Jackson Free Press

From outside, Grace House looks like a family home. Swing sets, lawn furniture and a deck dot the back yard. Bicycles rest on the back porch. Inside, the vibe is much the same. On Friday, Sept. 16, residents are watching "Gunsmoke" in one room. Another resident prepares a meal of homemade fried chicken, rice and beans, and cornbread in the kitchen.

Director Trey Mangum walks into the living room, and the handful of residents and workers smile in recognition. Grace House may be a transition home, but the residents have created their own form of family.

Founded in 1994, Grace House is Mississippi's first non-profit HIV/AIDS transitional living facility. The home offers its residents a safe place to live after many of them have become homeless or been shunned by their families. Though much has been learned about HIV and AIDS in recent years, many people still hold stigmas against those infected with these viruses. Grace House gives these people a place to live and grow.

The home does more than just provide a place to watch television and cook fried chicken. Currently, the group is working on setting up a resource center for the HIV community at large, as well as a place for rapid testing so that people can find out if they are indeed infected. The proposed resource center would house Internet-connected computers, printers, up-to-date info on HIV and medications, materials on job skills, and information connecting residents to FEMA, Medicaid and the Social Security offices.

"Just being with the folks is enriching," said Sister Dorothy Ann Kundinger, who works at Grace House. "It really is inspiring how people deal with their disease. They just keep walking with it. It's a part of the Grace House spirit here: Just keep on walking."

Mangum, who occasionally writes a column for the Jackson Free Press, and his staff also work with residents to help them find jobs and resources by providing them with weekly progress meetings and counseling sessions and also transportation to interviews and jobs.

"Ultimately, we promote self-efficacy," Mangum says, explaining that the home is a transition for people to find more permanent, stable homes with jobs (when the patients are able to work), medical care and support.

Though the group is doing important work, it runs into obstacles. Because of funding, Mangum can't hire more social workers or resident care liaisons—workers he really needs in order to adequately run the program.

On Sept. 1, 2005, the U.S. Department of Agriculture ceased giving food to transitional group homes. Though Grace House tries to operate as a food pantry, the mandate requires that the state first distribute food to emergency feeding organizations before group homes. Grace House still receives discounts on food through the Mississippi Food Network, but with the large influx of Hurricane Katrina victims, food is less abundant. Currently, the home houses 11 residents—nine men and two women living with HIV or AIDS.

"We have enough food right now to feed the people living here, but I want to be able to offer food to other HIV-positive people through a food pantry," Mangum explains.

Still, the public looks out for Grace House. Though much more is needed, the home is receiving some assistance lately. During our interview, a vegetarian called Grace House to offer full, cooked vegetarian meals once a week to the residents. And Mangum himself is working on grants to try to bring more workers into Grace House.

In perhaps the best news for Grace House recently, WellsFest has named Grace House its recipient for this year's festival on Saturday, Sept. 24, at the Jamie Fowler Boyll Park on Lakeland Drive. The money will go to making some much-needed repairs to the interior and roof of Grace House.

"We are so lucky and so thankful to have been chosen by WellsFest," Mangum says.

Previous Commentsshow

casey, probably one of your most touching stories yet. it seems unfair that a place such as Grace House which has only the good of the HIV/AIDS community at heart would be having just a hard time with funding. this story does bring up a question, though. i was under the impression that the Southern AIDS Commission already had a food pantry in Jackson that is operated by Eddie Sandifer. maybe i'm not understanding the whole picture, but can't the two work together? they have to know about each other. if someone can help me clarify this, i would appreciate it.

blkconservative

Sep 27 2005

That's not a bad question, though it's worth bearing in mind that there are lots of folks living with HIV-AIDS who need assistance but don't live in Grace House. Cheers, TH

Tom Head

Sep 27 2005

Tom, I agree, which is why i'm not understanding why the organizations that are already in place are not banding together. I know right off there is S.A.C. and Building Bridges as well as other independent organizations such as My Brother's Keeper. I would never want to make it seem as though they want to operate as their own island, but it seems as though if they band their forces and resources together that more can be accomplish to benefit them all.

