Sophia\u2019s House is a new residence in Lewiston scheduled to\nopen in December 2019 for women coming out of addiction, prison or jail, and\/or\nsex trafficking. It is a project of The Center for Wisdom’s Women, an\nestablished peer support and resource center in the \u201cTree Streets\u201d area of\nLewiston and will be modeled on \u201cThistle Farms,\u201d a program founded by an\nEpiscopal woman priest who is herself a survivor of sexual abuse. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Sophia\u2019s House, at 97 Blake Street in Lewiston, will begin operations as soon as the renovations on the former convent are completed. Asbestos and lead remediation and exterior work are done, and we are now in the final phase of remodeling. The top floor will be individual apartments for the women in the program; they will be welcome to stay for up to two years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our underlying philosophy is to address the traumas that lead to the behaviors; until that healing happens the behaviors will persist. Love heals. Most incarcerated people have experienced Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) that lead to lifelong trauma that has not been addressed. And, it is cyclical. One of the most adverse experiences is to be the child of an incarcerated parent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second floor will house women from the community in\nmarket rate and subsidized units who wish to support the women in the program\nand they will live in a co-housing model. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first floor will be common space and community rooms and\nfeature a guest room, a dining room and kitchen, and the old chapel, which will\nbe kept for programming. In addition, local Friends are invited to use it as a\nworship space weekly for Meeting for Worship. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We will have a \u201csoft\u201d opening in December, and on April 26,\n2020, noted Quaker singer\/songwriter Carrie Newcomer\n(https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=oYAtWQB25JY) will perform at a Gala Opening at\nthe Franco Center in Lewiston. We are current raising enough money to cover the\ncosts of this production, so that all proceeds will go directly to Sophia\u2019s\nHouse. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are interested in supporting us or volunteering as a\nmentor, please connect with Leslie at leslieam55@gmail.com. And, please hold us\nin the Light.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Sophia\u2019s House is a new residence in Lewiston scheduled to open in December 2019 for women coming out of addiction, prison or jail, and\/or sex trafficking. It is a project of The Center for Wisdom’s Women, an established peer support … Continue reading