Big Plans for Vineyard House Include a New Central Campus

By ALEXIS TONTI

The directors of Vineyard House Inc., the only Island program that
offers housing to people in the early stages of recovery from drug and
alcohol addiction, are now moving forward with a plan to purchase land
and build a central campus for the organization with increased capacity
for residents.

Vineyard House currently runs safe and sober houses at three
locations in addition to renting office space in downtown Tisbury. The
idea for a campus-like facility comes in part from the program's
drive to cut operating expenses. But more importantly, it will allow
them to meet a broader range of needs, including those of parents with
children in their custody.

Program directors envision that a roughly 2.5-acre complex would
have ample room for office space, separate men's and women's
residences, apartments for the respective house managers and a smaller
cottage to be used by residents' family members making short-term
visits.

They are looking at land in Vineyard Haven and hope to submit a
proposal to the Martha's Vineyard Commission (MVC) for review as a
development of regional impact in the next month.

"We really want everyone who needs it to have a safe place to
live - to be able to then go out and have a job, make new
contacts, visit family and friends and learn a new way of living. It is
about helping them make that transition from detox to clean and sober
living," said Vineyard House executive director Sandra Demel.

"This is going to be an unbelievable project, and it is so
important that we do this," said Carol McManus, president of the
Vineyard House board of directors. "Everyone is in some way
affected by alcoholism or drug addiction, be it something they struggle
with or a family member or a friend. Everyone is touched, and by
changing one person's life you change everyone's lives
around them."

Vineyard House opened the doors of its first house in 1997, and now
operates two homes for men and one for women - with a total bed
capacity of 24. Admission is limited to Island residents, who are
permitted to stay as long as 18 months, with a recommended minimum stay
of one year.

Since its inception, 63 Islanders have left Vineyard House clean and
sober, and more than 100 others have spent some period of time there.
"Even people who stay for less than the recommended time are still
changed and influenced by what they experienced, and they bring word of
those experiences to others," said Ms. Demel.

Vineyard House adheres to the tenets of 12-step recovery programs,
and residents are required to attend daily meetings, enroll in life
skills classes and find a sponsor. Islanders staying there also must
find employment or spend the equivalent time during the week as a
volunteer.

"It is about getting that extra support - which is not
treatment, but which is helping residents get the skills to help them
negotiate successfully in a sober world," said Ms. Demel.

Shifting the residences to a single complex would decrease expenses
on a number of fronts. Right now maintenance and insurance costs are
high, especially for the men's homes, which are in an area subject
to high winds and coastal flooding. It also would eliminate the need to
rent additional office space.

But most importantly, constructing a new facility would allow
Vineyard House to craft a more inclusive program, capable of meeting the
varying needs of a greater number of Island residents.

The proposal envisions a men's residence with 10 double rooms
and five singles. It also would include the Vineyard House business
office and a large meeting space. The women's residence would have
four singles, three doubles and two units for mothers with infants or
small children. A separate cottage would have two units for parents to
stay during overnight visits with children or other visiting family.
There would be handicapped-accessible rooms in both residences.

"We've known for a long time this was something we
wanted to plan for," said Sandy Broyard, head of the screening
committee and a board member.

"We have had the experience, particularly with women who have
been the sole caretakers of their children, that they have not been able
to move in or not been able to stay very long because of their need to
be with their children and not having consistent alternatives for child
care," Ms. Broyard said, adding:

"We also have had the experience of men who are divorced and
who have partial custody, which is why we will have facilities in a
separate small building for parents - fathers or mothers -
to have children come and spend an overnight."

Ms. Demel spoke to the need to increase the program's
capacity.

"We have been frustrated. We have a waiting list much of the
time, particularly for men. And because it is a long-term program,
turnover is slow," she said.

"We let people come to all of the meetings while they are on
the wait list, but it is difficult to make it that way, without the bed.
It is terrible to have to turn people down, because that might be the
one chance you have to make a difference," she said.

Ms. McManus, who started her tenure as board president earlier this
month, said her primary goal is to raise money for the project, although
there is not yet an estimated cost of construction.

The organization's two summer fundraisers, the dinner at Atria
and the water tasting event, are generally enough to cover annual
expenses - this year they raised about $62,000 - but they do
not offer much by way of a cushion.

Ms. Demel said they plan to sell the three homes currently in use.
In addition, to help ease the cost of construction, they are looking to
apply for a federal grant.

She concluded: "We have done a whole lot in just over seven
years, and this is an incredible step we are taking now. It will be
really good for the Island."