House of hope

Gena Richardson has watched women walk in the doors of St. Anne’s Home and walk out with changed — in some instances, saved — lives. Even once they leave the rehabilitation center, Richardson said many former patients continue to think of St. Anne’s Home as their home, too.

“I believe in people,” Richardson said. “[I like] knowing that I can go somewhere every day and make a difference.”

St. Anne’s Home is the oldest residential addiction treatment center for women in the South, having hosted women from around the region for 51 years. Currently located in a Tudor home in the Highlands, St. Anne’s Home is the next step for women who have been through detox and are medically stable. 

The staff at St. Anne’s Home work with up to 16 women at a time, using therapy, classes, spirituality, meditation, recovery meetings and other services to help clients break away from alcohol and drug use. Richardson said each woman has a personalized recovery plan that focuses on the person as a whole.

“Each client here gets more individual [care,]” said Richardson, the center’s executive director.

They also benefit from what Richardson described as a “gung-ho group of staff members” who care about the women in their center. That personal touch seems to work, as Richardson said her favorite part of the job is getting to know her clients’ and watching their transformation in just a few months. 

“You can give someone hope,” said Richardson, who has been a licensed counselor for 13 years. “I have a true heart for people who are suffering from addiction.”

She said clients frequently have told her that St. Anne’s Home saved their lives.

“Everyone agrees there’s something special to it,” Richardson said. 

While women come from all parts of Alabama and neighboring states, Richardson said the majority is still from Birmingham and surrounding counties. These women represent all backgrounds and life experiences – addiction isn’t limited in who it affects.

More recently, Richardson said she has seen many women coming to St. Anne’s Home to recover from heroin use. According to the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office, there were over 120 heroin deaths in the county in 2014, compared to only 58 in 2013.

“We are seeing more and more women come through here struggling with heroin,” said Richardson, who said she believes heroin is the biggest substance problem for the Birmingham area.

Despite 51 years of treatment, Richardson said not many people know the facility exists. She wants to raise the profile of St. Anne’s home in the community. The first step toward this is the Healing Happens Together fundraising dinner on Jan. 28 at a private residence in Mountain Brook.

Tickets to the dinner are $100 each. The proceeds from the event support scholarships for women who want to come to St. Anne’s Home. Richardson said Bradford Health and Cafe Iz are sponsoring the event, and local artist Beth Conklin donated her time to create the invitations.

For those who don’t attend the dinner but want to support St. Anne’s Home, Richardson said volunteers can donate their time or skills at the facility. Donations can also be made in cash or through AmazonSmile.

For more information about the work of St. Anne’s Home, visit stanneshome.org.