Dubuque nonprofit receives $2.7 million to create sober living community

A nonprofit in Dubuque plans to create a sober living community that it calls the first of its kind in the state.

It's called Liberty Recovery Community and will offer permanent supportive housing and addiction recovery services.

It's a part of the Manasseh House/Operation Empower nonprofit run by Michelle Mihalakis.

Mihalakis operates the Manasseh House, an apartment building for single men, and the Salvia Apartments, a building for single women. Her next endeavor will focus solely on recovery.

"It’s not an in-patient treatment facility, but there are components of it that are like an in-patient treatment facility," she explained.

The Liberty Recovery Community will not have clinical treatment, but it will offer group and individual counseling, addiction education and perhaps art or writing therapy.

Mihalakis said, "we’ll have a lot of different types of classes, almost kind of like if they were going to school. You know, I would like them to have some ownership on the type of classes they would choose.”

This is why she believes it's unique.

"I can’t say we’re like anything in Iowa," she said.

The center will take in people suffering from a variety of substance use disorders, and Mihalakis expects to see people struggling with opioid use.

She recently received $2.7 million from the Iowa Finance Authority and expects she will need $500,000 more.

She plans to build Liberty Recovery at 2201 Jackson St. Currently the lot has a vacant building which was once a bank. Mihalakis said that will be transformed into the recovery center, while a new building will go next door for the 24, one bedroom apartment units.

Mihalakis's existing apartment units have been successful for others in the community.

Chris Bressler, a Salvia Apartments resident, said she moved in to get away from an abusive relationship that led to her substance use disorder.

“I came here cause it’s a safe building," she said. "It’s affordable, I can live here and I don’t have to worry about people running in and out like normal apartment buildings."

Bressler expects future Liberty Recovery residents to find the success she has.

"I just feel like I’ve grown a lot, you know, a lot stronger person than I was," she said.

Mihalakis isn't sure when she will begin construction or when Liberty Recovery could open. Rent will be around $400.