For men suffering from addiction
EMMALENA, Ky. (Sept. 10, 2015) — Officials today celebrated the grand opening of the Hickory Hill Recovery Center in Knott County. The facility is the state’s newest Recovery Kentucky Center and will offer a supportive housing and recovery program for men suffering from chronic substance abuse and addiction.
“Addiction knows no prejudice and fighting the disease of addiction needs a multi-pronged strategy that is anchored in prevention and recovery efforts,” said First Lady Jane Beshear. “Recovery Kentucky Centers are an indispensible resource for many Kentuckians to break the cycle of addiction and go on to lead sober, productive lives. I am an avid believer in the valuable peer-based support services and long-term care Recovery Kentucky Centers provide, and am thankful for the partners who helped bring the Hickory Hill center to Knott County.”
The new center can house up to 100 men. The unique recovery program includes peer support, daily living and skills training, job preparation and motivation to practice sober living.
The center is a result of a partnership between several groups, including the Kentucky Housing Corp., the Department of Corrections, Kentucky River Community Care, the Federal Home Loan Bank and the Department for Local Government
The Kentucky Housing Corp. provided the bulk of funding through the HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Program and Low Income Housing Tax Credits (Housing Credits). KHC allocated $1.1 million in HOME funds and $700,000 in Housing Credits, which was leveraged into over $5.8 million in equity by FAHE Capital Corp.
“We are proud to be a part of this effort,” said KHC executive director Kathryn Peters. “By providing recovery and life-building services we are helping people recover from addiction.”
The Federal Home Loan Bank also contributed more than $730,000 to the project. The remaining costs were provided by deferred developer fees and donations of cash, materials and volunteer labor.
A 2014 study by the University of Kentucky College of Medicine’s Center on Drug and Alcohol Research found that after one year of entering a Recovery Kentucky Center program the vast majority of participants reported positive outcomes including drastic decreases in drug use, homelessness, depression and unemployment.
The report also found significant cost savings. For every dollar spent on Recovery Kentucky Center services, it is estimated that the state saves $3.59 each year. Savings are attributed to tax dollars that would have been spent on unemployment services, health aid, public safety and other services the state provides for substance-dependent individuals.
In addition to the Knott County location, Recovery Kentucky Centers are located in Campbellsville, Erlanger, Florence, Harlan, Henderson, Hopkinsville, Morehead, Owensboro, Paducah and Richmond. Centers are also scheduled to open in 2016 in Bowling Green and Grayson and in 2017 in Somerset.
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