For Women, By Women
The Oak Cottage for Women is a local nonprofit that “exists to provide a safe residential home to formerly incarcerated women to re-enter society as productive citizens. They seek to create a balanced spiritual, physical, vocational and emotional foundation for daily living through Christ-centered, compassionate care,” per their mission statement. We had the privilege to interview the Founder & Executive Director, Judy Felts.
For the past twenty-three years, Judy Felts has served as a volunteer at Tennessee Prison for Women, currently the Deborah Johnson Rehabilitation Center. Judy says, “I went into the prison as a professional musician and led worship service for the maximum-security prison.” While getting to know the ladies there, she learned that many incarcerated women sit in prison for months waiting on a bed to become available in a Tennessee Department of Corrections(TDOC) approved home. Judy explained that if a woman is on parole, she is often mandated to reside at an approved TDOC home. Judy noted that “One girl I knew waited four months in prison before she could find a bed available to be released.” So, in 2016 she put together a committee to begin the journey to create the Oak Cottage. Judy’s intention was to address the problems she witnessed, which was achieved by applying for a grant through the Community Housing Partnership of Williamson County. Judy is proud to announce, “We are the only home in Williamson County that is on the approved list for the Department of Correction!”
As of March of 2022, the Oak Cottage has two homes in Franklin. The first location is on West Fowlkes Street, and the most recent home is on Berry’s Chapel Road. The Oak Cottage currently provides housing, transportation, clothing, meals and mentors, as well as assistance with job placement. The organization also works with other groups to provide dental care, glasses, counseling and other health services. Judy Felts notes, “We would love to expand our ministry throughout middle Tennessee and provide housing after they graduate. The girls are at our home for a minimum of six months. Once they graduate, they are allowed to stay an additional six months until they can find a place to go.”
The success stories that have blossomed from the Oak Cottage truly show the impact this organization has on the women of Williamson County. Judy tells how program “graduates” are thriving through new career paths, mending relationships with family and even attending college!
Judy hopes women who stay at the Oak Cottage “know that their lives are no accident and God has a purpose. People believing and having hope in them is essential. I hope this will be a rich experience that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. I am blessed to have this opportunity to work with these ladies.”
You may be wondering how you can contribute to this life-changing cause? The community can help by donating clothes, cleaning supplies, trolley tickets or transportation and necessities for running the house. In addition, the Oak Cottage graciously receives volunteers to teach classes, mentor the members and assist the program director with basic office skills.
