Randy’s House a recovery residence program currently operating homes in Greenville delivered a presentation to the community Thursday night at Loomis Lodge. The program seeks to purchase one house and lease another in the downtown Newaygo district to provide recovery services to individuals who are in the process of rebuilding their lives after battling addiction to alcohol and/or other drugs.
The plans include a 20 bed men’s residence and a 12 bed residence for women. Executive Director Mike Helmer was joined by a number of staff members at the presentation. Helmer described how the program began and outlined the structure of the current residences with regard to the services provided as well as the guidelines they have for the participants in the program. He and the Randy's House staff, who are primarily graduates of the program, then responded to the questions posed by attendees regarding any possible impact the program would have on the city and spoke to the positive relationships the program has maintained with the Greenville community. They also received comments from several individuals supporting their efforts with many expressing the need for such programming in our area. The Newaygo City Planning Commission will take comments on the matter during their meeting taking place this coming Tuesday, January 8th at 6:30pm in City Hall. Should the program be given the ok to move forward with its plans, the matter will go to the City Council for their approval at their next meeting on Monday, January 14th at 7pm. For more information here is the website for Randy’s House: http://www.randyshouse.com
Janet Van Dyke
1/5/2019 02:47:41 am
A recovery home down town where there are 3 drinking establishments? ?? Better rethink the location . J s
Jeff Jude
1/5/2019 06:44:37 pm
In addition to that the city of Newaygo is just too small to accommodate multiple recovery facilities without destroying the character and charm of the town. There are just over 2,000 residents and this would add 2 recovery homes very close to the heart of the city... bad idea. There is serious need in the county but these should not be located so close to downtown. The second issue for me is examining the history and track record of Executive Director who requesting the variance... i hope the city is smart enough to do a criminal background check specifically 2007.. and 2015.
These comments were addressed at great length at the first meeting. Janet...people DO eat at these establishments without drinking or getting drunk and making a scene.
Jeff Jude
1/8/2019 04:10:53 pm
He turned it around since 2015... he was driving on a suspended drivers license then. He recently lost the lease on his existing rehab home because he breached his contract. He has only been licensed to do what he is doing a couple of years. Sorry, this is not a long history. You are right...i am 100% against additional rehab facilities in the heart of downtown area of Newaygo. It's a bad idea. I do support facilities in more suitable areas of Newaygo such as the South Gateway. There is a need... but it is a mistake to put this downtown where there are 3 bars, few jobs and an important tourist area. It is bad idea, and I am not convinced that this current organization is stable.. sorry.... he may be a nice guy, he may want to do awesome things, but he does not have a solid track record.
Lisa A Reed
1/9/2019 07:04:39 pm
Jeff Jude-
Jeff Jude
1/9/2019 07:29:57 pm
Sorry if this double posts, but it seems my response was not accepted. Unfortunately, your criticism is misleading and wrong. First, "My wife?" I have no wife. I have never had a wife. I am gay. So I am not sure where that came from.. Second, I support additional rehab facilities in Newaygo City and County. I do not support additional facilities in the downtown area of Newaygo City. I am sorry that you are dismayed because I do not agree with you. That's your problem not mine. I have a right to my opinion. You have a right to yours. We simply disagree. Comments are closed.
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