, was joined Friday by regional and condition dignitaries, including Gov. Chris Sununu and Somersworth Mayor Dana Hilliard, as they reduce the ribbon for Grace House. The Victorian household on Substantial Avenue will serve as a place for gals and their people to go as they move into the up coming stage of their life, possible commencing this drop when it is anticipated to open.
“God’s hand is all in excess of this put,” explained Scott Cornell, a nearby businessman who Tozier calls a correct friend of LHOH and Grace Household. “Six months ago, this was an plan, a desire. Now it is 50 % paid out for and beneath total renovation. It can be so terrific to have this spot the place the girls of Lydia’s can go to get their ft beneath them, and then to spread their wings. We think in miracles listed here since miracles happen here each and every working day.”
Lydia’s Property of Hope, also situated in Somersworth, opened in 2016, providing women and kids who are homeless for various factors, a put to get their life back again. It offers a 365-day system where they get support to overcome difficulties like substance use ailment, while also finding out everyday living expertise and how to make better possibilities.
LHOH usually takes no condition or federal funds. It relies on grants and donations to make it get the job done. Grace House acquired a massive strengthen toward its opening before this calendar year when it been given a $250,000 donation from a man or woman who is picking out to continue being nameless.
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Praise from the governor
“This application is a design for our state,” Sununu mentioned. “When I was right here, as they were opening the program, Theresa talked about her tips for expanding. I said, ‘You are not even open nonetheless.’ I really should have recognized then she would maintain heading.”
Sununu talked about regions of the condition with identical desires but absolutely nothing like LHOH.
“There are a lot of communities in the point out that I get upset more than,” he claimed. “I hold smiling, but they are not creating alternatives to fulfill the requires of their communities and inhabitants have to depart to get solutions. Theresa’s systems should set the tone for the condition. It is a successful product, simply because of the persons. Devoid of people today, nothing will work. I are not able to wait to see what is actually on her intellect next.”
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Grace Residence will aid to alter life for much better
At Grace Residence, nevertheless a operate in progress, two flats, for two “graduates” and their small children, will serve as a safe, interim place wherever they even now have access to LHOH, and can move toward independence, sustainability and a new everyday living. There is a single huge four-bed room condominium and a smaller sized two-bedroom space.
The initially tenant will be Alexandrea, and her 2-calendar year-previous son. She will graduate from LHOH in time to go in.
“When I initially arrived to Lydia’s, it was due to the fact my aunt realized about the application and explained to me,” explained Alexandrea. “I was overcome with every thing in my lifestyle. I needed help to get a get started on altering that, on earning improved selections. I did it for me, and for my son.”
The residence has bay home windows, skylights and a stained glass window. A complete renovation is underway and the target is that it turn out to be an integral portion of LHOH, with females and kids biking as a result of as component of their restoration from the situations that brought them to LHOH at first.
Andrea, graduated in February. She and her kids, ages 7 and 10, have an apartment in Dover and she has a position at a local grocery store.
“I am amazingly grateful for the assist I bought right here,” she claimed. “I am residing my finest daily life suitable now. People today say that, but it really is accurate for me. I wanted assist moving forward. I desired to shed aged lousy behaviors and purchase new capabilities. That transpired via this software.
Andrea just experienced her very first paid getaway, a correct novelty for her. She mentioned she has a excellent marriage with the fathers of her young children.
“I really feel supported,” she mentioned. “Until finally you you should not have that, and locate it, it can be tou
gh to describe. I went to Theresa and stated I have to have to move out of anxiety and into religion.’ It really is the ideal thing I could ever have performed.”
Large ideas generally in head
Tozier, the driving power powering the two residences, hinted a third project is currently rolling about in her mind, but not ready to be “birthed nonetheless.”
“Twenty-five decades back, Seeds of Religion Ministries started out, to help the homeless,” Tozier claimed. “From that around 30 outreach packages grew. That is good but inevitably we decided that we failed to want to just give handouts. We wanted to give a hand up. We started out the 365-day plan called New Beginnings and we necessary a house, so 21 Grand Avenue (Lydia’s Household of Hope) came into our hands. All is simply because God will help us. Every thing I attempt to do, I say it will transpire if God wills it.”
Tozier likened the girls she assists to butterflies.
“When they come right here, they are damaged,” she claimed. “We acquire care of them overall body, soul and spirit. Assume of a butterfly. In the cocoon, a caterpillar breaks itself down, recreates by itself as a gorgeous butterfly. That happens here. They occur, have no phone, no Tv set and a large amount of structured lessons and living designs. Some occur in offended. We experienced a 4-calendar year-aged baby who came and stood in a corner, not chatting. I set toys and publications in the corner and at some point she would bring us a book to examine to her. She had to find out belief. That’s what it is like. They have no hope we have hope more than enough to go all-around.”
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Somersworth Mayor Dana Hilliard claimed Tozier is a single of the couple folks who put a smile on his encounter when she phone calls him at 6 a.m.
“I know on the other conclusion will be a ask for to aid somebody,” Hilliard stated. “It brings me joy to pick up that cellular phone for her.”
Hilliard explained LHOH embodies the city’s spirit of neighbor assisting neighbor.
“We search out for every other listed here,” he claimed. “Lydia’s Household of Hope is a shining beacon of what we stand for. There was a need to have. Theresa stepped up and we will assist her in any way we can.”
Donations are recognized at seedsoffaithnh.org/lydias-household-of-hope.
