Sober living home for mothers in recovery holds grand opening

KANAWHA COUNTY, WV (WOWK) – Sober living homes and transitional housing already exist across the Tri-State area, however, some have noticed a gap in resources for mothers needing this type of transitional living environment.

That’s why Susan Conner, the Executive Director of ‘Hope for All,’ decided to design sober living for women and mothers who have children. She said women are oftentimes separated from their kids when they begin rehab after suffering addiction, and it can take years for them to reunify as a family.

“We tried to show the love of Jesus with every person that we have here. It’s not about what you’ve done. I tell each lady. They all want to tell me their past story. I don’t care about the past story,” Conner said. “I care about what you’re going to do today and from this day forward. That’s what we care about here.”

‘Hope For All’ Director Sherrie Blackburn said Susan and Jack Conner established this sober living housing over two years ago, helping women in recovery find accountability and support in their journey of sobriety. They used to operate out of campers in the region, housing a couple of women per camper, though after running into funding issues, they decided they needed to branch out and find more permanent homes.

That’s when Blackburn and the Conners met Chad Hill, the owner of property along Pennsylvania Avenue in Mink Shoals. They now fully operate out of this location with a capacity to house 27 women and their children.

They just held their grand opening ceremony on Tuesday morning.

“Susan sponsored women at the Recovery Point here in Charleston. One of those ladies was Kirsten,” Blackburn said. “Kirsten left Recovery Point. She went to another treatment center. Got out on her own. Got her own place. Got overwhelmed. Just wasn’t really prepared for the responsibility. She was seven months pregnant. She ended up relapsing and overdosed, and her and her unborn son died.”

Blackburn continued, “So, that’s when Susan decided ‘You know what? We need something different.’ We have inpatient treatment. We have long-term treatment. We have sober livings everywhere, but there’s no, like, transitional where these women can come, still have a curriculum, learn life skills, different things, whether it’s how to grocery shop? How to track your expenses and budget? Pay bills? While having that community sense. That sisterhood and belonging.”

Sisterhood and belonging are the focus, two years after “Hope For All” began.

“You see a lot of women go into long-term treatment, but they’re not allowed to have their children. So, there’s no reunification to prepare them. So, then they get done with these programs, they go out on their own, they’re handed their children, and they have no idea what to do,” Blackburn said. “So, now we have this great big building, we have this home-like setting they can have their children.”

Blackburn is also in recovery, and she said she understands the need for more support for mothers who find themselves battling addiction.

“I’ve seen the women struggle not having their children with them. I’ve seen the women leave just so they could be with their children. Now these ladies actually have the opportunity to have their children with them and be in a recovery environment that they’re safe, they’re secure, and everything is structured.”

Bianca Roberts from Rand is now a tenant at “Hope For All.” During Tuesday’s grand opening ceremony, she shared how the organization has helped her find peace after facing addiction for 12 years.

“I learned that surrounding myself with sober people really keeps me sober, and a foundation, a solid foundation. I needed that solid foundation. The beauty of ‘Hope for All,’ out of all the programs I’ve ever been in, this is the best program I’ve ever been in. I found my purpose. They care. They actually care,” Roberts said. “That’s all we want as an addict. We just want someone to care because being out in the madness, I felt alone. I felt like everybody was against me. When I would even try to get help, I felt judged.”

Specifically, Roberts said she’s excited to see how this program changes lives and builds opportunities for mothers who otherwise may not have ever gotten help.

“There’s not that many programs that will allow you to have your children. That’s the beauty of it. Do you know how many parents are going to be able to have their kids now and be able to get clean because of this woman?”

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