IU Health partners for recovery house groundbreaking

By Emma Avila, epackard1@iuhealth.org, writer for IU Health’s Indianapolis Suburban Region

IU Health has partnered with Volunteers of America to help fund the Legacy Recovery House in Plainfield, providing transitional housing and support services for women suffering from substance use disorder.

Every day, IU Health teams see the impact substance use disorder has on individuals and families. And every day, team members see patients and their loved ones trying their hardest to rebuild their lives and change their trajectory to one that is healthy, stable and thriving.

IU Health leaders and other community partners broke ground on a new recovery house in Plainfield last week. The IU Health Community Impact Investment Fund awarded Volunteers of America (VOA) $1.4 million over two years to provide transitional housing for women who are recovering from substance use disorder and who are pregnant or have young children in Hendricks and western Marion counties, to support them as they progress in their recovery care. The program will help women reduce addictions, find stable incomes and improve mental health and social relationships.

“As we at IU Health work toward making Indiana one of the nation’s healthiest states, we know there are an infinite number of variables that impact people’s ability to improve their health – social determinants that include access to safe and affordable housing, reliable work and transportation, mental and behavioral health supports and a sense of community and connectedness,” said Doug Puckett, president of IU Health’s Indianapolis Suburban Region, as he addressed the crowd at the groundbreaking. “We’re standing where a shining example of collaboration and resource sharing will grow and truly, deeply make a difference in people’s lives.”

Legacy Recovery House will consist of three three-bedroom duplexes and is designed to serve up to 15 families. It will offer women who have completed residential substance use disorder treatment a family-focused place to live with access to transportation, childcare, employee assistance, like skills support and continued recovery services while they prepare for permanent housing in the community.

This investment into Hendricks County families is made possible by the IU Health Community Impact Investment fund. It is administered by the IU Health Foundation and supports non-profit organizations to address key social and environmental factors that heavily affect people’s health outcomes.

“There are not many options for women and children outside of Indianapolis,” explained Trisha Palencer, director of the IU Health Addiction Treatment and Recovery Center, located at IU Health West. “We’re looking forward to being one of the many services to support the women and children here.”

VOA Ohio & Indiana plans to partner with IU Health West for physical health services, including pediatric care and other services.

“I have no doubt our Hendricks County community will wrap its arms around this place and these families to help them achieve that new trajectory they’ve been working toward,” said Puckett.

The Legacy Recovery House will be located at 3343 Smith Road in Plainfield.