Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05
May 1, 2008 issue
Story by Bernadette Cahill
After nine months and with a new location and a new name, the High Country’s program to help adult males become permanently clean from substance abuse is now taking residents.
Evergreen Transitional Supportive Housing for Adult Males in Substance Abuse Recovery is the up-to-date version of Serenity Farm where the same kind of program operated at a former schoolhouse on Highway 221 about eight miles out of Blowing Rock. Serenity Farm had to close last summer because upgrading the facility to code was too costly. Evergreen is located on Highway 421 outside Boone town limits.
New River Behavioral Health Care Housing Coordinator Lori Watts will help Evergreen house manager Matthew Ross support the six residents planned for Evergreen’s program. Ross, who has worked in the field of substance abuse recovery in Maryland, joined New River last November.
His job as house manager is to oversee referrals and the day-to-day life of the residents in the program. He will ensure their attendance at daily 12-step meetings, as well as ensure they take care of the house and have their basic needs met.
“There are few changes to the [Serenity Farm] program,” said Ross. “The biggest change is that there will be no overnight staff at Evergreen.”
Evergreen services Watauga, Avery, Ashe, Alleghany and Wilkes counties and currently has two participants in residence. Participants pay for the program by getting jobs and paying rent.
Long-term goals for residents of the program include developing and using life skills for recovery and obtaining and maintaining permanent housing, improving work skills and/or income. Evergreen provides a safe and drug-free environment to further these goals.
“I am hoping that this is going to help these men get their lives back and teach them how to function in society again without addictions,” Ross said.
For further information, contact Watts at 828-263-5638 or Ross at 828-964-3632.