Upper Cumberland Addiction Recovery Housing Initiative

Local leaders met this week to address gaps in addiction recovery services across Van Buren and White Counties. The policy council of the Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency (UCHRA) examined what services exist, what's missing, and what barriers prevent people from accessing help.

Mark Farley, UCHRA's executive director, identified housing as a critical need. UCHRA already runs two transitional homes: a women's house in DeKalb County and a men's house in South Carthage, each housing up to eight people in recovery.

Ryan Henry, supervisor of UCHRA's Certified Peer Recovery Specialist program, said housing alone isn't enough. He called for workforce development programs that move people from crisis to employment, using the region's tight-knit communities as a model that could expand statewide and nationally.

Anne Stamps with Volunteer Behavioral Health urged employers to create "recovery-friendly workplaces" that accommodate treatment appointments. She emphasized that addiction is not a choice and said education efforts should combat the stigma surrounding it.

Farley told council members to spread the message that "there is no wrong door" for those seeking treatment. Anyone contacting a UCHRA partner will gain access to all available Upper Cumberland resources.