Sober living house in Butler to take in moms, children
The house at 606 E. Brady St. in Butler is a state-licensed recovery home focused on treating women and housing their children in the process, but its interior was designed to feel like a visit to grandma’s house.
The Ellen O’Brien Gaiser Center bought the 2,765 square-foot house with four bedrooms, three bathrooms and a kitchen in August, and prepared it to function as a three-quarter house where women in recovery could stay in a safe, supportive environment. On Wednesday, administrators of the center cut a ceremonial ribbon, marking the official opening Ellen’s House. They noted the first client is expected to enter by the end of the summer.
Community members toured the house during the ribbon-cutting event, after learning from Joe Mahoney, executive director of the Ellen O’Brien Gaiser Center, about how the environment will help foster women through recovery. He said women-focused sober living houses are rare, and facilities where those clients can bring their children are even harder to find.
“We wanted it to feel like home, and we really wanted it to feel like you’re coming to grandma’s house,” Mahoney said. “It’s comforting, it’s safe, it’s relaxing, peaceful, serene. That’s what we were looking for.”
With Wednesday’s ribbon cutting, Ellen’s House became one of just a few state-licensed sober living homes in Butler County, and one of just a few hundred throughout Pennsylvania. The Gaiser Center itself is a nonprofit state-licensed addiction treatment center, so it receives state funding for its operations.
According to Mahoney, the house was built before 1900, but it was well-maintained since its last occupancy. The house has wood floors, large windows on every side and wallpaper straight out of the 1970s. Mahoney said work still needs to be done on the house — furnishing it is part of phase two — but the bones are in place for a relaxing environment.
Dave Hilliard, president of Gaiser’s board of directors, said children were a focus for the board when administrators were planning Ellen’s House. He said they intend to revamp the house’s attic to make it a comfortable space for children where they can read, do homework, play games and have a general sense of “normalcy.”
“If women in recovery can be reunited and live with their children, that's wonderful, that’s a win-win,” Hilliard said. “If their kids can be with them, hopefully they will relax and do the things they need to do and appreciate being with their kids and that will help them cross the finish line.”
Donna Jenereski, director of Drug and Alcohol Programs for Butler County, also emphasized the role sober living houses play in an individual’s recovery. She said giving a person in recovery an environment away from their usual life helps them separate from the situation that led them to a place where recovery became necessary. Ellen’s House will be that new environment for women nearing the end of their recovery treatment process.
“Treatment programs do not cure individuals, nor do they guarantee a stable recovery; they provide individuals with education and tools to help navigate recovery,” Jenereski said. “All of these things are important, but in the end, they are meaningless if we do not focus our attention on ensuring individuals have a safe and supportive environment to return to after treatment.”
Mahoney said referrals for Ellen’s House will happen in several ways, including by other agencies in the area and even self-referrals.
In his remarks to people in attendance, Mahoney said the ability for children to live in the house with their mothers could be a big leap for people going through recovery there.
“This home will provide a safe and supportive environment for mothers in this house to heal with their children alongside them,” Mahoney said. “This home will be filled with laughter and warmth as these children will be in a nurturing environment alongside their mothers on the last stage of their recovery journey.”
