Local recovery home opens in Leavenworth; operator outlines expansion plans

Claire Neely told the City Commission on Oct. 14 that a women's Oxford House has opened in Leavenworth and that organizers are planning additional houses for men and for women with children. Neely said the Oxford House model provides peer-run residences that support people recovering from addiction and that it fills a local need identified by Leavenworth Attainable Housing and a community homeless task force.

Neely, who said she also works for Community of Hope, described Oxford House as a ‘‘safe place’’ that helps residents in addiction recovery and connects them with support for mental health and other needs. She said past experience shows Oxford Houses can help residents rebuild and rejoin the community as productive members.

The commission and other speakers: A commissioner thanked Oxford House organizers, said the houses are an ‘‘answered prayer’’ and encouraged attendance at the grand-opening ribbon-cutting scheduled for Oct. 31 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Neely said the public is welcome and that invitations were sent to the commission.

Why it matters: Peer-run recovery housing is one part of a local response to substance-use and homelessness challenges. City leaders and community partners discussed the need for wraparound services and highlighted the joint role of nonprofit providers and local funding or referral networks.

Details from public comment: Neely said the women's Oxford House is already open at a local address (speaker provided her contact and address on the record) and the organizers are working to open a men's house and later a women-with-children house. She described coordination with Leavenworth Attainable Housing and the Community of Hope and said organizers will host a ribbon-cutting/open house Oct. 31 from 11 a.m.–1 p.m.

Ending: Commissioners encouraged community members to attend the open house and thanked organizers for the new recovery housing.