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House can lead to a clean and sober road to recovery
It's taken some time, but Chuck Scott and Bob Foss have made considerable progress renovating the house on E. 11th North Street.
Recently repainted to give it a fresh look, it tends to blend in with the other homes in the established neighborhood with nothing to really make it stand out.
But for those who will eventually live there, this house will have a special meaning. It will represent a second chance to make things right.
The house at 1165 East 11th North Street is designated as Mountain Home's newest clean and sober house. It will give people a chance to break the cycle of alcohol and drug addiction that had dominated their lives.
Expected to fully open this month, it replaces a similar facility that served this community in recent years.
The original idea for a clean and sober house in Mountain Home started a few years ago. It began as an idea introduced during a meeting involving members of the local friends for recovery organization.
In late 2011, the first clean and sober house opened on South 4th East Street. Over the next 18 months, 25 people started their road to recovery there.
"It was an older home, and the building cost too much to heat in the winter," Foss said. "It was costing us $1,000 a month for just the utilities."
This prompted a search for another location in Mountain Home.
Recently, Foss meet with the owner of the property on East 11th North, and they discussed the need for a new safe and sober house. The owner supported the idea of using the house for this purpose and chose to sell it.
While it needed a fresh coat of paint, new carpeting and a few extra amenities, the house was nearly ready for its new residents. It just needed a few final touches as well as a few furnishings, many of which were donated specifically for this house.
Capable of housing eight individuals at a time, the home is divided into smaller, two-bedroom apartments, including one in the basement. The first apartment already had a tenant with work continuing this month to get the others ready for additional residents.
The home is geared specifically for those with drug and alcohol problems or those who repeatedly end up in jail or prison because they can't fight off their addiction, Foss said. Many of them come from the local drug and DUI court program, which provides long-term support for those recovering from these types of addictions.
But there are a number of restrictions, Scott emphasized. It's off limits to those with violent records, including registered sex offenders.
The house comes fully furnished, allowing individuals to get quickly settled. It's one less thing they need to worry about as they begin their long road to recovery.
"When people get released from prison, a lot of them... come out with absolutely nothing but the clothes on their back," Scott said. "We provide them a stable place to live."
Along with a temporary home, these individuals receive additional help, including vouchers to buy additional necessities and an orientation with the local food banks and health and welfare office. In many cases, their first-month's rent is also covered.
The purpose is to give these people some stable footing so they can blend back into society without facing the possibility of having a relapse, Scott said. He hopes this home will help these individuals completely break the cycle of addiction.
Not everyone who applies to use the residence automatically earns the privilege to stay there. At a minimum, potential candidates need a proven record of sobriety for at least 30 days.
But that's just the start. Residents are also required to attend 12-step treatment program meetings at least three times a week in addition to other mandatory classes.
They will also agree to allow their parole officers and designated officials full access to the house 24 hours a day. No warrant is required for these officials to enter.
There are also set curfews, which begin at 10 p.m. weekdays and 11 p.m. on weekends. Visitors are allowed inside but only during set times during the week.
During their stay, residents are required to perform basic chores to keep their apartment clean. At the same time, they are also searching for a steady job in the local area.
"Being in here helps them out because they don't have to worry about paying for utilities and such," Foss said. "They only have one bill to pay while they take care of stuff through the drug and DUI court."
These individuals are encouraged to save their money so they can afford to buy a vehicle and other necessities. This ensures they will remain independent once they leave, according to Foss.
The home also gives recovering alcoholics and drug addicts a chance to steadily improve their relationships with their families, according to Foss. The stress of dealing with an addict can take its toll on their parents, spouses and children, which is why it helps having a separate and safe place for these people to stay.
By the time these people find a job and reconcile with their families, they're ready to move on to more a permanent place to live, Foss said.
"When they move out on their own, they're set. They're ready to go," Foss added.
Some people will stay in the home for just 30 days. Others will remain there for four to six months. It all depends on how successful they are in rebuilding their lives, according to Scott.
Both men know firsthand the challenges associated with overcoming addition. Foss has remained clean and sober the past 21 years, and Scott has done the same for seven years.
Their personal experiences with addiction and recovery gives them the perspective to help others fighting the same battle. It helps them catch individuals before they fall back on their old habits, Foss said.
"We can recognize the signs and know if somebody's maybe getting into trouble," he added.
Those who test positive for drugs and alcohol during random testing could lose the privilege of living there for a minimum of 30 days. Depending on the seriousness of the violation, these residents could earn a second chance.
"We understand that comes with the territory -- that people slip up," Foss said.
However, anyone that gets into a fight or involved in other violent crimes will end up getting expelled.
Maintaining that strict zero-tolerance policy was important for Sonja Holtz, who lived in the previous home with her nine-year-old son.
"The environment there was real safe and secure," Holtz said.
She admits it was the first time in her life that she had to not only maintain a steady job but also manage her responsibilities maintaining the house along with her duties as a parent.
"It worked out quite well for me," she said.
The current home is only open to men, but Foss remains optimistic they'll have the resources to open a similar facility for women down the road.
The previous safe and sober house had its share of successes.
Foss estimates that at least 50 percent of those that used that home as part of their addiction treatment remained clean and sober. He and Scott anticipate that this new home will continue to improve that trend.
"The recovery community is growing, and more and more people are getting clean and sober," Scott said. "We want to support those from this area that want to maintain that sobriety."