December 12, 2019
Grace House on Stratford Place Grand Opening
The Grand Opening of Grace House on Stratford Place, The Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust Campus, was held on November 14, 2019 and it was an amazing day for all in attendance! The celebration featured a ribbon cutting, “Amazing Grace” performed by Charmaine Neville, coffee from CoolBrew, Camellia Brand red beans and rice with French bread and desserts from La Louisiane Bakery, and fried chicken sandwiches from Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen & Liz Copeland. Tyra Brown, the City of New Orleans Office of Community Development’s Director of Housing and Vincent Giardina, the president of Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust, welcomed the new facility to the community; and Tiffaney Bradley, the communications director and scheduler from the office of Councilmember Kristin Gisleson, presented a proclamation from the City of New Orleans. Thank you to Tywana Lewis, a Grace House Alumna, for sharing her story of how Grace House saved her from the streets and saved her life.
Grace House is the only no-cost, long-term residential substance-use disorder treatment facility exclusively for women in the Greater New Orleans area. The new state-of-the-art Grace House location will combine the two current treatment programs for women at 1401 Delachaise Street and 1160 Camp Street. The treatment facility spans almost two acres with five buildings and will be home to 66 women. “This facility will provide a safe place for women to recover and the tools necessary to rebuild their lives,” said Bridge House / Grace House CEO, Else Pedersen. “We now can have the ability to treat more women in the New Orleans area dealing with issues of substance abuse, self-esteem, parenting, trauma, abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence and relationships.”
This new home for Grace House is astounding, and it would not be possible without your support! Thank you to all who helped make this dream come true. If you would like to tour the new home for the women of Grace House, please call Kevin Gardere at 504-821-7133.
