NEWS

Zanesville recovery house to help men stay sober

Eric Lagatta
Reporter

ZANESVILLE – Yes, those fighting drug and alcohol addictions need counseling, treatment programs and other traditional options to help them overcome their disease.

But an indispensable component for recovering addicts, officials say, is a safe place to call home — a place that fosters companionship and promotes security as they maintain their sobriety.

Muskingum Behavioral Health plans to open the county's first house dedicated to helping those in recovery do just that.

"I'm really excited because we're not just treating people; we're providing community support to help people stay in recovery," said Steve Carrel, CEO of Muskingum Behavioral Health.

Located at 1448 Euclid Ave., the 1920-era house is divided into four apartments on two floors. MBH purchased the property in 2014 and plans to move in four men in recovery in the next few weeks.

As many as a dozen applicants are expected to apply to rent one of the four rooms, said Kaleb Haramy, the chief operating officer for Muskingum Behavioral Health.

Once they are moved in, tenants are expected to stay sober and participate in recovery programs. No treatment or counseling will occur at the house; rather, it's simply a place for recovering drug addicts to live in a supportive environment with others going through the same struggles.

"We want to encourage them to stay engaged in the recovery community because the ultimate goal is to prevent relapse," Haramy said.

Much of the house is funded by a grant from the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services; it's part of a statewide push to increase such housing, particularly in southeastern Ohio, where recovery homes are not as common, Carrel said.

As opioid overdose deaths continue to climb statewide, Ohio invested millions of dollars last year to help recovering drug addicts fight addiction. The state allocated $10 million to create more than 600 recovering houses in 44 of Ohio's 88 counties.

Muskingum County submitted a joint grant proposal along with Perry County, which already has two recovery residences, Carrel said. As part of their proposal, they made a 30-year commitment to the property.

The Euclid Avenue home has been divided into four apartments since at least 1988. MBH officials chose the property for the safe neighborhood and its close proximity to public transit, restaurants and laundromats on Maple Avenue.

"You can see Maple Avenue from here," Haramy said as he looked out the front window of what will be a living room on the second floor.

Haramy has spearheaded much of the house's renovations since December.

The approximately $100,000 in renovations have included:

•Replacing the furnace and repairing the duct work.

•Replacing and reinforcing floor support beams.

•Replacing the windows and doors.

•Covering the wall and ceilings with drywall.

•Replacing the electrical and plumbing.

MBH will furnish the apartments, and in the coming weeks, they also plan to build a deck in the back and put in a new stone parking lot.

Tenants who sign the month-to-month lease will pay rent and are required to submit to random drug testing. A recovery coach will visit the property regularly to monitor the tenants and ensure that no drugs or alcohol is on the property.

Roommates and spouses are prohibited, though Haramy said children might be permitted under certain circumstances.

Carrel also has instituted a good neighbor policy, encouraging tenants to give back to their community. The tenants are encouraged to help neighbors, whether that be shoveling snow or mowing lawns.

"We're providing an opportunity for people in recovery to get their feet under them," Carrel said, "and contribute to the community again or for the first time."

Efforts like this will help break down the stigma that many associate with people who have struggled with substance addiction, which Carrel said is, in fact, like any other disease.

"There's going to be naysayers and there's going to be people who try to push them over to relapse," Carrel said. "It will hopefully change their opinion of those in recovery."

Carrel, who is one of the original founders of MBH, has wanted to implement a recovery house in the county for years, particularly after seeing the success the residences have had elsewhere.

"It's not going to be the last one, it's not going to be the only one," Carrel said. "It's a step."

elagatta@zanesvilletimesrecorder.com

740-450-6753

Twitter: @EricLagatta

Make a donation

Though a state grant funds most of the renovations and furnishings at the recovery home, Muskingum Behavioral Health is still in need of monetary donations to buy wall decor, bed sheets, pillows, cleaning supplies, or cooking pans and utensils.

Donations can be made to Muskingum Behavioral Health at 601 Underwood St. in Zanesville, noting recovery residence in the memo line.

Also, Muskingum Behavioral health plans to host an open house at the recovery home at a later date.