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The Washington County Department of Job & Family Services issued a request for proposal (RFP) to receive support for access to recovery housing.

The Sober Living Housing project focuses on substance-free living for those recovering from addiction.

The RFP was discussed at the Washington County Commission’s regular Thursday meeting.

Sober Living Housing will provide safe housing, support and training in useful life skills for individuals coming out of addiction.

“The sheriff’s vision is that you’re going to do the time, but once you complete your sentence we’re going to have all the services available for you to not be reintroduced and reincarcerated,” said Director of JFS, Flite Freimann.

According to Sheriff Mark Warden, there are similar initiatives going on at other county jails and they’ve been successful in getting people off the streets and back on their feet.

“You’re going to finish your time, you’re not getting off early, but when you’re done we’re going to do everything we can in this community to help you stay clean, sober and legal,” said Freimann.

The project aims to ensure individuals aren’t getting out of jail and immediately relapsing once they return to an unstable, unsupportive environment.

The project will also encourage individuals to attend meetings and fully complete the 12-step program before heading back out into society.

Freimann said that from the time they’re released to the time they go through the program approval process, there’s a 48- to 96-hour window where individuals could relapse.

“That’s a critical window of time that we don’t want you going back and getting caught up with your old friends and your old lifestyle,” he said.

Concerns about this window led to the second RFP for navigation services through the Washington County Department of Job & Family Services.

The request is to hire a service provider with the job to help recovering individuals find resources and a supportive community. The goal is to eliminate any chance of them returning to an unstable lifestyle they may have had prior to jail.

“For 38 years I’ve worked here and that jail has sat there and done nothing in regard to being very proactive in moving them into services,” said Warden. “We’re doing that now, and with the help of JFS and other providers and the community, the program is huge.”

Freimann stated that almost all of the funds for the program were state or federally funded as well as covered by various departmental collaborations like the behavioral health department.

“I had a young man walk up to me and said, ‘my dad wanted me to tell you hi’ because I took care of his dad 35 years ago,” said Warden. “Success is measured in the generations that will change underneath that individual.”

Both of the RFPs were acknowledged and approved by the commissioners on Thursday morning.