Pubdate: Wed, 23 Feb 2005
Source: Ledger-Independent, The (KY)
Copyright: 2005, Maysville Newspapers, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.maysville-online.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1895
Author: Betty Coutant

PUBLIC HEARING FOR FUNDING ON DRUG RECOVERY CENTER IN MAYSVILLE TODAY

Governor Ernie Fletcher's Office of Drug Control Policy announced last month
funding for a project to deal with chronic homelessness and the Buffalo
Trace region wants a piece of the pie.

Recovery Kentucky, is an initiative to provide housing to people who are
hooked on drugs where they can recover and get their lives back together.

A public hearing will be held today at 6:30 p.m. at Maysville Community and
Technical College's Fields Auditorium. The hearing is one of the steps
involved in the application process to receive funding for one of the
centers that will house drug abusers.

"Many of our fellow Kentuckians are in trouble; drug abuse is a growing
problem in our state. Drug abuse destroys families and careers. It impacts
jails, classrooms, health care and our economy. In fact, studies indicate
that drug addiction is one of the leading causes of homelessness in this
state," Fletcher said through a press release last month.

Upon entering office Fletcher wasted no time putting together a task force
to study the societal problems of drug use, and to determine how the experts
in police, law and treatment believe the problem will be best solved.

"We are engaging in a new strategy to overcome drug abuse in Kentucky with
the establishment of housing recovery centers. The centers will house and
provide treatment services through recovery to 1,000 homeless, or those
at-risk of being homeless, particularly those persons with a history of
substance abuse," Fletcher said.

The city of Maysville and Comprehend Inc. have partnered to apply for a
Community Development Block Grant to fund the initiative in Maysville. The
public hearing is one requirement of applying for CDBGs, Buffalo Trace Area
Development District Economic Development Director Doug Padgett said
Wednesday.

There will be 10 such centers statewide and each will house either men or
women.

"We are applying for one for males," Padgett said, based on statistics
provided by Jailer Bob Tribby.

"We're hoping we're going to be the first organization to get our
application in," Padgett said. He hopes to have the paperwork ready by March
1.

"Housing recovery centers can be a major component of the state's solution
to tackling the drug epidemic. These centers will help women and men recover
from addiction, find permanent housing if needed, and help them gain control
of their lives so they can be productive citizens of their communities,"
said Sylvia Lovely, interim director of the Office of Drug Control and
Policy.

Recovery Kentucky is a joint effort by the Governor's Office for Local
Development, the Department of Corrections, and Kentucky Housing
Corporation.

"Recovery Kentucky's service-based model is patterned after the education
model used successfully at The HOPE Center in Lexington and The Healing
Place in Louisville. These centers, like the ones to be constructed, provide
shelter and a safe place to recover. The job centers also provide peer
support, daily living skills training, job responsibilities and challenges
to practice sober living," the release said.

The office for local development and KHC will work together to make funding
decisions and site selections, the release said.
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MAP posted-by: Josh