“Take our hands, work through them. Take our lips, speak through them. Take our minds, think through them. Take our hearts, set them on fire.”
Recovery Living Center
ABCCM’s Recovery Living Ministry at the Costello House is a peer-led 18-24 month, 45-bed transitional housing facility for men who suffer from substance use disorder and mental health challenges. Where the primary focus is on healing, education, and employment. Evidence-based practices such as Critical Time Intervention, Motivational Interviewing, and Trauma Informed modalities allows Peer Support Specialists to meet others where they are, without judgement, thus creating strong foundations for healthy boundaries and recovery skills. Through the use of an intentional community process, clients are able to eliminate shame, address trauma, and restore a sense of purpose and belonging in a healthy and safe environment.
In 2023, 263 men were served at Costello House, with 31 of those being employed in jobs earning $16 per hour or more. 425 volunteers gave 4,750 volunteer hours.
In ABCCM’s Transparency Report to DHHS, from July 31, 2023 to February 29, 2024, 90 men at Costello House obtained gainful employment, and 180 men received both mental health and substance use services.
ABCCM needs churches to come together again, as they have so many times, to solve an urgent need in our community. Please consider the following needs:
Volunteer Needs
3:30 pm to 7:30 pm – Our volunteers would be helping at the front desk greeting people as they enter, helping check clients in, helping in our laundry room as we wash linens and their laundry; helping serve dinner, and other general needs.
6 am to 10 am – Our volunteers would be helping get the breakfast food set out as a to-go meal, wiping down areas, washing/folding linens, and getting the house reset for the next time we use it.
- Sign up for a week to care for the homeless as they did for Room in the Inn.
- Be a volunteer on one of 3 shifts A,B or C: A) Shelter volunteers from 6-9pm & food: B) evening meal 5-7pm and C) morning from 7 to 9am
- Be there for the 7 days and receive training from qualified ABCCM staff on serving the homeless.
- Be a Day Shelter volunteer: two shifts from 9am-12:30 or 12:30-4:30.
- Help with classes, activities, connect residents with community resources.
- Provide financial support to pay for overnight staff; Peer Leaders; Case Manager.
- Recommended giving level: $2000/month, or whatever additional giving that a congregation can give to Costello House – Open Door Shelter.
ABCCM needs 52 churches or a combination of partnering churches to cover each week of the year. The winter shelter will need funding for staff, food, and supplies.
- Staffing: ABCCM currently has enough staff for evening shelter, but not enough for 24/7, or day shelter.
- Please refer persons to apply starting at $15/hr. to increase staff. Qualifications: simple a passion to care for others and willing to be trained.
- Food is supplied by a Cook Team or donated. ABCCM will provide meals out of the VRQ kitchen unless a Cook Team provides meal or food donated is adequate to prepare on site.
- Supplies: toiletries, cleaning supplies, laundry supplies are essential. Purchasing these is expensive, so donations of any size is helpful, but we also need funds to buy in bulk to stretch dollars further.
- Linens will need to be replaced periodically as well as a good supply of blankets.
- Orientation and training will be provided as all volunteers join us with opportunities to increase skills and impact in the lives of our guests.
Thank you everyone for working together to care for unhoused persons. Together we can keep everyone safe and from freezing on our streets. Please keep those prayers going
Recovery Living Ministry
141 Hillside St.
Asheville, NC 28801
volunteer@abccm.org
828-259-5314