|
A SISTERHOOD OF RECOVERY
Sandy, Agnes, Angela, Micki, Sarah, Michelle, Erica,
Madeline, Hannah, Amy, Amanda, Betsy, Kelly, Denise,
Stevie, Kelly, Andrea and Tracey.
These were just the women who could come on short
notice to have their picture taken. They represent dozens
more young women who have found a way out of addiction
through the “sister houses” of Dawn Farm’s successful
Chapin Street Project.
Each one of these women is a miracle.
Founded in 1999, Dawn Farm’s transitional housing
has helped more than a thousand men and women find
a safe place to live and learn the basics of recovery. Chapin
Street Project residents find full-time employment, attend
12-step meetings and do community service. But more
than anything else, they learn how to become members
of a community.
The sister houses exemplify this community. Side by
side, these two houses share a single House Manager in
Erica (that’s her in the middle of the front row). They meet
together regularly, shop for groceries together, cook and
have meals together, cry on one another’s shoulders.
These women encourage and challenge one another
to find meaningful recovery—and they do it as a powerful
group of like-minded sisters.
Sister house residents come from all over the state,
but many of the women who enter these two houses grew
up right around here.
Stevie grew up in a local farming community, but
alcohol and cocaine brought her to the houses. “Living here is amazing,” she says. “I have a family of recovering
women to go home to.” Stevie has a job downtown—and
is grateful she can walk to work every day.
Amy used methamphetamines. Erica came with a
bad alcohol problem. Hannah arrived from western Wayne
county with a cocaine and heroin habit—now she has a
full-time job in Ann Arbor.
Andrea came from Oakland County with a heroin
addiction—now she’s a full-time student, hoping to be an
attorney.
She is grateful for the experience: “The best part was
being accountable to other strong women in recovery. It
forced me to build relationships—even when I didn’t want
to. It really helped my transition into society.”
There are dozens of stories. Stories of hope.
And then there are the babies. Dawn Farm often
admits pregnant women and follows their recovery long
after their babies are born. Many of these moms and
infants end up in transitional housing. Nine moms with
babies have entered the Chapin Street Project in recent
years—and we are looking forward to our first twins late
in 2007!
Each time we open a transitional housing site (like
the 12 new McKinley apartments in November), the beds
fill up with people looking for a simple, safe place to find
new recovery
Andrea offers this advice, “Living in the house was
one of the best things I did for myself. If you’re thinking it
over—just do it.”
|
