Getting Help

If you are ready to take that first step, Friendly House is here to help and to provide a healing environment. Our goals are for you to achieve a stabilized recovery from the cycle of addiction, renew family relationships, and achieve productive community reintegration.

Friendly House provides services to any alcoholic/drug-addicted woman who is ready to make a commitment to recovery. Our only requirements are an honest desire to stop substance abuse and three days of sobriety.

Friendly House is not a traditional treatment center. It is a compassionate alternative for women who would otherwise return to destructive, demeaning environments, homelessness, or incarceration. Friendly House helps you to develop the skills needed to establish long-term sobriety.

You begin that process by making a call and talking to the program staff at either the Normandie or Castle Heights’ houses during normal business hours. Staff will ask you questions, such as background, medical history, prior treatment, substance of choice, and when you last used a drugs/alcohol. You may be asked to talk to our Executive Director, Peggy Albrecht. . But the most important aspect is that you have the desire. You may bring personal items, such as clothing, toiletries, and pillows.

Friendly House is a structured living facility. Here you will be safe, away from the stresses and triggers make staying sober difficult. Structured living means that there are rules that must be followed. There are curfews, 12 step meetings, daily chores, schedules, and random drug testing. We are not a locked facility, but passes are required to leave the premises. Friendly House provides full-time, 24-hour staffing and supervision. Although not affiliated with AA, Friendly House uses the 12-Step Program of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Once admitted to Friendly House, you will have weekly evaluation sessions with staff. Each resident puts together her own goals. The goals include working a 12-Step program and working with a sponsor. To do this, we create an environment in which you can be successful, including peer support and one-on-one guidance. After one month in residence, we encourage all residents to find employment.

A typical stay can last from a month to a year, with a monthly review to evaluate recovery and determine the need for further treatment. We know that each woman’s needs are different. We ask for a minimum commitment of one month but actual length of stay is determined by need. Some may remain as long as a year.

When you are ready to leave, we work with you to develop an exit strategy. To help you consider all aspects, we provide a questionnaire for you to complete that does into detail about what you will be doing when you leave. Staff will go over your exit strategy with you to make sure that you have considered all aspects of your return to the community.

Leaving Friendly House is not the end however. You may call at any time for support. Most of our alumni attend the Thursday night women’s only 12-Step meeting. You will also be a member of our alumni group, the Grateful Hearts.