help bridge the gap for women in crisis

Next Home Ministries, Helping You Find Who You Were Meant to be

Since 2017 Next Home Ministries has provided services for over 850 diverse women entering their communities after incarceration in Georgia. These women and their children experience homelessness due to imprisonment, unemployment, underemployment, domestic violence, divorce, substance abuse, and mental illness. Georgia has been in a housing crisis for a very long time. Due to underfunded federal and state programs and various subsidized housing closures, we desperately need shelters and transitional homes to combat homelessness for women and children. Until these problems with housing the homeless are rectified, Next Home Ministries is here to help sustain and help these women through GED programs, job placement, parenting classes, life skills, and budgeting classes. These programs encourage economic self-sufficiency for a better quality of life.

Mission

Empowering homeless women to become self-sufficient, gainfully employed, and stably housed by providing empowerment tools and community support.

Vision

To help the whole family focus on mental health and wellness while helping those with dual diagnoses become productive members of society.

Making it on the Outside Requires more than Freedom

Women are often ill-prepared to address the issues they faced before incarceration. Victimization, substance abuse, mental health issues, limited work experience, financial problems, unstable family life, and parenting challenges can often lead to them returning to the system. Most current state and federal programs to help with these issues have been designed around the needs of men because women are a lower percentage of the total inmate population. Therefore their needs are easily overlooked when programs are designed and resources allocated. 55% of women in Georgia prisons in 2021 had one or more children.

Lack of employment and education before incarceration and access to child care upon release make it increasingly difficult for previously imprisoned women to succeed, putting them at risk of becoming homeless or ending up back in the judicial system. Space can quickly become an issue for shelters because most shelters are not equipped to handle mothers with more than 2-3 children, babies, or teen males. Studies have shown up to 70 percent of women who are homeless or incarcerated have been or are victims of domestic violence, and 41 percent dealt with sexual assault, so, understandably, the idea of staying in a shelter with men might make them ill at ease. Women are homeless for many different reasons; however, lack of affordable housing and inability to get childcare and find a job due to inexperience are the foundation.

Each woman released from prison has unique challenges, whether they have children or not. We work hard to find solutions for each woman we work with on a case-by-case basis to help them succeed and not return to the system.

Devora Jerkins

Founder of Next Home Ministries

The Founder of Next Home Ministries, Devora Jerkins, has a strong passion for healing women and their children’s hurting hearts while equipping them with the tools for victorious living. Mrs. Jerkins’ desire is to lead women to a place of emotional and spiritual healing. Next Home Ministries was formed to help homeless women and children obtain stable and efficient housing through different programs such as HUD and Section 8. Over the past number of years, Mrs. Jerkins has assisted over 850 women and their children. Over 85% of these women have experienced success in obtaining employment and stable housing. Mrs. Jerkins understands and empathizes with their plight because she has stood in their shoes and knows that understanding is the first step to healing.

As a child, it seemed that we didn’t have much in terms of money, clothing, and other needed necessities. My father would often wake up early in the morning and end his nights with more than a few drinks of alcohol. Most nights, our house became a battlefield between my parents, with my father abusing my mother. My siblings and I were left unsupervised to care for ourselves and the home. To me, this was everyday life. One day, I went with my cousin to meet up with some of her friends, and they gave us marijuana. I had never tried it before, and as a result, I was raped while I was there. At 16, I gave birth to twins. I was a baby raising babies. My mother was transparent about her rape by my father, whom she married because you got married when you got pregnant during those times.

I was a single mother, trying to be both parents. I attempted to be a super mom, but I didn’t care for myself. I was trying to manage it all, and I ended up having a mental breakdown. When I met a man who asked me to marry him, I had three kids. Mind you now, I had not been treated for my mental break or the trauma of being raped, the exposure to substance abuse, and the domestic violence that plagued my family.

