Our House is a shelter and outreach program providing immediate assistance to troubled, victimized, runaway, and homeless teens by offering crisis intervention, counseling, shelter, referral and advocacy for teens.
Watch this video about Our House!
The Our House Story
“Please help me, I can’t take anymore!” the twelve year old child’s voice was shaking as she sobbed in desperation, “I have to leave tonight!” She was ready to run.
Carol, a crisis line volunteer answered her call but was not allowed to meet with her. That’s when Carol began to question, “Where could a child go for help, especially a child who has never been in trouble with the law?” There was no place…no place except the streets.
That call happened in 1987; Carol could not get the child out of her head. The thoughts haunted her like a bad dream that would not go away. After all, what happens to children who wind up in the streets…prostitution, drugs, all matter of crime, anything for self-survival.
About a year later, Carol pulled up to a Florida convenience store and saw a sign on the door that read: “SAFE PLACE” Getting Teens the Help They Need…FAST!
As a result Our House, Inc. was founded in 1989, by Dr. Carol Christopher. She collaborated with others in the community with a vision to provide a safe place for challenged youth. The initial outcome was the development of a solid Our House Safe Place Outreach program designed to help troubled youth in Ouachita parish.
By 1990 the Monroe area had an official Safe Place program, and the Our House Shelter opened its doors in 1995. During the past sixteen years, Our House has experienced significant growth and remains resolute to the mission of serving as a youth center providing immediate assistance to troubled, victimized, runaway and/or homeless youth by offering crisis prevention/intervention, counseling, shelter, referral, and advocacy for youth. We work to replace fear with faith to move forward and make positive choices, motivating them with the thought that life can be better as we work together achieving positive goals.
Our House provides shelter and services for males and females ages 11 to 17, until the crisis is resolved and he/she can return home, obtain an alternative placement, or become self-sufficient. This is the only early intervention, 24-hour availability, self-referring program serving youth in northeast Louisiana.
Our House, with its family type setting, and shared responsibilities including decision making, sets up a structured yet flexible routine. It is a place where the needs of youth can be addressed and programs modified to accommodate the needs of individuals as much as possible without comprising the mission of the programs and yet providing an environment of structure and consistency.
We provide youth with the opportunity to voice opinions and make choices affecting their care at the shelter and all other aspects of their lives. As young people gain confidence and skills, they shift their decision making outlook from the short term to the long term, making choices that preserve their dreams and goals, and help them avoid behaviors that put them at risk.
Our House also has a Transitional Living program for young adults 17, if emancipated, to 22 years of age along with their small children. This program provides housing and the opportunity for young adults to complete their education, gain employment, and practice valuable life-skills in a supportive environment.
Born from the desperation of a 12-year old girl in rural Louisiana, Our House, Inc. answers to the constant cry of runaway, homeless and victimized youth. We are a nonprofit organization and depend heavily on donations from people like you. Please help us to help them. These children can’t wait; they need your help now!
