If John Almond has his way, The Dream Center Golden Triangle could be operating a residential rescue program for victims of sex trafficking by the end of this year at the former Mississippi Sheriffs Boys and Girls Ranch off Motley Road.
“Hope’s Journey” would provide a minimum 1-year program for women, ages 18 to 25, who have been rescued from sex trafficking or exploitation, providing life skills, vocational training, mentorship and trauma counseling.
“That’s so we can ensure that they never have to return to that life they’ve been freed from,” said Almond, founding director for The Dream Center.
An existing agreement between the property’s current tenant and the Lowndes County Board of Supervisors has that board unsure about the plan, though.
The county owns the 320-acre property and leases it to Palmer Home for Children. Per a chancery court order entered in September 2022, Palmer Home or a partner organization had until Wednesday to use the property “as a residential setting for underprivileged, abused or neglected children or children in similar situations” or potentially forfeit the lease.
However, The Dream Center wants to start a program for adult patients, with the intent of later adding a program to house minors rescued from sex trafficking and exploitation. Palmer Home wants to sublet the property to The Dream Center and is asking county supervisors to amend, and extend, the lease agreement to allow it.
Charles Winfield, a Starkville-based attorney who represents Palmer Home, sent a draft for new lease terms April 15 to board of supervisors attorney Tim Hudson, who presented it to the board during its Tuesday meeting. The board took no action, but Hudson voiced trepidation for changing the scope of the lease terms.
“In Mississippi, you’re legally a minor until 21,” Hudson told The Dispatch after the meeting. “To me, it strains to say a 19-year-old is a child, but I think you could make that argument with a straight face. After 20, I don’t see it.”
‘If nothing begins, nothing’s ever going to happen’
The county first leased the property to the Mississippi Sheriffs Association in 1977 for a Boys and Girls Ranch and Palmer Home began operating programs there in 2005 under the same terms of what was originally a 99-year lease.
But by 2021, the property had fallen into disrepair and was sparsely used, leading the county to petition chancery court to void the lease.
Chancery Judge Rodney Faver agreed but called on the county to work out a new lease that would give Palmer Home a year from its enactment to operate residential programs on the site for underprivileged children. The two parties entered that lease May 1, 2023.
Such use would not require the county’s approval, Hudson said. Deviating from it would.
Palmer Home’s proposed amendment not only would allow The Dream Center to operate the program for ages 18 to 25, “provided that such persons are not housed with patients or residents under the age of 18,” it would extend the deadline to begin operations by another 180 days.
That would give Almond’s group enough time to renovate a pair of 5,000 square-foot cottages to house up to 10 patients each, as well as a log cabin on site meant to house administration and counseling services.
Almond said the estimated budget for the center’s first year is $463,000, which would cover staff, licensed counselors and overnight caregivers, among other operating costs, for the 24/7 care facility.
Beginning with adults would allow The Dream Center to “work out the kinks” while it went through the process of obtaining the necessary state licenses to operate a facility for children.
Patients would range from victims of sextortion to women groomed and trafficked to children who were sold into prostitution by a family member or someone they trusted.
“The public has no idea how prevalent this is right in our (region),” Almond told The Dispatch. “… It’s happening right where we are. People don’t want to hear it and don’t want to believe it, but it doesn’t make it go away.”
Hudson, however, thinks changing the scope to include adults would forfeit the county’s ability to enforce the court order. If the facility one day allowed children and adults to live on the property simultaneously, even if in separate quarters, that could create liability for the county.
“If we were to agree to that, it’s almost like we’re approving it’s OK … to have 25-year-olds and 16-year-olds (on that same property),” Hudson told The Dispatch. “I’d almost lay odds and bet money that at some point one of the older girls is going to say (to a younger girl), ‘Hell, I don’t want to stay here anymore. Hey, come on, go with me. We’ll head out to the bypass, hitch a truck and head to California.’”
Almond understands the county’s concerns but offered a different perspective for both using the property and dealing with the sex trafficking problem.
“If nothing begins, nothing is ever going to happen,” he said.
‘Healthy discussion’
County officials seem split on the issue.
While they all acknowledge Hudson’s point, some also see any usage of that property as a win.
“I don’t get a vote, but I would much rather see it benefiting somebody than benefiting nobody,” County Administrator Jay Fisher said during Tuesday’s board meeting. “I would rather see the scope expanded such that it can be used.”
Still, District 5 Supervisor Leroy Brooks moved to have Hudson send Palmer Home a letter advising Palmer Home to use the property according to the terms of the court order.
District 1 Supervisor Matt Furnari wanted to wait.
“I don’t want to send this harsh letter right yet before we give it more thought,” he said.
Brooks’ motion died without a second.
Trip Hairston, board of supervisors president and Palmer Home board member, told The Dispatch he plans to recuse from all votes related to the ranch property. He told The Dispatch on Wednesday that any organization locating there needs to be “painfully aware” the ranch sits amid an area ripe for industrial development. What seems serene now “may change at any moment.”
Palmer Home CEO Drake Bassett told The Dispatch that any agreement with The Dream Center would include “pretty clear boundaries” regarding working with children. He indicated The Dream Center might “ultimately have to make a decision as to which segment of the population (they’re) serving.”
If this deal doesn’t work out, Bassett said, there will be another.
“The good thing about all this is it’s healthy discussion,” he said. “… If this conversation isn’t the one, then certainly we’ve had interest from other groups and other parties, and we’d certainly take a look at those.”
Zack Plair is the managing editor for The Dispatch.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 39 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
