ShareHouse, Inc.: Removing Barriers for Clients in Need

By Alissa Maier

Nearly 40 years ago, a group of men and women in Fargo knew there was a need for a program to support alcoholics in the community. Their idea was to build a halfway house that would provide hope and healing. Their vision became ShareHouse, Inc., and has expanded to provide programs that serve adults, both men and women, who have the disease of chemical dependency. ShareHouse consists of four residential centers, 116 beds, mother and child programs, and a dual diagnosis program for those with substance abuse and mental health issues. The programs provide a foundation for life skills through sobriety. ShareHouse also has a program for homeless and uninsured individuals with or without addiction issues, many of whom also have mental health issues.

There are two programs provided by ShareHouse, