Berks County highlights National Recovery Month as residents, providers urge steady funding

At the Sept. 25 meeting of the Berks County Board of Commissioners, residents in recovery and leaders of local providers marked National Recovery Month with personal testimonies and appeals to keep recovery services funded.

The Council on Chemical Abuse (COCA) representative Yvonne Stroman told commissioners that while exact counts are unavailable, “there are over 30,000 residents in addiction recovery here in Berks County alone,” and urged leaders to continue reducing stigma and expanding recovery supports. Scott Althouse, executive director of Easy Does It, described a free community music event, Soberstock, and warned that state and federal funding uncertainty is placing pressure on providers. “EDI is able to front that money for some period of time, but certainly not indefinitely,” Althouse said, asking commissioners to press state legislators to act on a delayed state budget.

Why it matters: speakers and many residents said programs such as recovery housing, treatment courts and case management are essential to both individual recovery and to lowering public costs. A COCA representative said about $1,500,000 in public dollars supports recovery housing annually in Berks County and argued that each dollar invested saves approximately $7 in emergency-room, criminal-justice and hospital costs.

Multiple residents described the difference those services made in their lives. Jim Lynch, introduced as a resident of Easy Does It, said he relapsed and experienced homelessness before finding community support at EDI, which he credited with helping him pursue schooling and stability. Martina Albulet described escaping an abusive relationship, entering EDI in March 2023 and regaining full-time employment and schooling. Alexandra, a specialty-court participant, said she experienced a turning point while jailed on Dec. 4, 2024, and credited the treatment-court programs and medication-assisted treatment for giving her a second chance; she said she will reach 10 months sober on Oct. 4.

YMCA intensive case manager Jennifer Barra and Paulette Dunkelberger of Berks Counseling Center summarized housing programs: Barra described transitional housing that serves women, children, Spanish-speaking residents and individuals on probation and parole; Dunkelberger said Berks Counseling Center’s Women and Children’s Bridge House is a two-year program with six apartments and is currently at full capacity.

Speakers repeatedly linked program success to partnerships among providers, probation officers and the courts. Steve Marra, who introduced two specialty-court residents, described the court-led model that combines judicial supervision, mandatory drug testing and treatment to reduce recidivism.

Quotes that capture the day:

• “Recovery is not only a personal journey, it is a committed community achievement,” Yvonne Stroman said.

• “EDI is able to front that money for some period of time, but certainly not indefinitely,” Scott Althouse warned about budget delays.

• “The programs gave me a second chance,” Alexandra said of specialty-court supports.

What did not change at the meeting: commissioners listened and thanked presenters; no formal reductions or new funding allocations were made during the session. The board accepted the agenda and proceeded with routine business. The chair closed the recovery-month presentations by encouraging continued community support.

Next steps: presenters asked commissioners and members of the public to press state elected officials to resolve budget delays that stakeholders say imperil local programs.