Damascus Way Reentry Center Inc.

Damascus Way's mission, as the staff expresses it, is to provide a safe place for men leaving the prison system to take the necessary steps to become law abiding, productive members of the community. We know that the best help we can offer is the gospel of Jesus Christ which is built into every part of the program. We also seek to provide the practical tools each man needs to make a successful transition from incarceration to life outside the bars. These tools include learning to accept responsibility for their choices, actions and the direction of their future.

Although it is impossible to learn the true condition of each man's heart during our short time with them, we do witness transformation in the lives of many. Our goal is to live as examples of godliness in all our dealings with them. We provide guidance in finding employment, support groups, church and many other areas. We offer Bible studies, chapel, prayer times, church attendance and spiritual counsel to all who enter the program. To graduate from Damascus Way, a man must have completed his time commitment, be employed full-time, be attending a weekly support group, be involved in a local church, have paid any debts he owes to Damascus Way and have arranged an acceptable living situation to move into.

It is cost and time prohibitive for us to check on how many of our graduates continue working, remain off drugs, continue in church and stay out of prison once they leave Damascus Way. We do perform informal investigations each year and know that at least 50% of our graduates are continuing on the right path. We also know that some who have gone back to prison live for Christ in prison and continue that path after their release.

Donations given by individuals this year was $100,785, down from $117,937 the previous fiscal year. These gifts represent almost a fourth of our total annual budget. Without our friends who faithfully give we could not provide the ministry we offer.

Fiscal year 1998-99, however, marked the most income from Program Service Fees in our history. Total income from the two state contracts, General Assistance payments and individual pay by residents was $263,962. That compares with 1997-98 fiscal year, second highest on record, of $242,569 which was over $100,000 higher than any previous year. Damascus Way's total income for 1998-99 was $393,755 with expenses of $381,581 leaving a surplus of $12,174.

The record Program Fee income reflects a year of hard work by each staff member as the population of the Golden Valley facility was at an average 90.5% (average 448 "bed days" a month) of possible capacity for the year. The Golden Valley facility had a total of 5,375 bed days this fiscal year plus the 2,654 bed days for the aftercare men, giving us a total of 8,029 bed days for the total ministry, up from 7,224 last fiscal year. Also significant was the fact that 69% of those entering the program successfully completed their legally mandated time at Damascus Way.

Seventy percent of the men entering Damascus Way this fiscal year were on Minnesota State Department of Corrections contracts. We were paid $46 ($44 before July 1,1998) a day for each man for the first 60 days and in a few cases for their entire 90-day stay. Damascus Way charges residents $12 a day when they are paying their own way. Our cost to operate is now over $50 per day. Our purpose in charging them so little is to afford each man the opportunity to accumulate enough money to move out and begin life on his own.

Accompanying the higher income and occupancy was an increase in direct program expense. Things like food, recreation, mandatory weekly drug tests and other client services paid by Damascus Way (including gifts and graduation parties) increased from $26,317 last year to $40,058 this year.

A combination of our many contacts with prison case workers, parole and probation agents and religious resource individuals in 1997-98 along with the great demand the prison system has for beds in reentry centers has given us a year of great ministry opportunity.

We are so very thankful to our staff who must fill shifts 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. On duty staff is under extreme pressure to fulfill the requirements of monitoring the residents both away from and present at the Damascus Way facility, as well as dealing with the many spiritual and emotional needs of the residents.

We express deep thanks and appreciation to the chaplains and Christian volunteers working in the prisons who spread the word about Damascus Way to the men they minister to. Of course, our heartfelt thanks goes out to all the individuals and organizations who have given so generously and prayed to make this ministry possible.

Respectfully submitted,

Rev. Dick Harden, Director

Damascus Way Reentry Center Inc.