New Transitional Housing Initiative Launched

Over one year ago, in response to the opioid crisis, Centerstone opened its first Centerstone Recovery Center (CRC) in Lexington, Scott County, Indiana. The Scott County CRC is a 30-day inpatient addiction treatment program for women seeking recovery. Through this program, we’ve had the privilege of joining with over 300 women to change the course of their lives for the better. As the women began to graduate from the program, we saw that some of them needed additional support after they were discharged. So, with the help of our partners at the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County, in 2018 we created Centerstone Recovery Transitional Housing (CRT), a next-step program that provides housing and treatment supports to women in recovery and their young children, allowing women to parent while they build recovery capital, find employment, and locate permanent stable housing.

Since then, we’ve opened two new CRCs, adding additional beds for women and new options for men seeking recovery. Still, we find that one of the biggest barriers to continued recovery facing many of our clients is a lack of safe, stable, sober, permanent housing. In some cases, when a client leaves one of our addictions programs, they can return home to a supportive environment. We’re able to help many other clients locate new living arrangements prior to discharge. In a small percentage of cases, however, clients need more time to find housing than our established programs can allow; in some communities we serve, affordable housing options are scarce and timing or lack of savings can present significant challenges to finding a safe place to live. When these clients are discharged, they often return to the same situations that led to their addiction in the first place.

Thanks to a new program funded by the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County and the Karis Foundation, these individuals will soon have another option. Centerstone is proud to announce the launch of a new Extended Transitional Supportive Housing program. This program will help break the cycle of addiction by providing seven beds in three fully-furnished apartments, all subsidized by donor funds. Clients who need more time to get their footing will have a safe, stable, sober place to live while searching for a job, saving for a rent or utility deposit, and continuing to build recovery capital. Residents will pay a portion of their income toward rent expenses while living in the apartments, helping them adjust to budgeting for living expenses while still retaining the opportunity to save the money they need to become self-sufficient once again. While staying with us, residents will continue to receive outpatient treatment services with a focus on strengthening life skills and recovery skills. And, thanks to our generous funders, we’ll be able to provide financial assistance to help pay for clothing, toiletries, or work-related expenses while residents get back on their feet.

We’re thrilled to have this new opportunity to provide our clients in recovery the best possible chance for success. We know that, with the right start, recovery is possible and the future is bright for each and every one of them.

Pictured below, left to right are Marcus Whited, Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County Program Director; Greg May, Centerstone Administrative Director of Adult and Family Services; Jennifer Vaughan, Ivy Tech Community College – Bloomington Chancellor; A John Rose, Centerstone Board Member; Dan McNeely, Centerstone Director of Supportive Housing Services.