SAFE HOUSE COMING TO OXFORD

Beyond the Break, a Memphis based non-profit organization, branches out to create programs of rehabilitation for women to help and heal them. Rapha’s House is a component of Beyond the Break. Rapha’s House, which plans to open in Oxford in April, will provide a 90-day program for women that have experienced trauma.

“Beyond the Break is a program for women who have been affected by crisis, drama or tragedy,” Founder Deona Benson said.

The program also provides a non-live-in option in which participants instead meet for eight sessions.

“In these sessions come together to really encourage and coach women out of the broken place mentally and emotionally and get them back to a healthy place,” Benson said.

The program accepts any woman that comes to the house in need of help and assistance.

“A lot of times women are silently dying, and we don’t wanna speak up because we are afraid to be seen as rebellious and loud,” House Manager Nadia McIntosh said. “There are women that have been raped and victimized, and they are walking around not saying anything and slowly dying.”

McIntosh is a graduating member of Benson’s program Beyond the Break. She said that she thinks it’s amazing that God has brought her full circle to work as the House Manager for Rapha’s House.

Benson is a co-pastor at University of Life Church and founder of Beyond the Break. She originally is from Memphis, TN, but she has recently moved to Oxford, MS. As a pastor, she incorporates faith into much of her rehabilitation programs.

“As far as faith being intertwined in this,” Benson said. “It is the center. I believe He provides all of the resources included medical resources. I believe that He is the center and source.”

“We don’t know what is going to walk through those doors,” McIntosh said. “There may be people who have been hurt and abused. I think at the end of the day the whole thing that is going to bind Rapha’s House is love. I am not trying to covert you. They can just come and feel the love of God and feel the love of God being poured into them.”

Benson uses the energy that she displays in her preaching to propel the program forward.

“This will be the first time that I have directed my own transitional home,” Benson said. “I have worked in several transitional homes, and I do a lot of outreach through recovery homes in Mississippi and Alabama.”

Benson said that Rapha’s House would only take two participants per session so that their grief or mental health counselors can devote enough attention to each participant to facilitate healing.

“Rapha’s house is completely free,” House Manager Nadia McIntosh said. “We want to take the burden off them. If they come in with just the clothes on their back, we are not going to turn them away.”

She continues to work in the community through networking and fundraising. Benson states that the hardest part about networking is the fact that there is a level of confidentiality and the need to disperse information. For example, the location of the house will be confidential to protect those participating in the program.

In terms of fundraising, Benson has created teams of people working to raise money for the non-profit.

Cathy Ivy, a student at the University of Mississippi, is a member of her Rescue team.

“We go out in any location doesn’t matter, near or far- community and literally help,” Ivy said. “Whenever there is a need, we help. No matter how big or small.”

Ivy has also been selling popcorn on campus. They are selling various kinds of popcorn such as zebra popcorn, kettle corn, caramel corn, jalapeño cheddar, white cheddar and unicorn popcorn. Zebra popcorn is white and dark chocolate drizzled over caramel corn while unicorn popcorn is colorful popcorn.

The proceeds go too Beyond the Break and Rapha’s House to help them raise money.

In Oxford, there are other social services available for people seeking support. One such organization is the Family Resources Center of North Mississippi which serves 10 counties in North Mississippi.

“When people come in we typically sit down and figure out what needs they have with a client needs assessment to consider what would best suit them,” Adult Victims Services Coordinator Libby Lytle said.

Lytle said that they use the assessment to direct them to different community partners. They work with various United Way organizations such as Doors of Hope and the Lift program.

The Family Resource Center of North Mississippi provides free services to rural communities and all communities in Mississippi.