The Rochester City Council is considering legislation to provide up to $30,000 to help support the expansion of housing for people in recovery from addiction.
The money would go to Recovery Houses of Rochester, which would use it and a grant from the state Office of Addiction Services and Supports to expand its sober living community in an East Avenue apartment complex.
Van Smith, executive director of Recovery Houses of Rochester, said the addition helps meet a critical need in addiction treatment.
“It's like food and water to life,” Smith said. “We need food and water to live. We need stable, safe housing. If people don't have a stable place to live, then the likelihood of them being able to maintain abstinence or start this process called the new way of living is nil.”
Recovery Houses of Rochester currently manages 34 beds spread across 14 two-bedroom units in the East Avenue complex. The proposed funding would help support 24 more residents in the sober living community. Those residents would receive mentorship, access to services, and the support of a sober community. The total price tag for the expansion comes in at $255,000.
Recovery Houses of Rochester has historically taken in men exiting inpatient substance use rehabilitation but has branched out to offering services to women. The sober living facilities are meant to be an environment where residents can find peer support from people in similar phases of addiction recovery.
Smith said the organization currently has 14 people on the wait list to enter the program.
If approved, the bill would mark the first time City Council has directed money to Recovery Houses of Rochester. The $30,000 would be sourced from the budget of the Council and Clerk. The bill was introduced by Council President Miguel Meléndez and Councilmembers LaShay Harris and Bridget Monroe.
Meléndez said the funding is the first step in finding ways of funding sober living.
“It's a one-time deal that we're talking about with Recovery Houses of Rochester,” Meléndez said. “I'm hopeful that this can demonstrate impact, which I believe it will, and that there might be more opportunities, through other sources of funds, to continue projects like this in the future.”
The bill is set to go to vote before City Council on Tuesday, June 24.
