Happy Mothering at Alpha House

Tonja Brickhouse and mother Mary Holmes-Graves

 

Decades ago an unwed, pregnant teen was sent out of the state to have her child and then forced to give the baby up for adoption. Upon her return home, the childless mother "Cried and cried. She was unable to get over it," said Tonja Brickhouse, vice president of the Alpha House's Board of Directors. 

Tampa's Alpha House was started in 1981 to provide "safe housing, education and counseling, parenting and life skills training, vocational assistance, and spiritual support to pregnant or parenting women," according to its website. 

Brickhouse was speaking at their annual fundraiser, the New Lives Breakfast, held Friday morning. 400 hundred community members gathered in support.  

Executive Director Pat Langford with donor Machelle Maner 

Though the Alpha House is celebrating its 30th anniversary, Executive Director Pat Langford said the organization is still working on becoming a household name. "We're the only licensed maternal home in Hillsborough County," she said. "We're not a shelter, but a program." 

The Alpha House takes in homeless pregnant women and mothers, including girls under 18 in foster care who often have their children taken away from them and placed into another foster home. "We're the support, guidance and structure missing from their lives," said Langford. 

Brickhouse, a retired U.S. Air Force colonel and current public servant, said the teen's aunt felt her deep sorrow and went against the wishes of her parents to support her. She successfully helped her niece get the child back before the adoption process was finalized. That teen was Brickhouse's mother. 

Alpha's first E.D. Sister Rosalie Hennessey

In 2010, Alpha House took in 110 women but had to turn away 100 more, because, according to Langford, "Some weren't interested in being helped. Some are on the waiting list." 

Currently the Alpha House provides safe housing and services for 39 women and their children. 

Loren Craig, a victim of domestic violence, is one of them. She's lived at the Alpha House for a year and a half with her son Reid, and shared their story during the New Lives Breakfast. 

Unable to support herself during and after her pregnancy, she left for good when her partner's abuse didn't stop. "I became homeless in 15 seconds," Craig said. 

Craig recently graduated from an administrative assistance program at Brewster Tech, and is working and saving for her own apartment. 

To learn more, visit their semimonthly Lunch & Learn sessions, or visit their website to find other ways you can help. 

When Home Isn't Where the Heart Is Anymore

Florida Governor Charlie Crist released a statement last week regarding the new crime statistics in the state. Overall, crime has decreased across the board, except for domestic violence which has seen an increase of 3%.

Joanne Lighter, the Executive Director of the Spring of Tampa Bay, sent me more stats via email to further spotlight the issue:

Domestic Violence (DV) murder is up 15.6%. DV manslaughter is up 71.4%. DV stalking is up 31%. And 40% of all violent crimes were DV-related. 1/5 of all murders were DV related.

"Fewer couples are getting divorced," Lighter said, citing a reason for the spike in violence. She told me this week that 15 domestic abuse-related homicides have occurred in Hillsborough County since last July.

In a similar vein, tomorrow night there's an event in Hyde Park Village called Take Back the Night, sponsored in part by the Spring, the Sexual Violence Task Force of Tampa Bay, the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay (211!), and the Family Justice Center.

It's for survivors of sexual violence and abuse, as well as their loved ones, or even if you're seeking more information and want to be a part of the cause. After all, someone you know has most likely been affected. According to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN) 1 in 6 women & 1 in 33 men will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime. Sad, sad stats.