“The mission of Beacon House is to recognize the power, strength, and resilience of each woman, and provide them with a safe home to recover.”
Recovery Residences Program
In partnership with Community Housing of Maine (CHOM) and the other members of the Greater Portland Addiction Collaborative (GPAC), Amistad launched our first recovery residence, for women, in 2017. In response to the dire lack of safe, supported housing for individuals battling with opiate abuse disorders, we’ve opened our first home which provides support and a safe place for women to re-establish productive lives. The women currently living in the home are coming from especially vulnerable environments, including sexual trafficking and domestic violence. The home is modeled on the precepts of Intentional Peer Support and has been affectionately named “Beacon House” by its residents. We are seeing women who were at high risk of
overdose and victimization seizing control of their lives, reuniting with children and families, and finding inner strengths and resources that had been hidden away for years.
“I’ve been thrown out literally my whole life.
I finally feel like I belong somewhere.”
– a current resident
Mission
Beacon House’s missions statement was co-written by its current residents:
“The mission of Beacon House is to recognize the power, strength, and resilience of each woman, and provide them with a safe home to recover, in community with kindred spirits. Our community values all pathways to recovery and the lived experience of each woman, amplifies her voice in a peer-led environment, and offers support from a small team of non-judgmental, compassionate providers.”
What can I expect from Peer Support?
Peer Supporters work with women along every step of the way to recovery, providing mentoring, guidance, and support. They’re committed to ensuring that residents’ needs are met and committed to recovery and positive growth.
How can I get involved?
Anyone interested in learning what they can do to support this effort, or seeking help for themselves or someone they care about who is struggling with opiate use, can contact program manager Meredith Pesce.