How you can help...
Funding for the Wilson House come from varied sources, none is guaranteed and each year it is different. We receive grants from the State of Florida, Polk County, City of Lakeland and Community Foundation of Greater Lakeland. We receive private donations from local corporations and individuals. We are a 501c3 organization as defined by The IRS. Any contribution made to us can be used as a deduction on your Federal Taxes.
We need your contribution...
The Wilson House mission is to serve the homeless male chronic substance abuser through counseling and the 12-step program of Alcoholics Anonymous. The goal is take the addicted hopeless, homeless individual from physical, mental and spiritual bankruptcy to independence and a productive member of our community. The three-phase program will equip them with knowledge, tools and lifelong support group to remain sober and productive contributors of society.
Our vision has continued to expand due to need. The past 14 years has been constant rewards and some disappointments. In January 2003 we reworked the program. We were not getting the results that our residents deserved. We hired two counselors. Plus, we continue to use our volunteers, which average about 12. The program is free to our residents. One of the houses is used as an in-house counseling program, 24/7 which includes: in take, evaluation, and education, identifying the problems and starting to live in the solution (read our book for details of the program). The in- house program does not have a time limit. The second house is a half way house where the individual will move from the in house program to the transition house and be prepared to re-enter the mainstream and remain a sober, responsible productive member of society. This has produced 50 to 75% improved success rate for the chronic homeless substance abuser.
All of our board, employees and volunteers (which average about 12 at one time.) are in a 12-step recovery program and some of them have been residents in The Wilson House. Individual sobriety in this group ranges from 2 to 35 years. When one leaves the house he has developed a strong support group that he can depend on, usually more so than family. Individuals do not obtain sobriety on their own, it is a program of a strong support system and one substance abuser helping another.
Nationwide individuals going through a treatment program have less than a 15% success rate. With our old paradigm the success rate was 10% better than the national average. With our new paradigm (and 60 months history) we anticipate more than a 60 % improvement over our previous figures. The Return on Investment in dollars and more important lives changed is dramatic.
Our immediate need is to expand the program to add 20 new beds. This would allow us to double the capacity of our in house program and add five beds to our transitional living or halfway house. This entails hiring one new councilor plus construction for new home, the estimated initial cost is $420,000. We need your financial support. Our Federal ID # is 593230584. If you need more information call, write or email.
THE WILSON HOUSE
"....Where there is despair, may we bring hope...."
(863) 667-2313
email d-johnson@tampabay.rr.com
P O Box 2461 Lakeland, FL 33806