House of Hope eyes fiscal stability

CELINA - Nearing the five-year anniversary of the first House of Hope, a faith-based sober-living facility, officials are shifting gears a bit to focus on long-term financial stability.

The men's and women's Houses of Hope on Mud Pike have succeeded in helping Mercer County adults get back on track, benefiting not only the recovering addicts and alcoholics but also their family members and the community at large, officials note, adding that almost everyone knows someone affected by substance abuse.

After devoting much of their attention to the program, officials want to revive fundraising activities, as the ministry relies entirely upon contributions from the public, churches and other organizations.

"When we first started this thing, money flooded in like any new project does," House of Hope board adviser Bruce Swonger told the newspaper.

Over time, however, donations and awareness have waned, Swonger said.

"Donations don't come in like they used to," he noted. "It's nobody's fault. It's just that in that life cycle it's time to change."

Swonger said plans call for enlarging the board from eight to 12 volunteer members and kicking off a high-profile public campaign with a goal of raising $50,000 by the end of the year.

"Our cash burn went from nothing in the beginning because we were all volunteers," Swonger said. "Now we have three paid staffers, and our cash burns $80,000 a year (for both houses)."

The campaign will consist of a marathon, golf outing and other events throughout the year. The centerpiece, though, is the Change a Life Club, entailing a $20 per month annual membership. Swonger said the nonprofit ministry would garner $24,000 if just 100 people get onboard.

"When we built the men's house we wanted to raise $100,000. We raised just inside $100,000 in 90 days, which is unheard of," Swonger said, later in the discussion adding "if we can't find 100 people in Mercer County (to join the new club) we've got a problem."

Officials came together years ago looking to get a grip on the then-exploding opioid epidemic.

"That's actually what started the House of Hope was when the opioids hit Mercer County so hard," Swonger said.

Today, the organization provides a structured recovery space for both drug addicts and alcoholics. The need is still pressing, executive director Sandy Huckemeyer said.

"We have a waiting list to come in, and I've turned a lot of people away because one of the requirements is that we only take Mercer County residents because our funds and donations come from Mercer County residents," Huckemeyer said.

The faith-based ministry is an eight-month, five-phase program. Residents have the option, though, of staying up to 18 months.

"We can tell when they're ready to transition out," Huckemeyer said.

The ministry seeks to provide inhabitants a pathway to whole-life transformation encompassing lifelong recovery, accountability, compassion, love and ministry. Each house can accommodate six people. Five men and five women currently are in either house.

The two facilities provide a stable environment free of drugs and alcohol to help occupants achieve long-term sobriety and independent living and become contributing members of society. Random and weekly drug tests are given. The men and women are assessed by a mental-health provider and must attend Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous.

They also participate in Bible study and go to church.

"You bring all those pieces together and then Christ makes the full transformation," she said.

The inhabitants are expected to find jobs, save for their future and contribute financially to the house, starting at $50 a month and incrementally rising to $200 a month.

"We take 30 to 40 percent of their paychecks and put it in a savings account (for them), let that build up so that they have a deposit for an apartment or can buy a car, get their license back," Huckemeyer explained.
   Of the 28 women who have been enrolled in the program, five to six were successful in turning their lives around for the better. Of the 18 men, five to six have shown similar results, Huckemeyer said.

The national average of heroin users who successfully kick the habit is 1 in 10, Swonger pointed out.

"It's probably taken us five years to get our operations to the success level they are," he said.

For example, officials initially viewed a drug relapse as a failure. Now they know that relapse is often an expected setback in the road to recovery.

Still, officials have high standards and instances of theft or drug use in the house are grounds for removal, Huckemeyer said, explaining organizers must preserve the integrity of the program.

Those who relapse but otherwise were exhibiting positive strides can reapply after 30 days, she said.

Officials measure success in various ways, such as house members moving out of the program and regaining their children, finding meaningful employment or going back to school and securing housing.

"Sandy's just got the passion for this thing. She does such an excellent job and her heart's in it," Swonger said.

Those interested in learning more or donating to the ministry can visit mercerhouseofhope.com or its Facebook page.