Fulton County grant money helps give offenders a second chance

ATLANTA — Angela Foster can tell you exactly where she was this time last year.

"Somewhere trying to flag cars down,” she said matter-of-factly. “I was in The Bluff selling my precious body."

Just last month, after a short stint in jail, the 51-year-old recovering heroin addict found herself in Fulton County Community Court, begging for help to skirt death. She said Judge Calvin Graves' decision set her on a recovery plan that saved her life.

“I’m not sleeping on the floor on some dirty mattress,” Foster said.” I’m in a bed. I got a bed.”

Foster is now one of six residents in the Helping Hands Supportive Housing home in Douglasville. Three days a week, she’s in Midtown Atlanta for counseling to end her heroin addiction. She has a support system made possible through the court’s Community Development Block Grant.

“He (the judge) introduced me to this program, and it’s been a godsend,” Foster said.

Each year, the community court helps dozens of first-time and low-level offenders avoid lengthy jail sentences and head to safe homes, counseling services and job training. They’re offered personalized recovery programs that require them give the courts routine accountability reports.

This year, the court was renewed for the competitive grant, which increased to nearly $28,000. They’ll be able to expand and improve services for people like Foster.

“It’s definitely a change from traditional court is seen as presently,” said Dr. Ashlee Pickett, a coordinator who helped write this year’s grant proposal. “This allows us to the time to really help not only the person, but the community as a whole by allowing them the opportunity to get better.”

When Foster looks at the lights on the Christmas tree in her new home, she says she has hope.

“This is what I need," she said. "This is what I want. I’m a beast for recovery.”

Cox Media Group