Melissa Landes, who identified herself as representing Powerhouse Ministries, gave the commission a detailed presentation on two recovery residences the organization operates in the region and on services provided to residents.

Landes described the houses as landing places for people in early recovery and provided program statistics: she said the average resident age is 34, approximately 72 percent of residents are minor children affected by the households served (impacting about "240 children per year"), and that 78 percent of residents were not employed with 94 percent not employed full time. "Our gentlemen have an average of 4 felonies per person. Our women have an average of 3 felonies per person," Landes said as she outlined the population the program serves.

She explained program components including drug and alcohol evaluations, referrals to local treatment providers, life-skills clinics, and career and education supports such as GED classes and links to technical colleges. Landes also described recent facility upgrades at the men's house and said the program is pursuing special alcohol fund support, asking the commission to consider the issue in May.

Commissioners and staff asked about partnerships and operational details; Landes said Powerhouse sometimes collaborates with ESU students and Flint Hills Technical College for training and engagement. The presentation included examples of casework, including work with courts to resolve long-standing fines and help residents regain eligibility for benefits.

Landes closed by asking for the county's continued support and said she would return in May to discuss potential funding from the county's special alcohol funds. "I will be back in May with y'all's blessing to talk about special alcohol funds and whether we might be a candidate for that," she said.

Next steps: Powerhouse Ministries will return to the commission in May with a funding request; county staff said they will place the item on a future agenda for consideration.