RECOVERING ADDICTS GET HOMES OF THEIR DREAMS

Sometimes, after dragging yourself from what seems like the depths of hell,
just the breathing of fresh, clean air is enough to shout about for years
to come.

That's what Debbie Dumas and Beverly Martin thought, anyway. That's what
any of us would think had we managed to wrench free from the demands of
alcohol or illegal drug addictions and settle into a stable lifestyle.

But sometimes other folks think people like Dumas and Martin should be
rewarded with more than a new life. They want them to have an abundant new
life.

To that degree, Dumas and Martin, who have successfully completed drug and
alcohol treatment programs at the Hope Center for Women, will each be given
the keys to a brand-spanking new house within the next few days, and they
will have the option to buy those houses in 15 years.

"It's just like a dream come true," Dumas said, adding that despite her
past problems with alcohol and cocaine, she has received overwhelming
support from the Hope Center for Women and from her employers, G.F. Vaughn
Tobacco & Storage Co. and South Van Events, a catering company.

That support had been more than enough until she learned about seven weeks
ago that she could apply for a new home through a program with the Faith
Community Housing Foundation.

"I never thought of getting a chance like this," said Dumas, who will move
into her new home within a couple of weeks.

Faith Community Housing Foundation is a non-profit organization composed of
12 churches that help provide affordable rental housing to low-income
working people in Lexington.

The foundation is the brainchild of Bill Embry, the former chairman of
Embry's department store who has served as chairman of the board since the
foundation started in 2000. The idea stemmed from a 2000 Herald-Leader
series called Misery for Rent, depicting the deplorable conditions families
lived in, said Carol Scott, the foundation's executive director.

The foundation has 34 houses in various stages of completion, from simply
purchasing the lot to waiting for final building inspections.

The first few are dedicated to women who have completed the treatment
programs at the Hope Center for Women or Chrysalis House.

After that, the homes are open to anyone, male or female, single or with
families. Most are being snapped up, but a waiting list exists.

And there are income limits, which vary according to the number of people
in the household. For one person, the limit is $20,400 annually.

Each applicant will be asked to complete a one-day seminar on money
management conducted by Community Ventures.

After that, if selected, the resident must maintain the landscape, but
other maintenance will be handled by Beacon Property.

That is, for 15 years.

On the first day after the 15th year, the resident becomes a mortgage
holder. Each will be given the opportunity and help getting a loan to buy
that house at one-third of the market value at that time.

Martin, 43, just learned she will move into 734 Chiles Avenue sometime this
week.

"I could not imagine getting a house," she said. "I know in my heart that
this is a blessing from God because I know I would never have been able to
get a house. It's brand new, three bedrooms, for me, my daughter and my
granddaughter," who is only 16 days old.

Martin remembers a time when her daughter, suffering from pancreatitis,
spent five days in the hospital. Martin spent three of those days with her;
the other two days were spent in the streets, she said.

"I remember it and I keep it close to my heart and my mind," Martin said
with tears in her eyes, "to let her know it ain't going to happen no more.
As long as I do what I need to do in this program, with God's help and AA
(Alcoholics Anonymous), I'll be OK."

Amy Lunsford, the property manager for Beacon Property who makes sure all
the paperwork is within federal and state guidelines, said she has 15 women
ready to move in right now. But if there are any men or women, single or
with families, who would like to get on a waiting list, call her at (859)
255-8077.

"I want them to call," Lunsford said. "Anybody. Anybody can call."

Dumas and Martin are very glad they did.

"My dream has always been to be able have something that I could leave my
kids," said Martin, who also has a son. "Now it's coming true."

Even those who least expect it deserve a good life.