Home that heals

“This is what we do; this is who we are. And this, I find, is an inheritance for myself and for Redemption Housing.” 

Dr. Lori Banfield, executive director of Redemption Housing, says these words with conviction and gratitude. She’s seated at MCC’s office in south Philadelphia alongside Jonathan McClendon, the organization’s Chaplain Intern.

Redemption Housing, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit, provides housing and reentry support for men returning from incarceration. The organization has two houses, Jubilee House and Barnabas house.

Banfield shared, "Our vision is to be a network of safe, sober, secure, hospitable transitional reentry homes throughout Philadelphia and beyond.” 

Through a grant from MCC East Coast and help from other partners, the organization connects residents with resources, mentorship and personal growth opportunities.  

During childhood, Banfield shared how her commitment to justice is like an inheritance, passed down from a family steeped in community. Her great-grandmother, for example, was among the first women bishops to preach in spaces reserved for men and to build a church in Philadelphia. She later opened that church to refugees fleeing a civil war in Africa, whom she formed relationships with while doing mission work.

“Her focus was to always empower and connect individuals that were undervalued and marginalized domestically and internationally,” she said. 

All of this, and more, has brought Banfield to a life rooted in advocating for those who are often overlooked by society. 

Image

She recalled the story of one Redemption House alumnus, not named for his privacy, who was a late addition to the first Barnabas House cohort. Although the program typically did not accept participants after a few months, his story stood out.

He owned a home and had savings, believing he only needed temporary support. But, after getting out of prison, he discovered that the family he trusted had drained his accounts, ghosted him and tried to sell his house. “It was just an array of things spiraling and pulling at the seams,” Banfield said.

Redemption Housing staff intervened just a week before the house was set to be sold. If he had not reached out, he would have lost it. Despite having just met, he chose to trust them, engage in Bible study and skill classes while encouraging others. Within months, Banfield said, “God restored everything to him.”

She said moments like these serve as a reminder of why the work matters: “That’s what the sacred space is for… the sacred space of refuge that is Redemption Housing.”

Banfield added that key factors in reducing recidivism—the likelihood that a person will reoffend and return to the prison system—include housing, community and access to healthy people and spaces, all of which are critical to restorative work and reflected in the alumnus’ story.

Andrew Bodden, program director for MCC East Coast, said, “The work of Redemption Housing is rooted in MCC’s call to respond to basic human needs and to seek peace and justice. Through this partnership, housing becomes more than shelter; it becomes a place of dignity, stability, and renewed hope.” 

Image

Redemption Housing’s ministry also emphasizes rest, which makes room not only for comfort, but for “the courage to advocate for yourself and for others.” From there, individuals can begin to reimagine what is possible: “to reset vision, and to think, ‘What can I be now? What is ideal for me? What is it I want to pursue?’”

MCC’s values of reconciliation and right relationships with God and one another are reflected and embodied in this partnership. While Redemption Housing only serves men, Banfield points out that this is still restorative and models healing where trust has been fractured. 

“For many of my brothers coming home, their only encounters with women have been in a position of power or authority, or it’s been strained relationships,” she said. She described how restoration and reconciliation towards healthy relationships happen when women in the community participate in fellowship meals or Bible study with the cohorts. 

Image

For many residents, this kind of restoration takes shape in other ways. 

McClendon described the shock of encountering peace after years of instability: “Somebody like me, who has been through incarceration, and when you see the peaceful side of life, it's like an alien thing from living the life of crime and violence.”

Jail, he explained, became an unexpected space of reflection. “Being incarcerated taught me a lot of things. I was actually trying to harm myself, and I told the judge, ‘Thank you.’ She said, ‘Thank you for what?’ I said, ‘Saving my life.’”

“It’s not somewhere I wish I’d go back,” he added. “But for the most part, it just calmed me down.” These experiences opened new pathways within him, including serving as a chaplain intern, which led to a spiritual awakening. “I even read a whole book for the first time.”

He emphasizes that learning can emerge even in painful places. “People always look at jail and incarceration in a negative way … but there’s so much you can learn in there.” He often asks others who were incarcerated, “What have you learned?”

McClendon now wishes that same sense of peace and possibility for others returning from incarceration. For McClendon and Banfield, part of healing is honoring that experience.

“That’s the gift of the accountability piece we’re talking about,” Banfield said. “It’s part of restorative justice…taking ownership of where you are and asking, ‘What can I learn?’ Instead of avoiding the place you never wanted to be. It’s saying, ‘I’m here now, so how can I be accountable?’” 

Image

With stories like McClendon’s reflecting Redemption Housing’s mission, Banfield described MCC as “sacred neighboring partners,” organizations that also believe in mercy, justice and reconciliation. While Redemption Housing handles the on-the-ground work, grants like the one provided by MCC East Coast help continue their mission.

Hyacinth Stevens, executive director of MCC East Coast, said, “For MCC East Coast, working with Redemption Housing strengthens our shared vision of right relationships—with God, one another, and creation. Partnerships like Redemption Housing remind us that transformation is possible—together, we can build bridges, nurture communities rooted in hope and share God’s love and compassion.”

Looking ahead, McClendon hopes Redemption Housing will continue to expand its reach by “touching the community” and “branching out” to support his sisters.

Redemption Housing has never kept its model to itself; the organization regularly mentors churches and partners in other regions so they can do the same work.

Banfield’s hopes for the future are clear and unwavering. “If our men are healed, our families will be healed. If our families are healed, our communities will thrive.”

For her, that kind of vision – especially in difficult moments – is grounded in faithful stewardship. 

“What gives me hope—sustaining hope—is that this work is finished in Jesus. He’s sovereign over it. It was never ours. We're just called to steward it.” 

Image