HURON When Gayle Stahl first began planning for the initial Hope House in Huron, she knew that the call came from beyond her and she wasnt sure how she would make it happen.
This has been a vision and a dream of mine for about four years, Stahl said in a Dec. 2021 interview. I told God for about six months that its not me, because I have no idea how to do this. He said over and over, Yes, it is.
Fast forward three years, and the Hope House, a sober home for recovering female addicts has served 28 women. Now, shes expanded the services offered with the addition of a house for men that just opened. She knows its not going to be a fast, smooth launch based on her previous experience with the first house.
I keep reminding myself as were getting (the mens house) up and going that didnt happen overnight, she explained. That first year for the womens house, I bet we only had nine women the whole year. We had to build a reputation and do it right, then things picked up.
Stahl has worked since the beginning with a board of directors of seven and highly values their input and direction.
One misunderstanding within the community regarding Hope House initially was that it would be a residential treatment center.
Hope House is not a treatment center, Stahl reiterated. Were a place thats a sort of next step up. Were going to help you meet your basic needs so you can focus on your recovery.
In the experience with the womens house, Stahl has learned about screening for potential residents. She says that the biggest thing is having someone own up to their mistakes, as Hope House is a completely sober facility, so any substance use is grounds for dismissal.
The success of the womens house has allowed for between 9 and 12 women who have worked with Hope House and remained working and contributing to the Huron community. The alumni often come back to encourage new residents of the house in their recovery journey.
We have many alumni who come here, set up their sober community, get a stable job, and then move into the Huron community and live out their success, Stahl glowed. The only thing that should change when they graduate is where they lay their head. Thats it.
The success of the womens program inspired Stahl to consider how a similar program could also help men within the community. She says that the wheels began to turn roughly a year ago for the new house to begin.
Stahl said that she was encouraged to start small and do it right. She then began to get people in the community to see the success of the program and to encourage her to put together a mens home. She went to social media.
I just put it out there on Facebook that we were looking for a possible home to rent, she remembered. I didnt want to buy a home as a nonprofit.
As she was driving down the street, she saw a sign in a yard for a home for rent and reached out. She was pleased that the rental company saw the vision of what she was doing and gave Hope House a chance.
Grant funding is a major funding source for Hope House. Stahl says that she has worked hard finding grants and writing those applications to continue funding in the womens home and also for the work needed in the mens house.
Right now, the mens house has one resident, but there are beds for nine, and Stahl has already seen plenty of interest.
I feel pretty good about the interest, she said. Its always about making good decisions on who will have success in the house.
Stahl encourages new residents to commit to three months, Three months is not enough, but if you can commit three months, youll see it through.
Not every day is sunshine and rainbows, Stahl laughs. She stated that not every person graduates and never uses again. However, the alumni from the program and other involved community members have provided a support system for graduates as they leave the house.
While Stahl has a strong belief that this mission was ordained by God, she knows that it would not be successful without the help of the Huron community.
The community has been such a blessing to us, Stahl expressed. Any need we have, I put it out, and its met. With our community doing that for us, I can go back to our residents and show them how the community is supporting them.
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