We're not a big agency. That's kind of the point.

I live in Macon, I run businesses here, and I have a degree in Criminal Justice that I've actually put to use.

For seven years I formed and ran a youth-at-risk group. For six years I ran a program for underage first-time offenders, the kids who got one bad mark and were standing right at the fork in the road. I also put in years on the administrative and program side at a police department. So I've seen this thing from the front desk, from the back office, and from the kitchen table.

And honestly? I've been without a stable place to live myself. Not in theory. For real. I know what it does to you when you don't know where you're sleeping next week. You can't think about a job. You can't think about anything. That's why housing comes first here.

Too many folks come home ready to do right and there's just nothing there. No lease, no ride, no ID, nobody to vouch for them. They're not failing the system. The system's failing them on day one. I got tired of watching that happen, so I started Reborn Ready.

I'm not going to tell you this is easy or that we've got it all figured out. We don't. But I pick up my phone, I show up, and I don't give up on people. That's the deal.