A common area inside Amanda's House. The sober living facility for women and their children, is looking to expand. The converted church can currently house up to 10 women. The non-profit it hoping to double its capacity. PC: Fox 11 Online
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — For four years, a sober living facility in Green Bay has been changing lives.
Paula Jolly turned her grief into giving by opening Amanda’s House in honor of the daughter she lost to an opioid overdose. Resident and recovering addict Marilyn Teller is living proof of the impact it has made.
“If I didn’t have that, where would I really be right now? Probably lazy in my room, not finding a job and not learning the things that I am learning now. And actually speaking at meetings. Yeah, I don’t think I would have overcome that fear,” Teller said.
The concept for this sober living facility was created by Jolly and her daughter. Amanda struggled with addiction for a decade, and the two recognized there was a void in housing for women in addiction recovery and their children.
According to Jolly, “We saw too many women going through, coming into sober living, leaving too early. They weren’t ready because they wanted to reunite with their children, but then the cycle would just continue because they weren’t ready and they hadn’t really learned what they needed to learn.”
Sadly, while the pair worked to establish a sober living facility, Amanda died from an opioid overdose Feb. 10, 2020 — exactly six years ago, as of Tuesday.
“I wasn’t going to continue, but I felt her pushing me to continue,” said Jolly.
In March 2022, Amanda’s House opened in an old church in Green Bay. It currently has the capacity to house up to 10 women, along with some of their children.
The residents pay to live at Amanda’s House. They have chores to do, classes to take and they must be working or volunteering, all while continuing in their recovery journey.
Jolly said, “This gives them some stability, gives them accountability.”
With a waitlist of about 40 women long and space to grow into, Amanda’s House has launched a $2.5 million campaign to double its capacity. It wants to add six more bedrooms, renovate the kitchen and add a first-floor laundry area.
Jolly knows this expansion will help others, all while remembering her daughter.
“I do this for her. On the days I want to quit, I don’t because of her. I want to help other people and give them a chance,” she said.
Amanda’s House hopes to have their fundraising and expansion completed in about a year and a half.
Comments