Guest House gets a lot of questions from our supporters about the transition from Residential to Aftercare. The thing to know is that it takes lots of preparation from both residents and staff.
Every weekday, Residents have Workforce & Life Development classes. These classes include financial literacy, parenting, resume building, trauma-informed 12-steps, and more. One of the most important classes is the Life After Guest House class. It’s run by our Aftercare staff every other week. It gives Residents the chance to learn about all the resources available once they finish the Residential Program, including our Aftercare Program. Case Managers help with planning throughout the women’s journeys. Many Residents also find it helpful to talk directly to Aftercare staff.
How do they prepare to leave Guest House?
Residents work with their Case Manager to create a Reentry Plan that includes housing, employment, medical care, etc. for life after Guest House. Residents usually start by looking at their income and savings. Our staff know that learning financial responsibility is key to reentry success.
Next up comes housing, which is especially difficult given local housing costs. Case Management works with residents to help them decide where they’ll live after they leave the Residential Program. Financial literacy and “Life After Guest House” classes come together to support this process.
Where do they go?
Most women want to stay in Northern VA because that’s where they’ve created their support systems during their time at Guest House. These are their options:
Guest House has 13 beds across 4 locations in Northern VA for Aftercare Housing. Women can stay in our furnished Aftercare housing for 18-24 months – rent is on a sliding fee scale. This affordability makes a huge difference.
Housing isn’t the only door into Aftercare. All exiting residents receive case management, sobriety support, resources, and more from Guest House for 18 -24 months based on their Reentry Plan. Our Aftercare staff is there to support no matter where a resident ends up.
What does life after Guest House look like?
Guest House has been helping women successfully reenter the community for over 50 years. Our 5 Pillars of Success work. Healthcare, employment, education, housing, and reconnection all come together to make this success possible.
Guest House considers these women to be family and happily provides services and support for years after their departure through our Alumni Case Management. These women go on to start businesses, reconnect with family, regain custody of children, get married, buy houses, all the things they deserve.
“It means so much to me, because when you get there, you don’t have any money, you don’t have any clothes, you don’t have anything. And the Guest House gives you all that. You know, they give you the opportunity to start over.”
-Angela, Guest House graduate
At Guest House we firmly believe that a woman’s past does not define her future. The over 6,000 women that we have served agree. Making our programs work together is how we make sure every woman has the tools she needs to recover. Because of this, our reincarceration rate stays under 15%.