Lisa McGee was inspired by a personal experience to start Betty’s House of Healing, transitional housing for struggling veterans.
A 20-year resident of Mount Laurel recently purchased a home in the township she is converting to a sanctuary for veterans recovering from trauma, addiction and displacement.
Lisa McGee has a background in law and now works in real estate. She recently underwent a six-month program with the state’s Drug Enforcement Administation to become a developer for affordable housing after purchasing the home. After initially seeking a co-signer, McGee later followed a “spirit-led” decision to purchase the 3,000-square-foot, four-bedroom home herself.
“I was thinking, ‘How on Earth am I going to this by myself?’ and ‘I already own (multiple properties),'” McGee recalled. “At this point, I was a single mother of three teenagers, so I was also thinking, ‘Buy what house by myself? How’s that going to happen?'”
After closing, McGee – inspired by a conversation with the previous homeowner whose wife, Betty, recently passed – sensed a strong spiritual connection in the home and decided to name it in Betty’s honor.
“Mr. Jones (the previous owner) asked if we can attribute the healing that’s going to take place in the house to her presence there, as (his wife) was a very spiritual woman,” McGee explained.
She ultimately named the vet sanctuary Betty’s House of Healing as a tribute to the late Jones.
“We would like it to be a safe space for veterans dealing with trauma, having a hard time to re-assimilate back into the community after their tour,” McGee noted.
She decided to focus on healing veterans, partly because of personal experience with a loved one who served.
“When they returned, I felt it was obvious they were very different,” McGee recounted. “When these men and women come back and they feel different, sometimes they can’t even express what it is that they’re going through, but then they’re just thrown back to their family.
“They just need a space to decompress before immediately having to go back to work or being a parent.”
The process to join the veteran’s sanctuary is done through discussions between McGee and Burlington County Veteran’s Services. She hopes to make sure each veteran is spiritually open-minded, as well as compatible with the community before welcoming them to the home.
“(The Burlington County Military and Veteran’s Service Office) always has people looking for housing, especially affordable housing, so I will connect with them,” McGee emphasized. “We’ve been trying to find someone on the same page in terms of the spiritual aspect and making sure we’re a good fit.
“I don’t want to just get people in there, collect rent, and be happy,” she added. “I really want it to be a special space without any disturbances. I also want to respect the neighborhood and have conversations with (local residents), community engagement to make sure everything goes well.
“The home was a blessing to me – and I’m hoping to make it a blessing for the community.”
Her vision includes transitional housing; a restored saltwater pool for aquatic therapy; a financial literacy and job skills room; and a peaceful outdoor sanctuary for prayer, reflection, and agricultural therapy. With enough support, McGee hopes to launch a coding class for the children of vets to help build their futures. But she pointed out that there is still an urgent need.
While a few local businesses have offered their support, the home needs additional help with interior painting, new flooring, window replacements, pool work and critical safety upgrades.
“Some generous neighbors and businesses have already stepped forward to support this much-needed mission,” said McGee, “but we urgently need more hands, more resources and good-hearted folks to finish the work.
“If you’ve ever wanted to make a lasting impact close to home, this is your moment.”
Betty’s House of Healing expects to have its grand opening in the early fall. For updates, follow its Facebook page at Betty’s House of Healing — Mount Laurel. Any organizations or individuals with home-construction experience interested in assisting are encouraged to email soulsetfree1023@gmail.com.