blkconservative

Sep 27 2005

not to belabor this point, but i just thought about something else: i wonder if part of the problem is that the public is not aware of these other outlets. i know that eddie sandifer receives food once a week and has hundreds that come to his place in jackson to get food. i also know that building bridges does many outreach programs that takes them into the community to help those infected and affected by hiv. but could part of the problem be that many others who would help these organizations don't know about them or where to find out about them. casey mentioned in her story that a call came in during the interview from someone wanting to offer meals... maybe more would do so if they knew who these organizations were, how to get in touch with them and what they needed.

blkconservative

Sep 27 2005

blk, you've actually nailed a pet issue of mine. Yes, there needs to be more done to connect people to assistance resources. The Crisis Line--(601) 713 HELP--probably maintains the best local directory of same. But my suspicion is that there aren't as many reinvented wheels in the nonprofit sector as it might seem. Most people involved in this kind of work are very concerned about their clients; they're in it to help people. So, as much as possible, I think they do try to pool their resources. Cheers, TH

Tom Head

Sep 27 2005

Tom, Thanks for the number. To be honest, this is my first time ever even hearing about it. Is it just for those infected/affected by HIV/AIDS?

blkconservative

Sep 27 2005

Nope. It's for anyone who faces any kind of crisis. Cheers, TH

Tom Head

Sep 27 2005

I think the ASO's (AIDS Service Organizations) of Mississippi are doing a tremendous job in trying to ban together and help those affected by HIV/AIDS. My understanding is that SAC offers a ìmeals on wheelsî type food pantry service based out of South Jackson, but offering meals to much of the state including the delta region. At Grace House we receive calls for people needing emergency food items usually from people in the central Jackson area. Also, it's a point to make that one food pantry is hardly sufficient to cover the needs of the population. Much like Grace House, SAC is a small non-profit with a small staff (as are we). Location also sometimes comes into the picture as transportation is a factor. While Grace House is a transitional living facility our mission is to provide services to the entire community, including prevention and testing. All of the ASO's of Mississippi work together through a referral system. We have many clients in common. Hope that clears some of this up. Thanks!

MANGUM

Sep 27 2005

And you kick butt. Thanks for all that you do, dude. Cheers, TH

Tom Head

Sep 27 2005

mangum, that does help alot. since you actually work with grace house, then i pose the question to you: what can we do to make the public more aware of the needs you and other ASOs have? Ban together and fund commercials? Hold food drives in our respective areas? with all that is happening in the wake of katrina and rita, i am afraid that those we have right in our midst are being forgotten.

blkconservative

Sep 27 2005

Well, of course all Community Based Organizations (CBO's) rely on media support. We have been very fortunate lately with a series of articles about upcoming events (come to our Walk of Grace on Oct. 8 starting at 8 am at Smith Park!). Lots of times, CBOís target churches, schools, and media outlets with information about their services. Word of mouth is actually a strong factor. Grace House provides speakers and HIV prevention education talks for the community-itís one of the ways we try to get information distributed. We are working on a web site, but funds are limited. Professionals who work in the fields of HIV/A&D/MENTAL HEALTH etc. are usually aware of resources, but on the flip side, the community at large may not be. And it is from the community at large that most organizations rely for donations. Grants are available, but they have been severely cut (as have programs themselves-as seen in this article) under the present regime. Speaking of Katrina, it has actually helped make people aware of local organizations such as ours. It is very unfortunate that it takes something of this magnitude to make people aware of the organizations struggling in their own backyards. Most CBOís do not have an advertising budget (to have one would be great, but we end of having to pay operating costs as a priority J) that is why fundraisers are staged. These are great opportunities to raise money while making the public aware of the available programs, but they are very time-consuming. Again, I hope that answered some of your questions.

MANGUM

Sep 27 2005

Trey -- When you get a chance, please email me at [email]tom@tomhead.net[/email] I've got an idea as to how I might be able to make myself useful to you folks. Cheers, TH

Tom Head

Sep 27 2005