FRIEND OF AGAPE
HELPING
THOSE
IN
NEED
AGAPE Outreach Homes
What is Agape Outreach Homes?
Agape Outreach Homes is a non-profit organization that provides
residential housing for mentally ill adults.
Agape provides both home and family to 24 mentally ill adult men. This
includes food, shelter, personal care, activities, and opportunities for
intellectual, social and spiritual growth. Above all, Agape provides love.
What do we provide those that are in
need?

A safe home and environment

5 meals a day for all residents

In house education and training

o
Hygiene
o
Cooking
o
Cleaning
o
Medication
o
Laundry
o
Money management
o
Shopping
o
And much more
Self-improving opportunities
o
Psychosocial Rehabilitation
Program (through Ridgeview)

Although Agape is founded on Christian principles, it is open to persons of
any and all beliefs. Non-denominational Bible studies are held at the
facilities throughout the week. Both clients and staff are invited to attend,
but participation is not necessary.
Our Mission
Agape Outreach Homes is a non-profit organization which provides
housing and care for men with severe persistent mental illness. Agape is
a Greek word meaning “unconditional love”, and Agape Outreach Homes
exists to extend this love to our clients and community. Our goal is to
provide a therapeutic environment, while maintaining a sense of “family”
among our residents. We strongly believe in the dignity and courage of
those battling mental illness. Agape seeks to offer a place of safety and
hope, and illuminate a path to recovery and vitality.
Learn about mental
illness

Various classes on
mental and/or
physical issues

GED classes

Opportunities for
college

Vocational Rehab
(Job placement)
o

Church services
Access and transportation to
psychiatric and medical professionals

Advocate for each individual
Friend of Agape
What is Mental Illness?
Mental illness is a medical condition that disrupts an individual’s thinking,
feeling, mood, ability, to relate to others and daily functioning. It is a
chemical imbalance of the brain. Just as diabetes is a disorder of the
pancreas, mental illnesses are medical conditions that often result in a
diminished capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life.
The good news is that it is very treatable and rehabilitation can happen
through a treatment plan which includes the right support, therapy, and
proper medication.
The Cost of Helping Others
There are large expenses that are necessary
to help keep Agape Outreach Homes going.
There are 3 specific but basic areas that we
need help.
MEALS - A large portion of these men that
come to Agape Outreach Homes would be
and/or have been homeless. A constant
worry is food. At Agape, we take that worry
away so that an individual can focus on
getting better. We provide 3 main meals and
2 smaller meals every day for 24 individuals.
That’s 840 meals a week and 43,680 meals a
nd
year. While Agape does use resources like 2
Harvest Food Bank and food stamps, we still
incur a large expense. At the end of
December 2011 (a 9 month period), Agape
spent $16,235.
The Need
“Simply put, treatment works, if you can get it. But in America today, it is
clear that many people living with mental illness are not provided with
MAINTENANCE/REPAIRS – As with any home
ownership, there is maintenance and repairs
that are needed. Unlike a single family home,
Agape’s group homes have 24 men opening
and shutting doors, flushing toilets, using
showers, turning on faucets, and much more.
Everything gets constantly used and abused.
Also unlike other homes, when something
breaks or needs repaired, we have to fix it
immediately. Not only do we want to repair
it quickly for our residents, but we also have
to comply with the rules and regulations by
the State of Tennessee. Because we have to
repair immediately, it puts a strain on our
resources and makes it difficult to set up a
volunteer project. In 2010, we spent $44,185
and at the end of December 2011 we spent
$43,478.
UTILITIES – We all try and make utility bills as
low as possible. For single family homes, the
KUB bill we are looking at is in the hundreds.
For a group home like Agape, it is in the
thousands. Heating and cooling homes big
enough to house 24 people can be expensive.
In 2010, Agape Outreach Homes had $36,014
in utilities.
the essential treatment they need.” – Michael Fitzpatrick, Executive Director of NAMI
National, National Alliance on Mental Illness, Grading the States 2006, Arlington, VA.
One in four adults – approximately 57.7 million Americans – experience a
mental health disorder in a given year. One in 17 lives with a serious
mental illness such as schizophrenia, major depression or bipolar disorder
and about one in 10 children live with a serious mental or emotional
disorder.
Suicide is the eleventh-leading cause of death in the United States and
the third-leading cause of death for people ages 10-24 years. More than
90 percent of those who die by suicide have a diagnosable mental
disorder.
*These statistics are from the National Alliance of Mental Illness
We Need Your Help!
Would you be willing to help support the mentally ill in our community?
Would you be willing to help on a weekly or monthly basis? We need help
on a consistent basis because having homes with 24 hour care for 24
individuals can be rather costly. We are asking that you sign up for weekly
or monthly donations. No donation is too little. Any amount is
appreciated.
Friend of Agape
Be a Friend of Agape!
Friend of Agape
AGAPE Outreach Homes
5403 Jacksboro Pike
Knoxville, TN 37918
Phone: 865-689-4871
Fax: 865-689-2442
www.agapeoutreachhomesonline.org