A UNC substance use disorder treatment program announced a new partnership which will offer affordable housing within the 2200 Homestead Road project. UNC Horizons will break ground on “Horizons Homestead” in the spring of 2022, providing 32 units for current and past program participants – allowing them to continue their path of recovery.
UNC Horizons is a program in the department of obstetrics and gynecology within the UNC School of Medicine. It aims to provide substance use disorder treatment for women, including those pregnant, parenting, or who’s lives have been touched by violence.
The Horizons Homestead affordable housing is part of the 2200 Homestead Road project – a mixed-income community set to provide housing, community gardens, green spaces, trails and play areas in a location convenient to transit and services. The 32 units designated to UNC Horizons participants are part of the 100-plus units in the entire Chapel Hill development.
Horizons Homestead is a collaboration between the Town of Chapel Hill, Self-Help and CASA to support the UNC Horizons approach to treating substance use disorders, which allows the program to extend from initial treatment into a continuing care process.
Hendrée Jones, the executive director of UNC Horizons, said she was excited about the new community and the opportunities it will provide for women in the program.
“Women who are in residential services will have a new place to live,” Jones said. “When they graduate, because affordable housing is an incredible barrier in the Town of Chapel Hill, we’re being able to eliminate that area by providing truly affordable housing to women who have completed our program.”
Jones said 77 percent of women get jobs when they leave the program. Additionally, more than 95 percent of women have positive child protective service outcomes – meaning mothers and children are reunited in a family unit. According to Jones, however, the biggest barrier in maintaining recovery is safe and affordable housing.
“Horizons does a really good job at getting people well, but that piece of helping people to stay well – this housing project is really the lynchpin to be able to do that,” Jones said.
In addition to affordable housing, Horizons Homestead will provide access to good schools, access to high quality childcare, and the ability to have a living wage job. Jones said this will allow mothers to not only be physically present with their children, but emotionally present as well.
She said having all 32 units in the same building could also allow for a strong sense of recovery in the community.
“So many of the essential ingredients for helping families be healthy and thrive are there at their fingertips,” Jones said.
Horizons Homestead is estimated to cost $5 million. Program directors said Horizons has raised more than $3 million already with plans to raise the remaining $2 million through private donations in the remainder of the year.
Featured Photo via UNC Horizons
Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees. You can support local journalism and our mission to serve the community. Contribute today – every single dollar matters.
Comments on Chapelboro are moderated according to our Community Guidelines