Lt. Gov. Crouch, OCRA award $1.2M to the cities of Butler and Martinsville through the Recovery Housing Program

INDIANA – Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and the Office of Community and Rural Affairs today announced $1.2 million will be awarded to two Hoosier communities through the Recovery Housing Program. This pilot program provides funding for communities to create stable and transitional housing for individuals in recovery from a substance use disorder. 

Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch

OCRA is working in partnership with the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration’s Division of Mental Health and Addiction through RHP to build or rehabilitate facilities to provide temporary and supportive housing.

OCRA Executive Director Denny Spinner

“Many people in our state have struggled with substance use and are looking for a second chance, they just need a little support,” said OCRA Executive Director Denny Spinner. “The housing these communities will be able to provide through the Recovery Housing Program will give these Hoosiers much needed help and support as they continue on their road to recovery.”

The City of Butler has been awarded $600,000 in partnership with Inspiration Ministries, Inc. The ministry will invest these funds to develop three National Alliance for Recovery Residences Level 2 Certified recovery homes. The project includes site development on three adjacent lots, the purchase of three 1,450 square-foot, one-story, three bedroom and two bath modular homes, and the placement and connection of each home at the project site. The new transitional recovery homes will be owned and operated by Inspiration Ministries to provide a total of 15 NARR Certified beds for alumni residents who have successfully completed their “Plus One” recovery program. The project will be located at 417 Depot St. in Butler. The total project cost is $700,292 and Inspiration Ministries, Inc. is providing a local match in the amount of $95,292.

The City of Martinsville and subrecipient Stability First have been awarded $600,000 to rehabilitate and expand a structure for use as a men’s transitional housing facility, The Foundations House. The building will be reconfigured to accommodate 16 sleeping rooms, a commercial kitchen, a dining space, bathroom facilities and a meeting space. Once complete, the building will provide housing quarters for up to 16 men at one time, with average stays of at least three months and up to two years. Stability First, a local non-profit, will serve as the owner and manager of the property. The total project cost is $673,800, with a community match of $73,800, collected in local donations by Stability First.

Douglas Huntsinger, executive director for drug prevention, treatment, and enforcement for the State of Indiana.

“Hoosiers in recovery from substance use disorder deserve safe, transitional housing,” said Douglas Huntsinger, executive director for drug prevention, treatment, and enforcement for the State of Indiana. “Through the Division of Mental Health and Addiction, we have expanded the number of certified recovery residences in our state from just over 100 in 2018 to 155 today, with over 1,900 beds. One of the biggest challenges is securing funding to support capital investment, whether that be rehabbing an existing home or building new. This opportunity helps mitigate that barrier, particularly for Hoosiers residing in areas of high need.”

The State of Indiana distributes the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant funds to rural communities to assist units of local government with various community projects. The Recovery Housing Program was a special allocation granted directly to 25 states and the District of Columbia in an effort to provide transitional housing for individuals in recovery from a substance use disorder.

To learn more about the Recovery Housing Program, visit in.gov/ocra/cdbg/rhp/.