Initiative is First-of-Its-Kind in Columbia Station
The Road to Hope’s “Trinity House” Will Support Over 100 Women and Children on the Road to Recovery from Addiction
The Columbia Community Foundation and The Ode Family Foundation announced a combined gift of $100,000 to Ohio nonprofit The Road to Hope. The new gift will fund the construction of “Trinity House” – a modern, secure recovery center tailored specifically for women with children in Lorain County overcoming addiction. It will be the first project of its kind in Columbia Station, and represents the largest gift by the Columbia Community Foundation in its history.
Across the nation, women often have a shorter history of using certain substances than men, but typically enter substance use disorder treatment with more severe medical, behavioral, psychological, and social challenges, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Importantly, women specifically with children face unique obstacles, with many avoiding altogether or dropping out of treatment because they are unable to take care of their children. Studies have found that women may also avoid seeking treatment because of fear authorities will strip children from their custody or care.
Substance use disorder can be particularly overwhelming for mothers, with the combined burdens of work, home care, child care, and other family responsibilities, plus attending treatment frequently. Successful treatment requires unique support and services tailored to them – exactly what Trinity House aims to provide.
“Every individual’s journey is different, and we have a moral imperative to be a society of second chances. That’s what this new project is about – empowering mothers with the unique support they need to succeed. I started the Ode Family Foundation because I wanted to change lives – and this project will do exactly that. This isn’t just a facility – it’s a symbol of our values as a society to support those who need it most, when they need it most. I am incredibly grateful to have worked with the Columbia Community Foundation on this project, because this will ultimately mean that we’ve changed the trajectory of thousands of lives,” said Fred Ode, Founder and Board President of the Ode Family Foundation.
“This is the biggest grant in the history of our foundation, as well as one of our most important as an organization. With this modern, secure facility, Trinity House will support over a hundred women and children at a time, providing them with everything from addiction recovery services to teaching fundamental life skills. Trinity House will give women and children the support they need to navigate recovery through unique, tailored services. This will be a game-changer for thousands of people at a time when they desperately need it, and we’re thrilled to work with the Ode Family Foundation and The Road to Hope on this critical project,” said Wayne Brassell, President of Columbia Community Foundation.
Here in Ohio, only 41% of recovery housing capacity is operated according to National Alliance for Recovery Residents (NARR) standards, according to a report by Ohio Recovery Housing. In Lorain County specifically, the needs are even greater. There are no democratically-run substance-free recovery homes, referred to by NARR as “Level I,” and only 31% of the capacity is met for “Level II” housing–which is defined by NARR as substance-free recovery housing that utilizes house rules and peer accountability. Trinity House will address these gaps and fill the need for a Level II women’s recovery shelter in Lorain, while also accommodating children.
The new gift will be used to make capital improvements to a vacant building on Redfern Road, the former location of the Villa Camillus Nursing Home. In 2025, this building will reopen as Trinity House, complete with 74 combined rooms to house over 100 women and children. At the secure, modern site, those women will receive world-class substance abuse and mental health assessments, intensive case management with trained case workers, and peer support in order to get them on a track towards life success. It will also offer residents “life skills” courses to assist with resume writing, job hunting, budgeting, relapse prevention, and more – all aimed at empowering families with long-term skills when they overcome their individual challenges.
As one of the top recovery addiction nonprofits in Ohio, The Road to Hope will operate and maintain Trinity House along with the 28 other facilities they run throughout the state, including in Lorain, Erie, and Cuyahoga Counties. The nonprofit has an unprecedented 83% recovery success rate and is the longest tenured certified recovery housing provider in Lorain County, where they offer the only National Alliance of Recovery Residences (NARR)- and Ohio Recovery Housing (ORH)-certified housing for women with children.
“The construction of Trinity House will not only fill this need for women and children in Lorain County who need it most, but it will stand as a pillar in a community committed to seeing its citizens succeed,” said Jeffrey Kamms, Executive Director of The Road to Hope. “I am deeply grateful to the Ode Family Foundation and the Columbia Community Foundation for their generous donations. Their combined gift will support our mission to provide Ohio residents with the resources they need to thrive on their road to long-term recovery. Trinity House will provide a significant increase of recovery housing beds for women with children in the region, and it will also enable us to free up beds at other facilities across the state to provide for even more people in need.”
Trinity House is set to open its doors in October 2025. It will be located near Downtown stores and restaurants, allowing residents to pursue job opportunities only minutes away from the facility. The proximity to a major freeway and the Ohio Turnpike will also allow residents to easily access any ancillary appointments they may need.