SUCCESS STORIES
- Our first success was assisting a man we met while he was incarcerated. Upon his release he was placed in a city halfway house. We were able to place him with a job immediately. Fearful of his returning to prison because of other resident’s drug use, we paid for 1st, last and security for him. He has re-united with his long-time wife and has served on our board. He and his wife have built a house together and he ministers to his children and grandchildren, today. He had been incarcerated for 29 years!
- As most 501c3’s are gone within three years, we must say that we have survived covid, two hurricanes, economy downturn and moving from Ft. Myers to Sarasota. We are moving forward.
- We received a call from North Port Social Services. They had a homeless man in their office. We went to meet him. He had been arrested and served time in Sarasota County Jail. He had lost his $700,000 house, truck and family after his wife wanted a divorce after 20 years of raising her children. She wanted to be with her first husband. HORN put him in a local hotel for a week. We got him into a reentry/drug rehab home in Venice. He got an Assistant Manager job within a week. There were drugs being used in the house and he wanted to leave. We put him up in another hotel. When the home eliminated the people violating their no drug policy, they asked him to come back. He did, until he determined that he needed to help his aging parents in Wisconsin. HORN paid his fines and helped him get to Wisconsin. He now has a $65,000 per year job, helps his parents daily and is an uncle to his nieces. He volunteers at church in their prison reentry program.
- We met Roosevelt at Charlotte Correctional. He was very apprehensive about where to go upon release. We were able to place him in a reentry home in Sarasota. For a year, he has worked at a temporary help agency 40 to 60 hours a week for $15 per hour. He has advanced to a private bedroom at the home. He is studying for his CDL driving license. We were able to get him help with his dental issues (two teeth extracted, chipped tooth repaired, teeth cleaned and a partial made. He said, “I have my smile back that I’ve been hiding.”)
- We have earned the right to enter Charlotte, Desoto and Avon Park Correctional facilities with bible studies (study of James by Warren Wiersbe, Trauma Healing for Inmates by Trauma Healing Institute/ Billy Graham and life skill courses by Family Integrity. We hope to be in Hardee Correctional soon to complete our service in S.W. Florida.
- HORN has been entering Charlotte Correctional weekly for 3 years, bring bible studies, trauma healing and life skill classes to 5 to 10 men each week. We will soon start our 40-to-50-week program as there are 25 men already signed up.
- The Avon Park Correctional Facility has 20 men attending our Never Return Program, with more wanting to be included.
- We have built relationships in Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Desoto and Highlands counties with churches, United Way, Goodwill, 12th Circuit Court, Desoto Cares, Sarasota and Desoto Ministerial Association and more.
This outlines the work and impact we are having in our areas and with more support we can help change lives of individuals, families and our youth.