(BEDFORD) – “Red’s House, The Center for Hope and Healing,” a new, recovery house for men in Bedford will host an open house on Oct. 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Lawrence County Drug Treatment Center Board in partnership with Centerstone is operating the home at 1708 23rd Street.
Red’s House expects to take its first residents no later than early November 2019, the release said.
Six men will be allowed to stay for a maximum of 90 days and are expected to have a job within two weeks of entering the program. They will also pay $50 a week to live there.
The home is named in honor of Wayne “Red” Knaak, “who for 52 years was significantly involved in providing guidance and direction to men seeking to find a sober life, free from alcohol,” according to a news release. Knaak passed on June 12, 2016, but provided a “sizable initial pledge” to assist in the rehab of a house for that purpose.
Work began in 2016 to provide “A sober living facility to help men in transition to keep them out of their old habits,” the release stated.
One of the first steps was to find a location. Ascension St. Vincent Dunn Hospital agreed to lease the house next to their facility. The board leased the house for 10-years.
Centerstone will manage the home and the men transitioning out of jail recovering from substance abuse. Councilors will provide recovery coaching, life skills, educational programs, therapy, psychotherapy and medication as needed.
In addition to Knaak’s donation, The Smithville Fiber Foundation — through the Lawrence County Community Foundation — provided a grant for start-up costs that included establishing a nonprofit, by-laws, accounting, liability insurance, and an improvement permit.
Hoosier Uplands provided a grant that helped renovate and furnish the home.
In the release, the board also acknowledged several individuals who helped make Red’s House a reality:
- Gary Sanders, owners of Sander’s services. Gary and his crew, while partially paid, worked seven days a week so the project would be completed on time and donated material and labor above and beyond their compensation.
- Fortner’s Pest Control. Doug Sowder, who took care of the termite problem, free.
- WinSupply of Bedford. Dwain Peters donated the HVAC system.
- Hoosier WinSupply of Bloomington. Jim Pence donated cabinets and countertops.
- Air America Heating and Air of Bedford. Dale Roberson did the installation of the HVAC system.
- Jake Wininger of the Bedford Lowe’s, who assisted in finding the best values of materials and goods and provided discounts.
- Candy Langley Robbins — project lead. She volunteered 12-14 hours a day, seven days a week to ensure the project was done right, on time and within budget. The home was completely renovated, including making it ADA compliant, in just a few months.
- All the volunteers who provided work and materials, too numerous to name.
Red’s House will continue to need community support and officials will be reaching out to area residents and businesses to make sure there will be “enough perpetual funds” to continue operations.
