An eastern Kentucky town is transforming their downtown with a focus on addiction recovery. Manchester, in Clay County, is at the center of this transition. Last year, nearly a million dollars in funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission allowed the group Volunteers for America-Mid States to expand their drug treatment program.
Stephanie Hoskins is the senior director of Rural Addiction Recovery Services with V-O-A. In an interview with Eastern Standard, she said their number one goal was to get people into recovery.
“Once we can establish that, we really look to see what other supports and services do they need. We have a housing grant that we’re able to help some of the individuals that we work with find suitable housing. Our recovery community center has a van and we employed a driver who will transport individuals to various appointments.”
She said they also have oral healthcare through a dental grant and a work program to help people find employment or get back into an education setting.
Hoskins said their work is important because of generational addiction in the region.
“We’re starting to see second and third generation addiction, poverty, it all goes hand in hand. I’ve been in the field, this makes my 16th or 17th year. I’m beginning to see people who, I may have worked with their mother at one point.”
She said they have a housing grant that allows them to help some of the individuals that they work with find suitable housing. Their recovery community center has a van, and they employed a driver who will transport individuals to various appointments.
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