Columbus is providing funds to help a local nonprofit purchase a house for women in substance abuse recovery.
The city plans to use $40,000 in Community Development Block Grant Funds as a down payment for Thrive Alliance to purchase a home that will become a sober living house for women, said Community Development Assistant Director Robin Hilber.
The house will be owned by Thrive Alliance and operated by the Alliance for Substance Abuse Progress (ASAP). The house is located on Central Avenue, Hilber said, and the closing is expected to take place this coming Tuesday or Wednesday.
The Columbus Board of Works voted to authorize Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop to sign the necessary agreements for this grant, pending approval from the federal government. Once the city has gotten approval from the proper federal authorities, he will be able to sign the agreement, Hilber said.
This project falls into one of the the main uses for CDBG funds, which include “addressing a need of particular urgency or (something) that might be of detriment to the health and safety of the general public.”
Thrive Alliance Housing Development Manager Darrell Unsworth thanked the city for its support and said that the agency is excited to be working with ASAP on the project.
In fall of 2020, ASAP opened its first sober living transitional home for men working to overcome substance abuse disorders. The house is located in the Lincoln-Central Neighborhood.
The sober living homes are aimed at helping residents build a support network and find financial stability in a structured environment as they navigate the initial stages of recovery from addiction — in the hopes of helping ensure long-term freedom from substance abuse.
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More information about the Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention’s sober living opportunities and applications can be found at asapbc.org/asapsoberliving/.
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