POST-DETOX HALFWAY HOUSE SOUGHT FOR WESTSIDE

A nonprofit organization is trying to secure a building on the Westside for
a 50-bed center that would provide interim care for people who have
completed a detoxification program.

Project Hope Drugs, Alcohol & HIV/AIDs program, a grass-roots effort, "is
already in position with a board of directors, counselors and volunteers,"
said Dorothy Gage, the organization's executive director and founder. "We
need a building to house our program."

The group also needs money to pay for the building, materials and an
estimated 75 paid employees who would offer 24-hour care, said Rose
Griffin, Hope's treasurer.

In addition to money from donations and fund-raisers, the group will try to
get funds from a federal grant through the Greenville County Drug and
Alcohol Abuse Commission.

The commission, in collaboration with the Community Health Alliance and
United Way of Greenville County, is having a needs assessment done as part
of an effort to improve substance abuse services in the county.

Kat Rice, executive director of the commission, said the study "will tell
us what the community perceives as being needed in the areas of substance
abuse. Once we have that, the commission is going to implement a strategic
plan."

Rice said the commission will seek input for the plan from a network of
substance abuse services providers throughout the community, including
Project Hope.

Later the providers will have an opportunity to vie for a share of a
possible federal grant for projects that could help fill in gaps of
substance abuse services.

But Rice said the project is in its infancy stage and though the commission
plans to pursue a federal grant, there is no guarantee that it will get one.

Hope's residential facility will be open to people who have completed the
commission's up to five-day detoxification medical stabilization process
and have no place to go for further treatment.

Gage said people would participate in the program on a voluntary basis. It
would house clients 60 to 90 days.

The program would offer counseling, job and housing referrals, 24-hour
child-care, and HIV and AIDs intervention and prevention programs and other
services, Gage said.

Griffin said, "When you're using alcohol and drugs, you're setting yourself
at a higher risk for HIV and AIDS, because you'll do just about anything
when you're under the influence."