When I began to use cocaine, my life spiraled out of control. My years of addiction resulted in me going to jail, homelessness, untreated mental illness, and other risk behaviors. I lived a destructive life and felt powerless, angry, hopeless, and worthless. My substance-abusing behaviors went on for over twenty years untreated. The side effects of my mental illness and drug abuse showed up in homicidal thoughts, high levels of impulsivity, anxiety, confusion, depression, hyperactivity, mood swings, and paranoia. We attempted to address the drugs but not the core of my mental health issues. I went to several rehab centers but always relapsed shortly after being discharged. My husband was murdered in 2005, a drug-related murder.

My family and other support systems help me find a mental health doctor who has been my doctor since 2005. I have learned coping skills and medication management. He has given me my life back, and I am grateful. I am living a productive life in recovery. Of course, it isn’t easy, and I have to renew my mind daily, but I am living my best life most days. I have five children who have gone on to be successful. I have ten grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, who keep me

busy. We are still working on our relationships; nothing is perfect, but we all enjoy this second chance at a life together. A spiritual bond with my higher power, whom I chose to call Jesus Christ, and positive relationships keep me on track. I obtained a high school diploma in 2007, and I’m a motivational speaker. I volunteer with Peachtree United Methodist Outreach program’s prison ministry and have a certificate from ITC in seminary.

Recovery is a lifestyle change that will be with me until I leave this earth. However, I am not the woman I used to be, and with my coping skills, I can recognize that old behavior, remove it from my thought process, and stay focused. My advice to my peers is never to stop believing in your recovery; it is possible. Get treatment that addresses your mental health and or substance abuse needs. Take control over your recovery.

To all those who work diligently in behavioral health, please continue to provide each client with trauma-informed care and best practices because time and healing will reveal the truth about who we can and will become. Thank you for empowering me and others to tell you our story.

What People Say About Next Home Ministries

They've has helped me and my kid with gaining my own house. They helped me to get into a 3 bedroom 1 bath Duplex in Grant Park, which I will be moving in sometime in Dec. l. They also helped me with baby items for my newborn. They also helped me by showing my kids and what I love. They have given me hope.

They have helped me in a plethora of ways. One way is as a young adult, it has given me some of the tools necessary to further my education when I finish High school. I aspire to one day be in the field of Human Health Services. Working and assisting my grandmother has only motivated me more than before to keep pushing and striving to reach my goal. Volunteering with them has made me strive higher and go the extra mile. When I come volunteer, I want to be the example. I want to show the children no matter how much you've been through, no matter how many people said you wouldn't make it, if you put your mind to it, you can do all things.

They have truly been a blessing for my son as well as me. Having been to some unclean and unsanitary places, it was truly a relief and blessing to find a place that was more like home and sanitary. A place where I can cook a healthy meal for my son and myself, relax , and focus on the plan that God had for my life. The staff helps you with the love and respect that God shows His children. It is truly a place for families to grow and become self-sufficient. There is plenty of encouragement and assistance available for those who are willing to receive what is being offered. I am truly thankful for the heart of this company and pray that they continue to be of assistance to women and children in a time of need. I hope that I can return what they have given me back to women and society one day.

Me and my four children entered into the pathway system in 2007 through the trials and tribulations of being in a shelter. It taught us as a family to love one another. I moved from shelter to shelter until I found a safe house for my children. Through the stay at my last shelter I developed life skills, parenting skills, and financial stability. I am now in my own apartment and married. I heard by word of mouth about this company and their mission and I was more than happy to join their fight against homelessness in Atlanta and surrounding areas. Through them, I have learned that giving back not only helps the person you are giving to but it also brings to your spirit a sense of wholeness. I am very fortunate to have the opportunity to help the women and children in need through them.

What a beautiful story. Miss Devora is a beautiful person and has a beautiful place to house these women in these hard times. I lived at the PHH for 90 days and now I and my children are living in our own place. When you work for GOD you get what you need. Had it not been for Ma Vora and her many blessings and strong beliefs in the Lord I may have given up a long time ago. She instilled beautiful things in me and my children's hearts and lives. If you have something negative to say, why waste that energy use it to better yourself and your life. They always say sweep in front of your own front door before you sweep others!!!!

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