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Home > Tabor Publications > Tabor Talk Tabor Talk Summer 2002 Articles: I stood in 90-degree heat in
a long line of tired people waiting my turn to take a ride when
it struck me. Why do so many people wait for up to an hour to ride
a one-minute roller coaster ride? Why do they pay money to sit on
this machine that will scare the living daylight out of them? Something
deep inside must yearn to take an adventure. We must like the thrill
of an adventure. We love it so much that the risk of losing our
dignity, even our life, almost seems like a small price.
The month of April was a landmark month for the residents of Tabor Community Services' Jubilee House. Two years ago, Tabor cut the ribbon and opened the doors of Jubilee House to homeless women and their children who had successfully completed a drug treatment program. The first five residents of Jubilee were pioneers for Tabor. Bound together by their living situation, they helped each other stay clean, met Tabor's program requirements, and became friends. Jubilee has had a very high success rate its first two years. One of Tabor's proudest moments came in February of 2002 when the first resident moved into independent housing. Nicole, a twenty-one year old mother, was the first resident to move into her own apartment. Nicole was recommended to Tabor in September of 2000 after completing seven months of drug treatment at programs in Harrisburg and Lancaster. Nicole was sent to Chamber Hills, an adolescent drug treatment program in Harrisburg, after failing a parole drug test and spending the holidays in jail. It was during this time she realized she needed help and could not do it alone, “I think I needed to hit the bottom before I could stop.” After spending four months at Chamber Hills, she moved to Vantage House in Lancaster, a live-in drug treatment program, for three months. Her counselor at Vantage House recommended she contact Tabor, believing Nicole was ready for the next step. After interviewing with the Jubilee House director, Nicole was chosen to become one of the first five residents to move into Jubilee. Three months after moving into Jubilee, Nicole began classes at Harrisburg Area Community College for secondary education. She hopes to one day teach high school English. “I really want to make a difference in kid’s lives. Maybe give them chances that I didn't get.” She is also working and saving money through Tabor's Family Savings Account program. Moving out before her two year stay at Jubilee was over was a big step for Nicole, but one she felt she was ready for. She still sees her Tabor counselor monthly and keeps in touch with the other residents and friends at Jubilee. Residents of Jubilee House must abide by certain regulations. They are allowed to reside there for up to two years, must remain clean and sober and attend an approved aftercare program. They also see their Tabor counselor regularly and attend House meetings. Jubilee House offers these women guidance and shelter and gives them a sense of control over their lives.
The Demolition Derby, a two-year project where youth groups and organizations donate a day (or two!) to gut and renovate Tabor’s newest properties, is well under way! In the next two years, we will renovate two properties Tabor has recently purchased in downtown Lancaster. The buildings will provide additional office space and affordable apartments for our clients. To get this project started, we have recruited local senior high youth groups to come in and start the initial renovations. The response has been great and groups from Community Mennonite Church and New Danville Mennonite Church have already taken part in the Demolition! This project is part of Tabor’s ongoing effort to improve our community and provide safe, affordable housing and counseling services to our clients. If your group is interested in the Demolition Derby, please contact Gretchen Haubner at 397-5182, extension 112.
In a partnership between Tabor Community Services and the Lancaster County Housing Authorities, Tabor can now help families purchase their own home through a new, innovative Section 8 homeownership program. Traditionally, families on Section 8 pay 30% of their income toward housing costs while the government pays the rest. Under this program there is no incentive to build assets and leave subsidized housing. Many families on Section 8 have relied on subsidies for one and two generations and lack self-respect and hope for the future. The Section 8 homeownership program will now empower families to use their Section 8 voucher subsidy to help a family meet monthly mortgage payments instead of confining them to rental payments. This assistance will require a family to receive budget and self-sufficiency counseling from Tabor. Program counselors will help families set goals and action steps with each participant to help them achieve their goal of homeownership. Through this homeownership program, families are empowered for the first time to leave subsidized housing once and for all and their children will see life through a new set of eyes. Children learn first hand by example from their parents and will experience financial success through positive money management skills and asset building. Therefore, our community will not only be helped in the present but also the future as these children see life through a different paradigm. Like all of Tabor's programs, supportive services are provided, helping families successfully achieve their goals. Through a grant from the Lancaster County Foundation, Tabor created a home maintenance workshop to help families properly maintain their home. Tabor is currently looking for volunteer workshop facilitators and mentors to be paired with first-time homeowners. For more information, please see the volunteer corner in the newsletter or call Gretchen Haubner at 397-5182 ext. 112.
Thank you to the following contributors who honored their mothers by giving a gift to Tabor's Jubilee House at King. Jubilee House is a transitional house for homeless mothers and their children who have recently completed a drug and alcohol treatment program. We would appreciate notification of any errors or omissions. Kevin M. and Jackie Andress-In
honor of Miriam Burkholder
Tabor has taken a close look at our volunteer needs and categorized them into three main areas that we will be concentrating on in the next few months. 1. Mail Room Day 2. Mentor training and implementation. 3. Teaching If you or your organization has an interest in any of these programs, please contact Gretchen Haubner at 397-5182, ext.112.
Tabor Community Services participated in Dream Ride 2002 to celebrate the 273rd Birthday of Lancaster County. Dream Ride is a community-based cycling event to raise funds for local charities. Our riders not only cycled on behalf of Tabor, they also raised $2900 towards Jubilee House, a home for homeless women and their children who have successfully completed a drug treatment program. Tabor would like to thank our riders who cycled and collected pledges.
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