Program helping addicted women moves into new Hamilton home

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

Juliette’s Hope, a program to help Butler County women break away from drugs, prostitution and other vices, will host an Open House on Saturday at its new Hamilton home.

The Rev. Kim Russo launched the ministry after finding a crack-addicted prostitute behind her former Hamilton coffee shop, Offerings Holy Grounds Cafe at 215 Main St. The hopelessness she saw in the woman’s eyes prompted her to begin the intensive two-year program that focuses not only on staying away from drugs, but also reaching financial independence and a home of their own, she said.

The program and those it helped were happy with the existing Lockland location, a few miles south of the Butler County where most of the clients it served were from, but a disagreement between Juliette’s Hope and the church that had donated buildings it was using forced the move.

“We settled out of court, and they had to pay us back what we put into the building,” said Shauna Snyder, who graduated from the two-year program in January and now is the paid outreach coordinator and residential manager.

“We still can house 12 women. We have nine here at the moment. We’re still doing the same programming.”

This is part of the new living space in Hamilton of Juliette’s Hope, a program that helps women break away from drugs, prostitution and other negative issues. Juliette’s Hope will have an Open House Saturday, March 7. PROVIDED

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The Hamilton building, at 42 N. 7th St., has more personal living space for the women, who shared larger rooms with more beds in them at Lockland. Juliette’s Hope moved to the new building the weekend of Feb. 8. Saturday’s Open House will be 1-4 p.m.

“It’s so much nicer. We’re very blessed,” Snyder said.

“It’s amazing,” said Susie Carpenter, who has been a Juliette’s employee for about a year. “There’s a lot more space, and it’s more conducive to what we do. It’s going to allow us to serve women more efficiently. We’re really seeing God bless us.”

One advantage of the Lockland location was that it was removed from the places and old friends where the women became addicted. But Snyder said the location change won’t impact those who want to improve.

“Either we want to stay clean or we don’t, is what it comes down to, at the end of the day,” she said.

Three of the women are in the program’s second year, working and driving cars, saving money for their rent and apartment deposits, and “doing very well,” Snyder said.

“I’m pushing the Campaign 2020,” Snyder said. “I’m trying to get 2,020 people to donate $20 a month for the year of 2020.

“If people want to be a part of our mission of saving lives and getting women off the streets, and helping them recover their lives, spiritually, mentally, physically, they can go to julietteshope.com and hit the Campaign 2020 link.”

The Hamilton building’s landlord attends the same church, Landmark Baptist Church in Glendale, that Juliette’s women attend.

“The churches around us (in Hamilton) are definitely showing us love and they’ve shown up to help us move, help put beds together,” Snyder said. “We’re getting a lot of support from the community.”

Women wanting to join the program can contact intake coordinator Kamilah Wiley at 513-827-6281.


Open House

Juliette’s Hope, a two-year program that helps women battle drug abuse, find jobs and their own financial independence, will hold an Open House at its new Hamilton location.

  • When: Saturday, March 7, 1-4 p.m.
  • Where: 42 N. 7th St., Hamilton.
  • Also: People wishing to volunteer or be sponsors will have opportunities.

Juliette’s Hope is also running what it calls Campaign 2020, where it is asking 2,020 people to donate $20 each month of this year. People can give by going to www.julietteshope.com and clicking on the Campaign 2020 link.

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