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Pathways opens Hartford sober-living home; plans child visits, strict rules and peer supports
Summary
Pathways Sober Living presented the county with operational details for a Hartford home that opened in March: one county resident currently occupies the house, rules include curfews, breathalyzer and drug testing, 60-day vehicle restriction, and the operator plans to allow resident children with additional safety protocols.
Susan Beatty, representing Pathways to a Better Life’s Pathways Sober Living division, told the county HHS committee on June 25 that the Hartford “Silver Living” house opened in March and is operating in an initial, deliberate phase.
“We currently have one individual in the Hartford house,” Beatty said. She added the resident is paying rent and receives community supports; a second resident moved to a higher level of care and the operator has been limiting new admissions to prioritize county residents.
Beatty described program rules and safety measures: weekday and weekend curfews (generally 10 p.m. on weekdays and 11 p.m. on weekends with exceptions for employment), on-site breathalyzer and urine-analysis kits, supervised overnight passes that include an AirTag and staff-verified escorts, and a 60-day waiting period before residents are allowed regular access to vehicles. “A vehicle gives you too much power when you are having a bad day,” Beatty said, explaining the rationale for the restriction.
Pathways staff described layered supports: sober-living managers, recovery coaches who act as peer supports, house meetings, outside cameras for perimeter safety and a buddy system that pairs new arrivals with more experienced residents. Beatty said the operator uses drug testing on return from passes and maintains written expectations for residents.
Beatty said the program is beginning to accept arrangements for children to reside with a parent in the house; Pathways will meet next week with a local child-focused provider to adapt existing protocols rather than create a new model. “Those kids are very smart, and approaching them openly is part of normalizing recovery,” she said.
County staff asked about outreach and referrals; Beatty said Pathways is using social media, flyers and local networking to increase awareness and expects referrals to grow. Julie, a county staff member, said the county will include information in the county executive’s July newsletter to publicize the new bed.
Ending: The committee received the operational briefing; no contract changes or county-funded placements were announced at the meeting.
