Ohana House builds a family of support during recovery
Sue Dove’s last birthday was a special one. She arrived home to a cake and card with heartfelt notes from her family – her Ohana House family. The gesture meant a lot, says Dove.
“In a way, I’m happier now than I’ve been in five years, and it’s good to be happy,” she says.
Photo caption: Sue Dove relies on her family of support at Ohana House as they each deal with recovery in their own way.
Dove’s story is as unique as each of the residents of Ohana House — but what they each share is the need for support during their recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. Ohana House fills a gap in the Fox Cities where previously recovering addicts were faced with travel to facilities as far away as Arizona, and at a great expense.
Dove is among several success stories to come from Ohana House since it opened in December 2014. After a business failure followed by a difficult divorce, a failed first attempt at recovery from alcohol addiction, being cut off from her family and homelessness – Dove is embracing her recovery, has changed her life and is now helping others make change in their own lives.
As the first sober living house of its kind in the Fox Cities, Ohana House provides a safe and supportive home for women to experience recovery as long as they need it.
“IT GOT TO THE POINT THAT I DIDN’T KNOW IF I WOULD SURVIVE. IF I DIDN’T HAVE THIS, I DON’T KNOW WHERE I’D BE RIGHT NOW.” — Sue Dove, resident of Ohana House
The residence was funded in part by the Basic Needs Giving Partnership, comprising the U.S. Venture Fund for Basic Needs, the J. J. Keller Foundation and the Community Foundation. It is a pilot project for collaborating agencies STEP Industries in Neenah, The Mooring Programs in Appleton and Nova Counseling in Oshkosh.
Michelle Devine-Giese is invigorated by the project, and is excited to close on a second residence in 2015 that will serve men. As the president of STEP Industries, Ohana House takes her relationship with employees to an even deeper level.
“It’s been a really cool experience. It’s also been hard,” Devine-Giese says. “Some people that we’ve seen who didn’t work out, that’s been hard. STEP was just their work, but this is their life.”
Support opportunities like Ohana House with a gift to U.S. Venture Fund for Basic Needs.
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