Certificates of appreciation, recognizing the financial support in making the second Serenity House facility for men in Warsaw a reality, along with board members include, in front, are:Patricia Coy, United Way; Suzie Light, Kosciusko Community Foundation; and Jim Tinkey, K21 Foundation Board President. In the second row, are Steve Smith, Serenity House executive director; Holly Swoverland, K21 Foundation; Stephanie Overby, Kosciusko Community Foundation; Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer. Standing in back are Abel David Jr., house manager for Men’s Unit No. 5 in Warsaw; Pat Tyler, Serenity House Board President; John Kidd, board member; and Kimberly Kelley, house manager for the women’s home in Warsaw.

WARSAW — An opportunity for supporters of the newest Serenity House in Warsaw was provided Thursday morning, Oct. 22, at an open house event. Serenity House Unit No. 7, is located at 321 S. High St., Warsaw.

Unit No. 7, which opened on Sept. 1, is home for 16 men who want to recover from drug and/or alcohol addiction. The opening of the latest house now provides Serenity House Inc., a total of 82 beds for men and women who want to recover in Auburn and Warsaw. This is one of three facilities in Warsaw, which has beds available for 10 women and 32 men. Three other facilities are located in Auburn.

Steve Smith, executive director, was on hand to greet representatives from the city of Warsaw, Kosciusko Community Foundation, United Way and K21 Foundation. Also present were several Serenity House board members and two local house managers: Abel David Jr., and Kimberly Kelley. Jeffrey “Hoss” Smith, is the house manager for the latest facility.

Guests visiting the Serenity House No. 7, stand on the front steps of this 1907 built home, which now houses 16 men wanting to recover from drugs and alcohol addiction.

Whether it is the men’s facility or the women’s facility, the houses feel like home, not institutions. The house managers, at least in the case of Men’s Unit No. 5, 622 E. Fort Wayne St., Warsaw, and Women’s Unit No. 6, 2016 E. Market St., are recovering addicts themselves. Kelley has been in recovery for 21 years, and David for 11 years.

Both know what each individual is going through and can provide them hope, as they have been there. “When you see their eyes light up, (what you are doing) it pays off. You see that the men and women get it,” said Kelley, with David adding, “they are running on their own power and see the benefits of recovery and consequences of addiction.” Both stated they didn’t get it for years.

The men of the High Street facility moved from their East Market Street home after some remodeling of the home, which was built in 1907. Original woodwork with built in seating, wooden flooring, stained glass windows, walk in closets, booth seating in the kitchen, and many other details of an early 1900s home can still be seen. Energy efficient heaters/air conditions have been added throughout the home, which has hot water or steam heat.

The East Market Street home, which opened as a men’s facility on Jan. 31, 2009, is now the first women’s house in the city and known as Women’s Unit No. 6. The women’s unit opened on Sept. 1 and currently has two of the 10 beds available.

Former men’s house, converted to a women’s house, the first and only women’s house in Warsaw.

Smith handed out certificates of appreciation to representatives of Kosciusko Community Foundation, United Way and K21 Foundation who provided “generous donations to help purchase the property and remodel the home. They put us in a position to open up a women’s house and this men’s house.”

Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer was also present for the event, noting the city is supportive of “the move and the opportunity for us to take care of our community.”

Serenity House Inc., operates alcohol and drug abuse residential recovery homes. Founded in 1994, the first recovery house was opened in 1995 through the generosity of several anonymous and public donors.

Serenity House facilities are dedicated to the concept, with help of other recovering people, men and women can achieve lasting sobriety with a quality of life they never imagined possible. The elements of the program offered at Serenity House is based entirely on the principles, practice and theory of 12-step recovery.

Serenity House Inc., is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation. To learn more about Serenity House individuals can visit its website.