Living Water’s mission is to help disenfranchised & formerly incarcerated women, who are struggling with addictions, to overcome their weaknesses and nurture their strengths so that they may become vital members of the community.
In 2001, our founder Lisa Cohn began leading a 12 step support group at Nassau County Jail. There is a program called DART(drug, alcohol, rehab, treatment), where women can elect to reside if they acknowledge they have a drug or alcohol problem. Lisa began helping many of these women when they left the jail, and saw firsthand the often deplorable conditions they were living in.
The only person who is educated is the one who has learned how to learn and change.
Carl Rogers
Wanting to do something, Lisa realized that she’d probably need a college degree and additional knowledge to even attempt to open up a facility for these women. In 2008 after completing her degree in Human Service Management, Lisa worked with another non profit until she realized that formerly incarcerated women and addicts were indeed not a popular cause. She then went about starting her own non-profit(501c3) and in 2010 Living Water for Women was incorporated.
It was not until 2012 that a suitable facility was finally found. Actually two former boarding houses were purchased and then renovations began. These houses were despicable but they were the example of so many “sober houses” that have been allowed to operate. We wanted to do better! So many volunteers came through our doors, donating labor, materials and money to help renovate every room in these two very run down old houses. After many worked tirelessly, in January of 2014 we had our official grand opening!
