Any parent will tell you the teen years can be rough. For girls who abuse drugs and alcohol, run away from home and defy their parents, people at an ordinary house in Clayton are doing extraordinary things to help. The house is called House of Hope, a Christian home, school, and counseling center for troubled girls, ages 12-17.
Seven girls live at the house for a year up to about two years. They aren't the only ones who get counseling, their parents get it too. "They have to come two to three times a week to make sure their child is getting back on track and to make sure they're learning new ways to communicate with their child and we also counsel the siblings to make sure the whole family is getting repaired" says Executive Director Carrie Ramsey.
House of Hope operates on donations, it accepts no government money. Families pay a small fee, about one percent of their salary. The house gets calls from families all over the country needing help. A second house is now under construction. They hope to eventually accommodate 31 girls. "I love it. I love coming to work every day and first of all it's a calling I feel God has placed on my heart. I love teenagers. I see their problems and it burdens me" says Ramsey. It's a burden lifted when she sees the growth in the girls she counsels. www.houseofhopeofnc.com