On the same day of an open house at a new facility to help female substance-abusers become productive citizens, it was announced that a similar program soon will be available for men.

“We’re expanding already — so that gives you an idea of the need,” said Angela Allen, executive director of The House of Recovery on West Lebanon Street, which admitted its first female clients earlier this month.

The non-profit facility is designed to assist women who have battled substance-abuse problems such as drugs and alcohol. “They have to have some kind of addiction,” Allen said. Its program is geared to those who have been released from prison, detoxification centers or other institutions who need assistance transitioning back into society.

Crack-cocaine and methamphetamine are the major problems now seen among those targeted for assistance, the executive director said.

“I’ve been in the substance-abuse field for many years,” said Allen, mentioning that she saw many women in similar circumstances “fall through the cracks” and wind up in the same predicament they were before because no such program existed.

The House of Recovery represents a first for this area, according to Allen, who said it has drawn inquiries from women in other areas of North Carolina as well as Virginia lacking similar programs.

It is open to the homeless, both single persons as well as women with children or those who are pregnant, with the capacity to serve up to 10 people at a time.

Through the program, the women live in the house for two years, where they benefit from a secure and structured environment. The program includes a series of life management, employment, health and wellness and independent living classes.

During this period the women don’t have to worry about the expenses of a household. Some might receive public assistance, and if they are employed while residing at the center, they will pay rent of $20 to $55 per week.

For the third year, program participants theoretically are “ready to go into society and be productive on their own,” while receiving follow-up assistance while living independently, Allen said.

While case managers are there to help women set and fulfill goals, Allen said participants also must want to help themselves by being committing to education, job training and personal development.

“This used to be an old group home,” Allen said Saturday during a tour of the facility as part of its open house. The structure was totally renovated for its new function

The one-story house contains nine rooms. Among them are bedrooms for mothers with children (complete with big and small beds), a room for singles containing bunk beds, a spacious dining area, a conference room and a playroom filled with toys.

“We really wanted it to be homey,” Allen said, “because this will be their home for two years.”

A key aspect of the program is that it encourages families staying together.

In keeping with its upbeat nature, the rooms are painted in bright, cheery colors to help inhabitants maintain a positive attitude.

Paint was donated by Mount Airy Paint Store, and Allen said other entities also have assisted the program, included Cloud 9 Coffee, Surry Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN), Habitat for Humanity, Firehouse Ministries, the Bread of Life ministry and others.

A local couple donated three sets of bunk beds with mattresses.

Men’s Program

“We are in the process of opening up a men’s center,” Allen said Saturday, adding that it will begin operations in the second week of April.

The House of Recovery for males is located next door to the center for women, in the vicinity of the Merita bakery on West Lebanon Street.

“It is basically the same,” Allen said of the upcoming program for men, although it will involve a one-year residential situation rather than two. “Women sometimes have a lot of extra baggage,” the executive director said in explaining the difference.

The men’s center will serve up to eight participants.

Both programs will operate on a first-come, first-served basis, and when there are no openings prospective participants will be placed on a waiting list.

Contact Tom Joyce at tjoyce@mtairynews.com or at 719-1924.