Recovery House seeks $220,000 for deferred maintenance and describes new virtual inebriate screening program
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Summary
Recovery House Inc. asked the Senate Institutions Committee for $220,000 to address long-deferred repairs at three inpatient treatment facilities and described a new virtual public inebriate screening program intended to reduce ER visits and incarceration; the committee requested follow-up details on estimates and agency partnerships.
Chad Vijay, CEO of Recovery House Inc., told the Senate Institutions Committee that his nonprofit is requesting $220,000 in capital funds through H.952 to address deferred maintenance at three inpatient substance-use treatment sites: Serenity House (Wallingford), Grace House and Magee House (Rutland).
"We are reliant on state funding to operate," Vijay said, noting that "99% of our clients are on Vermont Medicaid." He outlined planned work including attic and slate-roof repairs at Serenity House, bathroom renovation, vinyl siding and window replacement, improved office space, and installation of a generator to maintain services during winter outages.
Vijay also described a newly launched virtual public inebriate screening program that began operating roughly a month ago. The program allows law enforcement to connect with Recovery House clinicians by video for an on-scene or remote assessment, with the goal of steering people with intoxication but no acute medical needs away from emergency rooms and jail and into monitored safe beds when appropriate. Vijay said the rollout currently covers a subset of counties and is grant-funded rather than fee-for-service.
Committee members asked whether Recovery House had contractor estimates and about the program's early caseload. Vijay said local contractors have provided estimates and that the virtual service has completed "less than a handful" of remote screenings so far, with plans to expand outreach to law enforcement in additional counties.
Why it matters: The request ties capital investment to continuity of care at residential treatment facilities that serve Vermonters statewide. Committee members signaled interest but asked for more precise cost estimates and confirmation of the state agency partnership Vijay named (Department of Health, Division of Substance Use Programs).
What happens next: The chair thanked Vijay and said the committee might follow up for additional information and documentation before deciding whether to include the request in the capital bill.
