"Tucked away on a quiet street in Oakland is a former convent where the Academy of Healing Opportunities and Personal Enrichment, or HOPE, now resides. An arm of the drug, alcohol and mental health treatment nonprofit Options Recovery Services and dreamt up by Options' Executive Director Justin Phillips, the center is a reentry home and support system for men who are exiting prison as state-certified drug and alcohol counselors."
"The space with its large dining room and kitchen, cozy living room, peaceful courtyard and dozens of bedrooms was perfect for bringing to life Phillips' vision. As men, many sentenced to life in prison, graduated from California's Occupational Mentor Certification Program (OMCP) and said goodbye to their cells for good, Phillips wanted them to have a home that showed them the respect their hard work deserved."
HOPE is a reentry home in a former Oakland convent operated by Options Recovery Services to support men exiting prison as state-certified drug and alcohol counselors. Justin Phillips envisioned a drug-free, respectful environment conducive to reintegration. The facility includes communal dining, a kitchen, living room, courtyard and many bedrooms. Graduates of California's Occupational Mentor Certification Program enter six months to two years of support including therapy, food, clothing, housing, and digital and financial literacy lessons. Nearly forty people have graduated in nearly three years. Participants gain independence while continuing to serve the community as professional helpers.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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