The Columbus Board of Zoning Appeals will consider allowing a nonprofit organization to open an addictions treatment and recovery facility in downtown Columbus for pregnant women and women with children.
The Volunteers of America of Indiana is seeking a conditional use for the property at 703 Washington St. at the former Columbus Post Office building. The case will go before the BZA for consideration during its 6:30 p.m. meeting Tuesday at Columbus City Hall.
Under the proposal, the 22,500-square-foot building would be used as an in-residence addiction treatment facility and would include 17 bedrooms, kitchen and laundry room space, in addition to common living and meeting room areas, according to the application filed with the city.
The facility would house up to 23 women and would be staffed by at least two people at all times — with as many as 10 staff members during the day, the application said. The free program, formally known as the Fresh Start Recovery Center, does not require insurance coverage and started in 2015.
Pregnant women who are admitted into the program are allowed to have one of their children ages 5 and under live with them during their treatment, a two-phase approach, according to information filed by the Volunteers of America of Indiana in its application.
For more on this story, see Tuesday’s Republic.
