Diocese opens Joseph House in Tallahassee to offer second chance for formerly incarcerated

When Father Dustin Feddon walked through the halls of prisons around northern Florida, what he saw disturbed him.  

He looked through Plexiglas windows, into darkened, dank cells. In them, he saw people deprived of stimulation, of sunlight. Often, he saw the faces of young black men. 

“These are individuals living in unconscionable environments that have to learn how to survive,” Feddon said.  

He spent about two years visiting with incarcerated men, often in solitary confinement.

“It’s kind of visceral, the injustices,” Feddon said. “We warehouse a lot of people, put them in very inhumane living conditions and then they're released. A lot of them are released without any plan, without any place to go, without any kind of processing into what they've emerged.” 

Feddon's insight into the criminal justice system inspired the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pensacola–Tallahassee to open Joseph House, a nonprofit ministry dedicated to helping men and women reintegrate into society upon their release from prison. The project officially launched in late May. 

The house is located on Bradford Road, just west of Meridian Road, on a block zoned both residential and commercial. The program hopes to demonstrate that when formerly incarcerated individuals are surrounded by safe, healthy members of the community, then it makes the larger community safe as well. 

“For too long, I think we’ve had organizations like this put into certain areas of town that can be heavy on social services but aren’t well integrated with the larger communities in our area," said Feddon, now executive director of Joseph House. "At times, that cuts people off from networking and connecting with good vital jobs and a safe community."

Joseph House seeks to serve those who they believe have the most difficulty reentering society— those who have committed violent offenses. Feddon said the home will address their relational and material needs, as well as mental health treatment. 

The program is about giving the formerly incarcerated a “fair and just” start, with a job, stable home and basic life skills.

"Not only I, but Pope Francis and others, want to make the case that pro-life issues extend to all facets of life," Feddon said.

First resident arrives, more on the way

Last month, Joseph House welcomed its first official resident, Joe.

Church officials declined to provide Joe's full name and criminal history, but said he was given a lengthy sentence at 13 and spent many years in prison. Feddon said the man's legal team believes he was wrongfully convicted, something Bishop William Wack echoed in a tweet trumpeting the "new ministry in Tallahassee for ex-offenders."

"Our first resident was wrongfully convicted and spent many, many yrs in prison," he wrote. "I’m very proud that he is now a guest (resident) in our diocese. Thank you to all who made this happen!"

A sociable storyteller, Joe often writes stories about the squirrels and other animals scurrying around the backyard of the Bradford Road house. He keeps the stories in booklets that volunteers print for him.  

"His openness, his joy, his affection is authentic," Feddon said. 

Though the house currently serves one person, the team plans to expand its services. The house can currently accommodate three people, and they plan to remodel the carport into three more rooms. 

For the spacious, peaceful backyard, Feddon envisions a meditation garden, a place to “heal.” 

“I think it helps them dream about the type of house they would want and to feel independent,” Feddon said. 

He is currently meeting with several incarcerated individuals who may join Joe in the home later this year. The long-term goal is for five or six residents at a time to stay and rotate out on a semester basis. 

“Not everyone's going to be cut out for sharing community space in the way that we have, so we try to get an assessment of them, and they get an assessment of us,” Feddon said. 

Meeting the neighbors

Feddon said he's taken an "interpersonal" and "relational" approach with the neighborhood, meeting neighbors organically. Many are not yet aware that individuals convicted of violent crimes will be living nearby.

Wack addressed potential safety concerns by highlighting the program's intimate approach.

"I am very proud of the ministry that Joseph House is doing in our community.  When someone has ‘done their time’ in jail or prison, they need assistance in order to become established again and avoid being a repeat-offender – especially if they do not have family or friends in the area," said Wack in a statement to the Tallahassee Democrat.

"Joseph House hopes to accompany one person at a time as they re-enter the community and get back on their feet. This personal approach has not only proven to be very successful; it is a compassionate response to a very challenging situation."

WANT TO SEE THE HOUSE?

Feddon invites local residents to visit the facility at 302 Bradford Road during a house blessing set for Saturday, June 29, at 10 a.m. For more information on Joseph House and its services, please contact Feddon at frdustin@josephhouseus.org or 850-933-0375.

Contact reporter Jordan Anderson at janderson@tallahssee.com