SACO — Our Father’s House Recovery Center has expanded its program, with a view toward continuing to give hope and help to those struggling with addiction.
Rick Martin founded Our Father’s House in 2006 and since then has been primarily operating men’s sober living houses. The organization can currently accommodate 14 men between two houses, and residents come from in-state as well as from across the country.
Martin said the program is now offering in-house counseling services, whereas it previously had to refer people to other programs. This can take some time, and people who are addicted need help immediately, he said.
“It’s an emergency room situation,” he said.
Martin said last summer, a 22-year-old man living in the house relapsed, and had to leave the program due to the strict zero tolerance policy. The man overdosed and died, said Martin.
Martin said seeing this situation, as well as other situations where people fall through the cracks, made him realize the house needed to expand its services.
Our Father’s House opened an outpatient facility in February at 325 North St. and Martin said the organization also plans to open a sober house for women. Other long-term goals include housing for women and children and daycare for those who are receiving services. Staff were scheduled this week to train to become certified with Drivers Education Evaluation Program.
“We have an awesome team of people who are empathetic and really want to help people get back on their feet,” said Martin.
Substance abuse counselors like John Wingfield are now on hand to provide a variety of services, including one-on-one counseling and an intensive six-week outpatient program from 9 a.m. to noon. Wingfield said that what sets this program apart from other programs is that counselors will continue to work with people after the six weeks instead of “throwing them out into the world unprepared.”
“It’s like learning to live again,” he said.
Martin, 53, said he has been sober for nearly 20 years. An ordained minister, he said he gives all the credit to God for his sobriety.
“I’ve got my sobriety and I want to give back,” he said. “If I can do it, anyone can do it.”
The program is based on the Christian faith, but Martin said he doesn’t push religion and the program accepts people of all faiths. He said he wants to help people find their relationship with God, as people’s spiritual part is often missing because of addiction.
One sober living house resident, who asked to be identified as “Michael,” said he was living in Vermont and got addicted to crack cocaine. After a series of events, the 63-year-old retired stock broker ended up living at a hotel in Old Orchard Beach this winter. He said he began isolating himself, and his sister came to visit in December and saw that he wasn’t taking care of himself.
Though he had been clean for several months, Michael said he was contemplating getting some drugs on Tuesday from someone he had met, when his sister called him on a Sunday said there was a bed available at Our Father’s House, and told him he needed to go there.
“It was a God moment,” he said.
Michael said the program is supportive and disciplined.
“He (Martin) won’t put up with anything,” he said. “Without this place I’d be struggling,” he said.
Michael said that he wants “to integrate with a purpose into society” and is working with staff to move forward on goals like finding a volunteer job.
“There was a point where I thought I couldn’t feel hope again,” said Michael. “I didn’t care whether I lived or died. Nothing was worth the effort.”
Now, he said, he has hope.
After years of addiction problems, Michael said he has “burnt out” his family, but said he sees his two adult children coming around.
Our Father’s House is currently accepting new referrals, and Martin welcomes anyone who is interested in receiving recovery services to stop by, call 571-4981 or go online at www.ourfathershousemaine.org.
— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.
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