‘Meet Them at the Gate’: New Faith-Based Transformation Home Offers a Fresh Start in Somerset
By Staff Reporter | Somerset-Pulaski Advocate
Somerset, Kentucky (SPA) – For women re-entering society after incarceration, the first steps can be the most daunting. Faced with finding housing, securing employment, and rebuilding a life, the path forward can seem overwhelming. In Somerset, however, a new faith-based nonprofit, born from personal experience, is working to bridge that gap and provide a stable foundation for a fresh start.
Meet Them at the Gate, founded by Michael and Elizabeth Nichols along with their daughter, Julieanna, has opened its first transformational living facility, the Ruth House, for women seeking a supportive environment to rebuild their lives.
The mission is deeply personal for Michael, who spent much of his life incarcerated. His wife, Elizabeth, shared his desire to give others a "fair shake coming out of prison and a fresh start". Michael’s motivation is rooted in his faith and a profound life change. "Once I gave my life to God and told God, you know, you saved my life, so now I give my life back to you," he explained. "He put it on my heart to turn around and pull other people out to show them the way... that there is a better life".
From Backpacks to a Full House
The organization began as a backpack program, true to its name. The founders would "meet them at the gate" of jails or prisons to provide backpacks filled with essentials like hygiene items, snacks, Bibles, and a list of local resources to make an immediate positive impact.
This initiative has since expanded with the opening of the Ruth House on September 17, the first of what the Nichols hope will be many homes named after biblical figures. The five-bedroom house accommodates 13 women. For a weekly rent of $125, residents receive a furnished room and all utilities, including Wi-Fi, cleaning supplies, laundry detergent, and unlimited coffee.
The home operates entirely on private donations and receives immense support from the East Somerset Baptist Church. The founders are adamant that their work is mission-driven, not profit-driven, and they do not accept any form of insurance. "We're not chasing the dollar. We're chasing Jesus here," they stated.
Structure, Accountability, and Community
The core goal of the Ruth House is to teach residents to be "completely self-sufficient" while learning to live and work together in a diverse community. Life is structured to foster responsibility, with a nightly curfew and a rotating chore chart to maintain common areas. Every resident is responsible for cleaning up their own messes.
Accountability is a key pillar of the program. The organization maintains a transparent relationship with law enforcement, permitting walk-throughs by police or probation and parole officers at any time. If drug use is suspected, an observed drug test is administered. A refusal to test or a second positive result is grounds for removal to protect the integrity and safety of the home.
To help residents succeed, Meet Them at the Gate has built a strong community network. They partner with Goodwill for work-ready items, such as resume building and job placement, and collaborate with other local groups like Help the Homeless and Ageis Mental Health. Volunteers from the community also visit the house to lead cooking and sewing classes.
Looking to the Future
Success at the Ruth House is measured by individual growth, with the ultimate goal of providing a "safe place for females to come get on their feet, gain their confidence back," and thrive as self-sufficient members of the community.
The long-term vision is one of expansion. Nichols's plan to open more facilities in Pulaski County, including a home for men and a desperately needed "mommy and me" house for women with children, before expanding to neighboring counties. Currently, they cannot house women with children, a situation they describe as "heartbreaking". For pregnant residents, the staff work diligently to find suitable housing after the baby is born.
As the Ruth House continues to fill, the organization's needs grow. The founders say their most pressing needs are twin beds, furniture, property for future homes, and community prayers.
For any woman who needs help, the founders encourage them to call or text the phone numbers listed on the "Meet them at the Gate" Facebook page. "Our first question is, ‘Are you OK right now, and do you need us to come get you?’” they said.
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Two great people.
Thank you for providing a stable Home for these coming out to gain a new life an grow in Jesus.Proving Food Warm beds an loving home Thank you Jesus
I am so thankful to God, to see these homes come into place. We need more places like these and in other counties.
Praise God for making this first house an example of things that can be done through God's Mighty Hands.
These people are the real thing! They do everything for God and in Gods name. As Christians we need to do all we can to support others willing to devote their live to helping others in God's name.