What does home mean to you?
These are the pillars of Hananiah House, and they represent our steadfast pledge to our residents, team, and community.
We believe in hope.
Incarceration teaches women about punishment, lack of control, and lost chances. Hananiah House teaches its residents how to heal from past abuses, face new challenges, and acquire the real-world skills needed to take responsibility for a successful, independent life.
We are committed to growth.
For many, a prison sentence carries a sense of lifelong failure and deep loss. Hananiah House residents are not defined by their previous actions or experiences, and forgiveness and support are available to everyone willing to do the hard work of moving forward.
We love unconditionally.
True healing leaves no room for hate or discrimination of any kind. Hananiah House is a safe, loving space, where residents are free to discover their deepest selves and explore their talents and purpose.
We keep our promises.
Life in the prison system is traumatic, often with tragic outcomes. Life in Hananiah House is intentionally dependable and emotionally safe, with a reliable team, clear expectations, and healthy boundaries.
Meet Our Team
Angela Wittenberg
Spring Barnickle
Hananiah House is a non-denominational faith-based nonprofit organization led by Executive Director Angela Wittenberg and Assistant Director Spring Barnickle.
Angela and Spring met while they were both homeschooling their children in Nashville, over 20 years ago. Their years of friendship, faith, and a shared heart for women in need culminated in the founding of Hananiah House in 2020.
Hananiah House and its unique operational model were born during a year of exceptional pain and tragedy on a global scale. It is that beginning, in part, which gives our team such a strong sense of purpose and unity.
As a society and as individuals, we believe we can do better. Indeed, we believe it is our obligation and privilege to do so.
As Executive Director, Angela Wittenberg guides our daily operations. Since 2008, Angela has taught Anger Management classes at the Debra Johnson Rehabilitation Center (DJRC), a maximum security prison in Nashville. In addition to meeting weekly with individuals in her role as Volunteer Chaplain, Angela also serves as a member of the DJRC Community Resource Board and facilitates Adult Children of Alcoholics 12 Step meetings for DJRC inmates.
As Assistant Director, Spring Barnickle oversees donor and business operations for Hananiah House. She is thrilled to put her years of experience as an entrepreneur and executive to use in supporting the mission and residents of Hananiah House. In addition to supporting Hananiah House, Spring is CEO and Founder of Create Joy SD, an executive business consulting agency in San Diego, California.
True freedom begins when fear is replaced by love.
However, we never leave our residents without answers and next steps. By providing an intentional space to grow, with practical training and a thoughtful set of boundaries, we create an environment that prepares our residents for lifelong independence.
If you are interested in learning more, please download our Vision Statement, a digital document that explains our mission, goals, and details of daily Hananiah House life.
Hananiah House is built on the unshakeable belief that every woman is worthy of grace and healing. Every woman deserves the chance to succeed – the opportunity to try, then try again without condemnation.
This is not to say that our services are offered without accountability. Every resident undergoes a rigorous application process, and there are choices that result in immediate removal from our program, including violence and drug use.
