SPEDA board recognizes center for commitment to excellence in recovery

Somerset is now home to its first nationally certified recovery program, and the Somerset-Pulaski Economic Development Authority (SPEDA) board of directors is hailing it as a leader in recovery efforts in the community.

Somerset Sober Living, a local center providing Christ-centered guidance to help adults advance in recovery, is now certified through the National Association of Recovery Residences (NARR) and the Kentucky Recovery Housing Network (KRHN). KRHN serves as the state affiliate of the national organization, helping provide a universally accepted protocol for operating ethical, high-quality recovery residences across the Commonwealth.

“Communities should recognize and celebrate the things we want more of, and at SPEDA we’ve made that an important practice,” SPEDA President and CEO Chris Girdler said. “Somerset Sober Living is a rising star in our community and the Commonwealth for the first-class way they are helping those suffering from addiction down the path of recovery. Because an excellent quality of life is at the heart of a strong economy, SPEDA focuses on programs and initiatives that will improve both, for people of all walks of life. We are grateful that Somerset Sober Living is here in our community, setting such a high standard for recovery efforts.”

Somerset Sober Living started with a group of believers from several churches who were praying about how God would use them in Pulaski County. Soon, they were overwhelmed by the need they saw to provide a sober living community for men from across the Commonwealth. They now have two sober living homes and provide programming and support that help residents transition from rehabilitation to everyday life. 

“We had people coming from many different places, and it was very clear this was what we were intended to do,” said Dr. Jonathan Hardy, one of the founders of Somerset Sober Living.

The group began following NARR guidelines for establishing a sober living facility, working with KRHN to meet all certification criteria. Those criteria focus on a code of ethics, quality of the residential environment, and access and choice in housing. The following guidelines are highlighted on KRHN’s website:

• All certified housing providers are expected to adhere to an ethical code that ensures facilities are operated professionally and in a manner that demonstrates the needs of the individual, their recovery and journey to health and wellness are at the forefront.
• Quality housing also is essential to certification. This refers to the physical condition of the residential environment as well as support and resources available to individuals who reside there. Properties are assessed based on health, life skills programming, safety and management.
• Certified residences also must strive to make residences accessible to individuals recovering from opioid use disorder and substance use disorder. Policies and procedures should serve the priority population, at minimum including persons in recovery from substance use but may also include other demographic criteria.
• Meanwhile, individuals also should have choices in terms of their recovery support services and needs as they relate to recovery housing.

Brenda Russell, executive director of God’s Food Pantry and the future OakPointe Centre, works closely with recovery residents in the community to provide food security. When OakPointe Centre opens, she hopes to expand support services to include life skills, medical assistance, counseling and more. 

Being able to partner with certified organizations like Somerset Sober Living has been an excellent experience for recovery residents and for organizations like Russell’s, she said.

“I am excited that they have done this as I have seen firsthand that they are one of the elite players in the world of addiction recovery in our community,” Russell said. “They, quite simply, made it their goal to do it right.”

Somerset Sober Living is level 2 certified through KRHN and NARR through August 2025. Learn more about this recovery program at somersetsoberliving.org.