We are building residential reentry housing paired with individualized success planning, trauma-informed mental health support, life skills and financial literacy, employment and career readiness, and family restoration, all within one supportive community.
Our initial pilot is designed for men returning home from prison. We will set specific eligibility criteria once the first house opens, and we plan to expand to a separate residence for women in a future phase.
Not yet. We are in our fundraising and development stage, so we are not accepting residents, applications, or formal referrals at this time. The best way to help right now is to support the Founding Campaign.
We are based in Albany, Georgia, and we plan to serve returning citizens across the Albany and Atlanta areas.
We are planning a 6 to 12 month residential program that begins with a structured 30-day stabilization period to address immediate needs and ease the first weeks home.
We are grounded in the lived experience of our founder, Jimmie C. Gardner, and built around a home-like, dignified setting that brings housing, mental health support, employment readiness, financial literacy, family restoration, and inclusive spirituality together under one roof.
You can give a one-time gift, become a monthly Freedom Partner, or choose a symbolic sponsorship such as a hygiene kit, welcome kit, bed, or room. Every gift moves our $500,000 Founding Campaign forward, and we share transparent updates on our progress.
Jimmie is our founder and CEO. A two-time exoneree who spent nearly 30 years wrongfully incarcerated, he created Gardner House as the reentry program he wishes had been waiting for him, and his lived experience shapes everything we build.
Key Terms Explained
Trauma-informed care means services that recognize past harm and prioritize emotional safety.
Residential Reentry Housing
Residential reentry housing is stable, longer-term housing that is specifically designed for people returning home after incarceration. It combines a safe place to live with structured support so that residents can focus on healing, learning, and building a new future.
Stabilization Period
The stabilization period is the first 30 days of the planned Gardner House program. During this time, residents will slow down, address urgent needs like IDs and healthcare, and begin healing support before moving into longer term goals.
Individual Success Planning
Individual success planning is a personal roadmap that each returning citizen creates with support from staff. It sets clear goals for housing, work, health, relationships, and finances, then breaks them into realistic steps.
Trauma-Informed Reentry Program
A trauma-informed reentry program recognizes that many returning citizens carry deep stress, grief, and harm. It designs rules, routines, and support with that in mind, so people feel respected, safe, and able to heal.
Inclusive Spirituality
Inclusive spirituality means we honor many paths to meaning, connection, and purpose. People of any faith or belief system, including those who are unsure, are welcome and never pressured to follow a single tradition.
Freedom Partner
A Freedom Partner is a supporter who gives a recurring monthly gift to Gardner House. These steady contributions help cover everyday costs like beds, welcome kits, and ongoing resident support once the house opens.