Addiction is messy. It leaves sharp edges—broken trust, unstable housing, strained relationships, and lost opportunities. But when someone chooses recovery, they are choosing the best gift they could ever give themselves and their children: a chance to break the cycle, rebuild their future, and create a stable, healthy home.
At Elijah Family Homes, we work with parents in our TTS program, Transition To Success, who have custody of their children at least 51% of the time—parents who are committed to building better lives and stepping fully into long-term sobriety. These families are doing the hard work, but they often face one critical barrier that stands in the way of success:
Safe, affordable, supportive housing.
That’s why building Sunrise Village—a small community of seven transitional homes designed specifically for families recovering from addiction—is not only compassionate, but also economically smart and deeply beneficial for the entire community. Here are five powerful reasons this investment matters.
- Stable Housing Reduces Relapse and Saves Community Resources
Over and over, research shows that individuals in recovery are far more likely to maintain sobriety when their housing is consistent and safe. Without it, families often bounce between couches, overcrowded living situations, or environments that pull them back into addiction.
A Cottage Community provides:
- predictable routines
- a stable address
- a safe place for children
- distance from unhealthy influences
This stable housing, along with a case worker, drastically lowers relapse rates.
Each prevented relapse saves the community thousands of dollars in emergency services, law enforcement involvement, and hospitalizations. A single supportive cottage can ultimately save cities far more than it costs to build.
- Transitional Housing Helps Reunify and Stabilize Families
Parents in recovery are working tirelessly to rebuild trust with their children, maintain custody, and create a safe home environment. Yet many landlords will not rent to individuals with prior evictions, criminal history, or credit challenges—even when they are sober and employed.
A Cottage Community offers a solution:
- A family-friendly environment
- Privacy and dignity
- space for children to thrive
- accountability built into daily life
For families who share at least 51% of custody, the ability to create a peaceful, consistent home is life-changing. It strengthens family bonds, reduces childhood trauma, and gives kids the stability they deserve.
Strong families create strong communities.
- The Cottage Model with Case Management will create a lasting impact.
Getting into housing is not the answer to homelessness. Having resources that will impact change and help you find solutions when difficult things happen is the answer.
- A case manager is a guide and resource as new stumbling blocks emerge.
- Check-ins are weekly from in office to checking in with the family at Home.
- Community meetings are held with purpose and intent.
- Maximizes shared resources (laundry, gardens, community rooms)
Once built, cottages are low-maintenance, energy-efficient, and meant to serve families for 3 years, until they are ready to leave the program. With a 96% graduation success rate, EFH has created a way to not only walk beside the parent but help launch them forward for long-term success.
- It Creates a Healthy Community of Support, Accountability, and Hope
Recovery is not a solo journey. Families need people around them who believe in their future and are walking similar paths. At EFH, our case workers walk with the family and help guide them to resources that matter to their individual needs.
A Cottage Community naturally builds:
- peer support
- accountability
- encouragement
- shared childcare opportunities
- community meals
- healthy friendships
Instead of isolation, families gain a built-in village—a community that celebrates milestones, provides emotional support, and offers strength during difficult days.
This kind of positive, relational environment dramatically increases long-term recovery success.
- It Breaks the Generational Cycle of Addiction
Breaking generational addiction doesn’t happen in a day—it happens in small, consistent steps taken inside a stable home.
By giving families a safe place to grow, a Cottage Community:
- keeps children with their parents
- reduces the likelihood of future substance use
- increases school stability and success
- supports trauma healing
- Lays the foundation for healthier generations
The ripple effect of this investment will last far beyond one family—it will impact our community for decades.
A Cottage Community Isn’t Just Housing—It’s Hope in Action
Addiction may be messy, but recovery is beautiful.
Choosing to walk away from addiction is one of the bravest decisions a parent can ever make. When we pair that bravery with safe housing and strong support, we give families a real chance to rebuild, thrive, and create futures filled with possibility.
Did you find yourself nodding your head in agreement with the impact that the Sunrise Cottage community will have on our local families? It will take a village to build this community, and we need your help. Share this on your social media platforms. Email this to a friend. And donate to the Sunrise Village Community today.
