The first sober living facility in Montezuma County officially opened its doors at the end of February.
It’s called Silver Lining Recovery Homes, and it’s a safe space where recovering addicts can live, so long as they’re at least 30 days sober.
It’s an abstinence-based environment, so residents must also be motivated to stay clean.
“It’s exciting. This isn’t something we’ve ever had in this town,” said Charlee Sharp, a certified addiction specialist and cofounder of the facility.
The recovery home opening, then, “marks a major milestone in Cortez’s efforts to address substance recovery needs,” according to a press release.
And it’s more than “just a place to stay,” said Sharp.
“We aim to create a supportive environment that empowers individuals to rebuild their lives,” she said.
Without a stable home, someone in recovery will “fall back into the same patterns” of substance use, said Adam Herman, a cofounder of the home.
In addition to stability, sober living provides a sense of community and fosters accountability when we lack it in ourselves, he said.
“The opposite of addiction, they say, is connection,” Herman said. “Safety and support is the foundation of success.”
The 100-year-old home near downtown Cortez can fit up to eight men – the recovery home is for men only – and there’s no limit to how long they can stay. So far, one person has moved in.
Sharp said they’re hoping to open a home for women in recovery within the year.
Herman and Sharp bought the home together – “the lady selling the house is carrying the loan, supporting what we’re doing” – and are covering costs until all eight beds are filled. At that point, “it’ll pay for itself,” said Sharp.
“We haven’t ran into anyone that’s not supportive,” she said. “We were warned of ‘Not In My Backyard’ people, but we haven’t had any of that. The neighborhood and city has been so supportive.”
Both Herman and Sharp have struggled with addiction in the past, and spoke on the importance of having this recovery option.
“If I would’ve had something like this in my own recovery, I probably wouldn’t have relapsed,” Sharp said. “We’ve been dreaming of this for years and years.”
Herman spoke about the process of rebuilding one’s self after addiction, and how hard it can be since, usually, the bridges of support have all been burned.
“Group support within any setting is so important,” he said. And once this home is filled, its residents will be there to support one another, and go to meetings together.
Herman and Sharp both referred to the home as a “transition.”
“There’s a necessary transition to get from where you’re at, to where you’re headed,” said Herman.
This recovery home, he said, can be that transition place where “there’s still structure, but enough freedom to live your own life.”
Sharp said that she’ll help residents develop a self-directed recovery plan, which is tailored to each individual since “everyone’s recovery looks different.”
The idea is for residents to choose at least three weekly meetings to attend, and there’s a lot of local options.
“We want them to be strong enough to move into the community on their own,” Sharp said. “This is a place to get a job and get on their feet.”
Rent is $900 a month, which includes utilities and all house supplies. The Piñon Project has programs to help pay the first month of rent; after that, it’s up to residents to pay.
The rooms are set up in a dormitory style, with two twin beds per room. Sharp put together care packages for each resident, made up of things like bath towels, a laundry basket, laundry soap, toothpaste and a toothbrush.
The kitchen area, bathrooms and living room are shared spaces. A $30,000 grant from the LOR Foundation supported the overall project, and paid for furnishings.
That money also paid for some plumbing projects, said Nicci Crowley, Cortez’s community officer for the LOR Foundation.
“Charlee saw the challenges of someone in recovery and had the drive to make the situation different for someone else,” Crowley said. “We all have challenges, but not everyone says, ‘How can I make it better for the next person?’ To me, that’s so special.”
Help from friends, family, the community, the Piñon Project and the Colorado Agency for Recovery Residences also made the project possible.
“Everyone deserves a second chance in this life. They just have to be willing, and need the support to do it,” said Herman.
“This will help success rates exponentially,” Sharp added.
Silver Lining is accepting monetary and food donations, as well as house supplies like toilet paper, paper towels and cleaning supplies. If you’re interested in donating, email silverliningrecoveryhomes@gmail.com or call (970) 676-4255.
