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At Mending Our Mistakes, we believe people should not lose their families, their future, or their dignity simply because they lacked support.
We envision a future where parents involved in private custody cases have access to the same kinds of support systems that already exist in other areas of the legal system. Parents should not have to choose between paying rent and hiring an attorney. They should not lose meaningful time with their children because they could not afford supervised visitation, transportation, housing, treatment, or legal guidance.
The Short-Term Vision
The Short-Term Vision
A New Community in Traskwood, Arkansas
A New Community in Traskwood, Arkansas
Our immediate goal is to develop a purpose-built campus on undeveloped land in Traskwood, Arkansas.
This community would be designed from the ground up to support individuals and families in different stages of rebuilding their lives.
At the front of the property, visitors would enter through a main road lined with two core buildings:
Community Center
Community Center
Supervised visitation services
Parenting classes
Peer mentoring
Case management
Life skills workshops
Job training
Family events
Support groups
Court navigation assistance
Emergency Services & Shelter Building
Emergency Services & Shelter Building
Emergency shelter for individuals and families
Crisis stabilization services
Short-term housing assistance
Food and clothing support
Referrals for treatment, counseling, and transportation
Space for intake, assessments, and urgent needs
Behind these buildings, the campus would expand into different levels of housing and support:
Transitional Housing
Transitional Housing
Short-term housing units for participants who need stability while working toward employment, treatment, transportation, or reunification goals.
Long-Term Apartments
Long-Term Apartments
Affordable apartment buildings for low-income individuals and families who need housing with built-in support services.
Tiny Homes & Pathways to Homeownership
Tiny Homes & Pathways to Homeownership
Tiny homes and small houses for participants who complete the program and are ready to move toward long-term independence and homeownership.
Additional Campus Features
Additional Campus Features
Playground and green space for children
Walking paths and gathering areas
Parking for residents and visitors
On-site employment spaces
Community garden areas
Volunteer opportunities
Mentor and sponsor programs
On-Site Employment Opportunities
On-Site Employment Opportunities
We want participants to be able to work without having to leave the property for every opportunity.
Potential on-site workforce programs include:
Cleaning and maintenance services
E-commerce and online retail operations
Craft and handmade product programs
Call center and insurance support services
Administrative support positions
Property maintenance and landscaping
Food service or small café opportunities
This campus is meant to feel less like a shelter and more like a neighborhood with a safety net. A place where people are expected to grow, but are also given the tools to do it.
Our Long-Term Vision
Our Long-Term Vision
Restoring the Mountainaire Historic District
Restoring the Mountainaire Historic District
Our long-term vision is to transform the historic Mountainaire Hotel in Hot Springs into a one-of-a-kind family stability campus.
For decades, the Mountainaire has sat as a vacant landmark in the center of the city. We see something different when we look at it.
We see a place where parents can rebuild their lives.
We envision restoring the Mountainaire into a mixed-use campus that combines:
Affordable housing
Transitional housing
Supervised visitation services
Parenting classes and peer support groups
Workforce development and on-site employment opportunities
Transportation assistance and life skills programming
Safe spaces for children and families to reconnect
Our vision would preserve the building's historic character while creating something entirely new inside its walls: a structured, supportive environment built around accountability, stability, and long-term success.
The Mountainaire would not simply be a housing project. It would become a landmark for family restoration in Arkansas.
By saving a historic building that many people have given up on, we would also be proving something bigger:
That people deserve the same chance.
Parent Court & Family Stability Track
Parent Court & Family Stability Track
Goal: To shift the focus from punishment to progress.
Goal: To shift the focus from punishment to progress.
We envision a specialized pathway within the family court system designed specifically for parents facing systemic barriers. This track would provide:
We envision a specialized pathway within the family court system designed specifically for parents facing systemic barriers. This track would provide:
- Coordinated Support: Access to housing, transportation, and employment resources as part of the legal process.
- Accountability over Litigation: A structured environment where parents can prove stability through action rather than just arguments in a courtroom.
- Restorative Outcomes: Helping parents become stable enough to succeed in their roles, ensuring children have healthy, present parents.
Affordable Legal Support for Parents
Affordable Legal Support for Parents
Goal: To level the playing field in private custody cases.
Goal: To level the playing field in private custody cases.
Family law is often a "pay-to-play" system, leaving low-income parents at a severe disadvantage. We are working toward a future that includes:
Family law is often a "pay-to-play" system, leaving low-income parents at a severe disadvantage. We are working toward a future that includes:
- Legal Clinics: Monthly workshops where parents can get help filing paperwork and understanding their rights.
- Limited-Scope Representation: Partnering with attorneys to provide affordable, "unbundled" legal services for specific hearings.
- Advocacy for Appointed Counsel: Supporting initiatives that provide legal representation for parents at risk of losing meaningful access to their children.
Expanded Supervised Visitation Services
Expanded Supervised Visitation Services
Goal: To ensure geography and cost never stand between a parent and child.
Goal: To ensure geography and cost never stand between a parent and child.
Many families lose months of bonding time because visitation centers are full or too expensive. Our expanded model aims to provide:
Many families lose months of bonding time because visitation centers are full or too expensive. Our expanded model aims to provide:
- Increased Availability: More time slots and additional safe-exchange locations throughout Central Arkansas.
- Sliding-Scale Fees: Ensuring that a parent’s income never determines whether they get to see their child.
- Child-Centered Environments: Safe, neutral, and welcoming spaces that prioritize the child's comfort and emotional well-back.
Housing That Supports Stability
Housing That Supports Stability
Goal: To provide more than just a roof, but a foundation.
Goal: To provide more than just a roof, but a foundation.
We believe housing is the first step toward family restoration. Our future housing models will be integrated with MOM’s core pillars:
We believe housing is the first step toward family restoration. Our future housing models will be integrated with MOM’s core pillars:
- Program-Linked Housing: Units specifically reserved for parents actively participating in workforce training or recovery programs.
- Mentorship Integration: On-site peer support and case management to help residents transition from crisis to homeownership.
- Safe Environments: Alcohol and drug-free housing that fosters a community of accountability.
Stronger Community Partnerships
Stronger Community Partnerships
Goal: To create a seamless safety net of resources.
Goal: To create a seamless safety net of resources.
No single organization can fix every mistake. We are actively seeking to deepen our network with:
No single organization can fix every mistake. We are actively seeking to deepen our network with:
- Workforce & Employers: Creating direct "second-chance" hiring pipelines for our participants.
- Faith-Based Groups: Mobilizing volunteers for mentorship, property maintenance, and family events.
- Educational Institutions: Linking parents to GED programs, trade schools, and certifications to increase their long-term earning potential.
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