photo by: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-World

DCCCA Board of Directors and staff broke ground for a transitional housing project on Thursday, February 6, 2025.

DCCCA on Thursday celebrated the groundbreaking for a $4.2 million transitional housing project as part of a campaign to support women in recovery and their children in Douglas County.

Members of the public joined DCCCA staff for the groundbreaking ceremony for the transitional housing project, which will provide temporary housing to women and their children. CEO of DCCCA Lori Alvarado told the crowd on Thursday that the organization is excited to fill a need in the county, as it can be hard to find safe housing, especially for people who are new in their recovery with drug or alcohol addiction.

Those staying in the temporary housing will have spent the previous 28 days at DCCCA’s First Step House, as they take steps in their recovery. From there, clients will be able to move into the duplexes for six to nine months as they get settled in their new recovery. They will work on education and explore employment options while also continuing to receive treatment from DCCCA with ongoing support and access to child care.

photo by: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-World

CEO of DCCCA Lori Alvarado on Thursday, February 6, 2025.

As the Journal-World reported, the development will include five duplex houses, meaning 10 individual housing units along with a clubhouse built on a portion of the vacant property at 3015 W. 31st St., which is just east of the First Step treatment center. The treatment center offers care to women, and the new duplexes will accommodate the women and their children.

“For too many women, substance use and behavioral health issues make it impossible to provide the kind of home life they want for their children,” said Kulea’ Evans, chief behavioral health officer of DCCCA. “Mothers who need treatement either don’t have access to it or can’t access it for several reasons … DCCCA provides services and resources alongside funding to work through addiction, leading on the path toward a brighter future.”

The project is in line with the joint city-county plan to end chronic homelessness in Douglas County, ‘A Place for Everyone.’ The plan lists one of the priorities as transitional housing, and mentions Douglas County has a lack of these initiatives in place. DCCCA will hire two additional staff members to assist with the initiative.

The project is expected to start construction in March and depending on the weather, construction could last between 12 to 15 months.

photo by: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-World

Many people gathered for a groundbreaking ceremony for DCCCA’s new transitional housing initiative on Thursday, February 6, 2025.

photo by: Screenshot

An architectural rendering of the outside of one of DCCCA’s transitional housing duplexes.

photo by: Screenshot

An architectural rendering of a bedroom for DCCCA’s transitional housing program

photo by: Screenshot

An architectural rendering of a children’s bedroom for DCCCA’s transitional housing program.

An architectural rendering of the kitchen for DCCCA’s transitional housing program.