About Us
EXECUTIVE BIO
Dr. Cassandra Bush began her career in The Duval Public School
System for 10 years where she served under Lawrence Dennis as
a Principal Secretary and Bookkeeper. She then transitioned into
the Mayo Clinic where for 4 years she was an Accountant and
responsible for hospital oversight of money. In the meantime
her husband, Pastor Jacob Bush had a vision to serve the mentally
ill. Collaboratively, The House of Refuge Ministries Incorporated
(THORMINC) was formed in 1999. Since then she has been actively
carrying out the mission, "To provide supportive housing and
services to individuals in need."
Dr. Cassandra Bush's sole objective is to provide leadership to
THORMINC with responsibilities including problem solving, planning,
organizing and managing budgets to achieve the corporate goals.
Dr. Bush oversees operations of 17 beds of ex-offenders, men
and women who are beginning their lives over and assistance with
acquiring full time employment. She has 10 years of experience in
this domain as well as excellent communication to be a voice that
they once had. In addition she also oversees a Payee Service, where
THORMINC has fiduciary responsibilities of over 100 Social Security
recipients and a yearly budget of over a $1,000,000.00.
In the Community, she continues to carry out her mission for
ex-offenders on the Advisory Board for Duval House, The Council
on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys (Jacksonville Chapter)
and Faith and Community Aftercare Committee. She is also a
member of SHC and JCCI forward.
Dr. Cassandra Bush has been married to Pastor Jacob Bush for
35 years. Together they have two children, Haley and Jacob along
with two beautiful granddaughters.
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WHY THORMINC -
The number of shelters and bed space to serve those who find themselves
homeless has grown in the last year. Transitional housing facilities add space
to serve people nightly. The current released inmates from prison lack the support
for transitional needs and housing. Officials have long struggled with providing
ex-offenders with the necessary aid needed to succeed. However, the current situation
is different. The numbers of returning released inmates are greater, and corrections has
retained few supportive housing and services. This can pose for a number of unfortunate
collateral consequences. These circumstances can add increases in child abuse, family
violence, and the spread of infectious diseases, homelessness, and community
disorganization. As a victim advocate are well aware of the allegation for public safety
and risk management. These are major factors when reentry to society is occurring.
For large numbers of people in some communities, incarceration is becoming almost
a normal experience. The phenomenon may affect the socialization of young people,
the power of prison sentences to deter, and the future trajectory of crime rates and
crime victimization. THORMINC provides supportive housing and services that teaches
life-skill training, case management, self-sufficiency, and community meetings.
THORMINC supports Department of Corrections in their job to ensure that ex-offenders
are mainstreamed into the community minimizing the risk to the community and
providing a normal lifestyle experience.
WHY JACKSONVILLE NEEDS MORE
TRANSITIONAL AND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING
FOR INDIVIDUALS
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In Jacksonville, existing shelters have limited space and have been unable to
keep up with the needs of the rapidly increasing number of homeless men and
women leaving the prison system. This trend has exhausted the avenues of
available housing for these situations. Transitional housing is necessary while
the ex-offender makes progress toward establishing a stable lifestyle. They can
focus on overcoming problems with alcohol or drug addiction while in a safe haven.
THORMINC has developed resources, including opportunities to gain time in a
productive job and the income, savings, and credit the job can produce, that is
necessary to move to permanent housing.
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