Fellowship Recovery outlines housing, respite and peer‑support services; city funding extended

Fellowship Recovery Community Organization presented its recovery housing, peer‑support programs and a short‑term medical respite to the City Commission and described outcomes from a partnership with the city’s community court program.

Sarah Barclay, chief executive officer of Fellowship Recovery, described the organization as operating recovery residences (men’s and women’s facilities), two recovery community centers and a 25‑bed short‑term substance‑use respite. Dean Pascual, director of peer support, described peer support as “people who share similar experiences … who promote connection and inspire hope,” and said peer specialists help participants navigate services and rebuild daily routines.

Fellowship staff said work with the city’s community court from March through September engaged 150 individuals: 73 met criteria for the organization’s housing or respite programs; 19 participants remained in program housing at the time of the presentation, 10 moved to independent living, eight were referred to residential treatment and two reunited with family. Presenters said the average time to self‑sufficiency among participants was about 50 days.

City staff said the organization was funded by a state grant beginning in March and that the city continued to support Fellowship after the grant ended; the commission had budgeted funding to continue the partnership starting October 1. Commissioners thanked Fellowship for its work and asked for continued updates; Fellowship requested community donations and volunteers for its Thanksgiving program, which serves about 300 people annually.

No formal action was taken at the conference meeting.