Pubdate: Tue, 04 Jan 2005
Source: Bowling Green Daily News (KY)
Copyright: 2005 News Publishing LLC
Contact:  http://www.bgdailynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1218
Author: Alyssa Harvey

PLAN DESIGNED TO HELP PEOPLE BEAT SUBSTANCE ABUSE

An initiative was unveiled Monday that will be designed to help
Kentuckians recover from substance abuse, which often leads to chronic
homelessness.

Recovery Kentucky will provide transitional supportive housing. The
goal is to provide one in each of Kentucky's six Congressional
districts. The project's service-based model will be patterned after
the education model used at The HOPE Center in Lexington and The
Healing Place in Louisville, which provide shelter, a safe place to
recover, peer support, daily living skills training, job
responsibilities and challenges to practice sober living.

Commissioner Darrrell Brock Jr. of the Governor's Office for Local
Development spoke about the upcoming new project. Gov. Ernie Fletcher
was scheduled to make the announcement at Greenview Regional Hospital,
but canceled.

"I can tell you on behalf of the governor that substance abuse is
growing at an alarming rate," he said. "Communities are seeking
assistance at any corner. They are crying for help."

Recovery Kentucky is a joint effort by GOLD, the Department of
Corrections and the Kentucky Housing Corporation. These agencies have
developed a financial plan that makes available construction and
operation financing which includes a $2.5 million allocation of Low
Income Housing Tax Credits from KHC for construction costs.
Operational funding includes about $4 million from GOLD's Community
Development Block Grant program and about $3 million from the
Department of Corrections.

"No state funding will be used. The centers will be 100 percent
community driven to stop the cycle of substance abuse and
homelessness," Brock said. "This is an opportunity to set a model for
national recovery centers."

There will be 10 facilities statewide with 100 people in each center.
The centers will be either all female or all male. Residents must make
the commitment to overcome their addictions, be over the age of 18 and
be homeless or at risk of being homeless. The facilities will offer a
nine-month rehabilitation program.

"We want them to become proud and productive citizens in the
community," Brock said.

Organizations and communities will apply for construction and services
funding for a housing recovery center through the CDBG program or GOLD
and the KHC. The agencies will work together on funding decisions and
site selections. Construction could start sometime this year, Brock
said.

Some participants who heard the announcement were supportive.

Phil Patton, circuit court judge of Barren and Metcalfe counties, said
he hopes one of the facilities will be located in southcentral Kentucky.

"I see so many cases that are drug related. Before you know it, it
snowballs into a life of incarceration," he said. "There isn't room or
money to put all these people in jail. What we need is treatment that
is outpatient or short term. It sounds like a good program."
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MAP posted-by: Derek