Women open sober living community for others in recovery

MORGAN COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) — Summer Burden and Betty Dunn say that the hardest part of drug and alcohol recovery for them began after they had been through rehab.

Burden told News 19 that she struggled with drug addiction for most of her adult life. As a new mom, she spent time in jail and lived on the street.

“I just found myself homeless and far away from my family and away anybody that I knew, and I was homeless,” Burden said.

Burden sought recovery at one of the few sober houses in Morgan County. During her mission to get clean, the sober house employed her as a counselor. That’s where she met Dunn, also a mother who struggled to break the bond of drug addiction.

“I asked God, why me? I’m a drug attic and I wasn’t a good mom,” said Dunn.

Burden and Dunn have formed an inseparable bond. Now removed from the burden of the world of addiction, they realized that recovery for mothers like them was crucial.

Months later, that realization would lead them to open Sisters United sober living in Morgan County.

Funded through donations, Sisters United offers case management services, supportive services, employment support and short- and long-term stays for dozens of women to get clean.

“Our phone is always blowing up, some girls and ladies needing help and that’s what we’re there for,” said Dunn.

Sisters United is now connected to six separate counties here in the state of Alabama. The woman can come to a safe place to get clean regardless of their ability to pay.

“The sober house that I went to let me come in without any money and that’s what we try to do here,” Burden explained. “We try to give them a place they could come without any money to begin with.”

“There’s so many ladies out there that we can help you see them every day,” said Dunn. “It’s amazing how life is today to be able to help these ladies.”

Sisters United is currently established with 20 beds. They plan to expand in September.

You can get more information on Sisters United sober living on their website

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