Restoration Housing Announces Housing Kick-Off for ‘The Grove on Patterson’

Restoration Housing has announced that they are beginning a historic rehabilitation of their eighth home in Roanoke, which will subsequently be known as The Grove on Patterson.

The historic home is in excellent condition, a rarity for Restoration Housing, but its rehab needs are unique as it is being outfitted for compliance as a residential treatment facility for pregnant and postpartum women with substance use disorder and their newborn infants.

The project is part of a partnership involving Carilion Clinic, Anderson Treatment, and the Twelve Foundation. These community partners began coming together a year ago to devise a plan to recreate the services previously provided by Bethany Hall, a similar facility that served the Roanoke Valley for over 52 years and which closed in 2022.

The circa 1920 structure located on the corner of 18th Street and Patterson Avenue was purchased by Restoration Housing in January of this year thanks to a grant from Aetna Better Health of Virginia.

“The grant was a lynch pin for us as we began navigating the complexities of this project. Without it, we would likely still be at the drawing board,” said Executive Director Isabel Thornton. “Thankfully, it allowed us to leverage our resources and move forward in fundraising for our rehab expenses- showing that we had broad support from healthcare partners as well as our community partners.”

In addition to the Aetna grant for acquisition costs, Restoration Housing received construction funding from several local foundations, churches, and donors in addition to a large grant from the Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority, which disperses drug settlement funds to localities working to fight the opioid epidemic.

“We were proud to support the purchase of this property with a $400,000 donation,” said Joel Gray, CEO of Aetna Better Health of Virginia. “We’re committed to working with community partners – like Restoration Housing and The Twelve Foundation – to improve the health and well-being of every citizen across the commonwealth, and especially those looking to make a fresh start and overcome substance use disorder.”

The rehab project is slated to take approximately five to six months. Once complete in early 2025, it will serve approximately 16 women and 16 infants with an average stay of six months (stays typically span several months of pregnancy as well as up to three months post-partum). The Twelve Foundation will operate the facility and oversee all programmatic services for the women and their babies with contracted assistance for medical treatment from Anderson Treatment and Carilion Clinic.

“As a physician providing addiction treatment and obstetrical care to pregnant and parenting women with substance use disorders, I have learned that pregnancy is a highly motivating time for moms to seek recovery”, said Dr. Kim Simcox with Carilion Clinic. “However, balancing treatment with parenting responsibilities is challenging. A residential addiction treatment facility that allows women to live with their children addresses this critical need, offering a holistic and supportive environment tailored to mothers in recovery. Research shows that such facilities play a vital role in breaking the intergenerational cycle of addiction, as children raised in a healthy and supportive environment are less likely to develop substance use issues themselves.”

Acquired by Restoration Housing in early 2024, this project will be the eighth rehabilitation for the nonprofit organization, which began in 2014. Chad Brown of Square One General Contractors is performing the renovation and Jeff Wood Designs completed architectural drawings.

The program partners, with representatives from each group, will gather in a joint ribbon cutting celebration on August 13th at 10:00 am to commemorate the kickoff of construction along with Joel Gray, Jerry Mammano, and Corey Pleasants of Aetna Better Health of Virginia as well as Vice Mayor Joe Cobb.

1116 Main Street SW, Roanoke, Virginia 24015 – 540.797.0819 – info@restorationhousing.org – www.restorationhousing.org

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