(Michigan City, IN) - A home for up to 20 male La Porte County offenders to help them recover from substance abuse is proposed in Michigan City.

 

The projected $3.1 million facility would be constructed on the city’s northwest side in the area of the former St. Anthony Hospital.

 

The city council last night heard from Micki Webb, who’s involved with the effort through the La Porte County Drug Free Partnership, a not-for-profit organization.

 

She said the respite home would be for La Porte County residents only with referrals from the courts and other local sources involved in the criminal justice system.

 

Webb said close to $1 million of in-kind donations have been collected already to help pay for cost of construction while funding like state and federal grants would go toward operating expenses. She said there’s also a cost savings aspect for taxpayers considering the cost of housing each offender in the La Porte County Jail is over $17,000 annually.

 

Webb said the need here is great.

 

“Unfortunately, La Porte County does not have any recovery residences. Porter County and St. Joseph County have several,” she said.

 

She said residents of the recovery home would stay for up to two years while receiving additional case management and other help like job training to assist in their recoveries and becoming productive citizens.

 

Webb said such facilities assist in recovering from drug and alcohol abuse because offenders once released from jail are not returning to their original environments where temptation could still exist.

 

She said the home would be run through the Indiana Department of Mental Health.

 

Webb said a funding request for an undisclosed amount from the city council will be made at a later time, but the La Porte County Council has already pledged $750,000 toward the facility.

 

“In putting these pieces together, we’re trying to make it happen,” she said.