CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Those in a standing room only crowd on Charleston’s West Side Thursday celebrated the ribbon cutting of what they believe will provide a path for recovery for women who have suffered from drug addiction.
Recovery Point of Charleston is ready to open its doors. Charleston Mayor Danny Jones says the program’s track record in Huntington, Bluefield and Louisville, Kentucky is enough to know it will work in Charleston.
“So many people come to me with so many ideas and such little resources and some of those ideas, good ideas, don’t manifest themselves. This is going to be a dream come true,” Jones said.
Construction began on the old Mountaineer Gas building on Stockton Street back in April. It includes 92 beds, which will be opened about 10 at a time. The building also includes a commercial kitchen, restrooms, office spaces and classrooms.
The facility will also have 24 traditional apartments that will house up to 48 more women. Construction on the apartments will take place in the coming months, officials said.
Women will get to attend classes on how to manage their credit, pay bills, resume and interviewing skills. Parenting and cooking classes will also be offered to the women.
The West Side has had its share of drug problems. Jones believes it’s the right place to have the spotlight on recovery.
“It’s in the heart of the community where a lot of the problems are but too many people are going to prison and we have to do something about it–this is a beginning,” Jones said.
The Recovery Point model is built on two principles: unconditional love and personal accountability.
“The heart of our program is a change of character achieved through working the twelve steps of recovery,” officials said.
Jones said nearly every family has been impacted by the drug epidemic and that’s why efforts like Recovery Point need full support.
“It’s the future for our society if we are going to get in front of this problem,” he said.