It is called the Last Chance House. But after a fire destroyed the building, they are ready for one more chance.
Board members checked out the progress of construction on their new Last Chance House. The 2,300-foot house will be a temporary home for recovering alcoholics. Ten at a time can share the four-bedroom house while they transition back into independent living.
"It's the heart and soul of the board members, the alumni who lived here and recovered here," said board member Jim Whitney.
But the mission has been severely cut back for the last couple of years since a March 2024 fire destroyed the farmhouse the group used. While they have determined that the fire was accidental, they do not know how it started.
"Within minutes, the whole thing was in a blaze. So, the fact everyone got out safely was miracle," said board member Bob Langelund.
They immediately decided to rebuild. The old building was insured, but insurance failed to cover the entire cost, and it has been a long road to rebuilding.
They finally broke ground and started construction last fall. Now that they have the exterior walls up, they can work inside during the winter months.
"We've touched the lives of literally tens of thousands of people, not just the residents here, but their family and friends," Langelund said.
Residents typically spend four to six months living in the home while they transition to independent living. They are required to have a job and to abstain from drinking alcohol while they are there.
"There's an abundance of need, and we're typically full," Whitney said.
As fundraising continues to try to pay for it all, they hope to have the project finished and ready open the house by late spring. Click here for more information about the Last Chance House.