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City of Faith
City of Faith is a federally contracted Residential Reentry Center (halfway house) based in Monroe, LA. The corporate office is located across the street from the original location, House 1. Each City of Faith facility is known in their local communities as a place of refuge for prisoners and for their outreach to those communities by prisoners and staff alike. City of Faith, or COF as it is commonly called, is utilized by both state and Federal governments as a contract work release program. City of Faith offers many careers that lead to jobs with other Federal agencies within the Department of Justice.


History
City of Faith was originally founded as an opportunity for outreach to a forgotten demographic, prisoners. While these men and women serve out their punishments in state and federal institutions, time moves forward without them. They leave behind children, spouses, and careers.

Kathy Biedenharn, of City of Faith, opened the first City of Faith halfway house, or Community Correctional Center, in 1985 due to a conversation with an inmate in Louisiana State Prison. She asked him what she could do for him. With an attitude and a smirk on his face, he replied, "Find me a place to live and a good paying job." Since that time she has opened 8 facilities, 4 federal and 4 state. The federal locations can be found in Shreveport, Lafayette, Monroe, and Little Rock. City of Faith has state facilities in Monroe and Lafayette. The City of Faith corporate headquarters is located in Monroe, LA. Since 1993 City of Faith has maintained accreditation from the American Correctional Association as one of the largest and most successful providers of community corrections in the Southeast.


Facilities
Each City of Faith location offers many accommodations such as weight lifting equipment, BBQ area, bed/bedding, limited storage space, 3 meals/day, aftercare treatment, pay phones, career counseling, transportation (facility and local), vending machines, cable TV, and laundry facilities. Each location employees a full time Employment Placement Specialist to assist residents in their transition phase of employment. Each resident that resides in a City of Faith facility is expected to maintain their personal living quarters as well as the facility itself. This enables the residents to take prides in themselves by living in a clean environment. All COF facilities are wheelchair accessible except for COF-Shreveport. Those needing that kind of assistance reside in Monroe or Little Rock.

Monroe

The Monroe location is home to 5 halfway houses and the corporate office all located on Jackson Street. Four of these locations are used to house state inmates and one location is used exclusively for Federal inmates only (both housing men and woman). Each of these facilities hold a different quantity based on the current needs of operation. All the Monroe facilities are overseen by Deputy Executive Director Ricky Banks.

House 1 is the first facility operated by City of Faith. This facility, located in the old garden district of Monroe, was completely renovated and houses the State Administrative and Kitchen staff in addition to residents. House 2 is located across Jackson Street from House 1. Although, this house is the smallest of all the facilities, it is the most sought facility by the state residents. House 4 is the largest of the State facilities and is the housing unit for most new State residents assigned to City of Faith. This facility is an open barracks style dorm with a big screen tv. House 5 is located on Jackson Street and provides a quiet atmosphere for the residents that reside there. This facility includes a handicap room.

Lafayette

COF-Lafayette is located on the edge of the Bayou Vermillion. The current capacity of COF-Lafayette is 59, housing both state and Federal inmates (men and women). Many of the residents work in the hotel and oil industries. COF-Lafayette hosts the most beautiful landscaping of all the City of Faith properties. COF-Lafayette utilizes a barrack style for the resident quarters. Lafayette was also host to the 20th anniversary party for City of Faith in 2005. Guest included neighbors, families, residents, staff, and key personnel with City of Faith. The Lafayette facility is overseen by Deputy Executive Director Ricky Banks and employees a facility director, 2 case managers, program manager, chief of security, and other security personnel.

Shreveport

COF-Shreveport is located in the Bottoms of Shreveport, a neighborhood recently transformed by the city to encourage development. Since Hurricane Katrina, many film makers have relocated their sets from South Louisiana to Shreveport. This has enabled many of the residents of COF-Shreveport to find work in the movie industry. The COF-Shreveport building is listed on the National Historic House directory and has a capacity of 21 residents. Many of the residents find work in the food service and auto trade industries. COF-Shreveport utilizes a barrack style for the resident quarters. The Shreveport facility is overseen by Deputy Executive Director Terry Williams and employees a facility director, case manager, and security personnel.

Little Rock

The largest of all the COF facilities, COF-LR is located in the heart of Little Rock, AR. The only non-Louisiana COF facility, COF-LR residents are allowed to find work within an extended radius of the center, 150 miles. COF-LR is also the only Federal halfway house in Arkansas. Many of COF-LR’s residents find work in the food service and construction industries as well as sales. COF-LR has a capacity of 104 but normally operates with 85 residents in house. COF-LR is conveniently located near University of Arkansas at Little Rock. The Little Rock facility is overseen by Deputy Executive Director Terry Williams and employees a facility director, 3 case managers, program manager, employment placement specialist, misc. administrative staff, chief of security, and other security personnel. COF-LR is the only City of Faith facility that does not have barrack style quarters for the residents, instead residents share rooms with 4-8 people.

Programs
Under the various Federal and state contracts, each City of Faith location is required to offer and maintain certain programs for its' residents. Each location is required to continually screen residents for alcohol and drugs. Not only does this keep the residents accountable, but it protects the local communities. City of Faith residents are also required to attend a series of Life Skills and Parenting classes. The purpose of this program is to help residents integrate back into society with usable skills.


City of Faith Ministries

Outside of the Federal and state contracts, City of Faith operates as a ministry to their local communities and prisons. City of Faith was founded as a ministry opportunity towards prisoners and has remained one. Many of the residents get involved in the ministries opportunities by volunteering locally or participating in events hosted by City of Faith. A few of the opportunities include, Soul Patrol (a children's outreach program), clothing and food drives for children, Spring Fling (party for the local community), and various volunteer work. City of Faith presents a church service for local jails and prisons on a bimonthly basis. These prisoners are blessed with gifts and testimonials from former prisoners who have been in their shoes. City of Faith also hosts a yearly baptism ceremony for residents, staff, and staff/residents families.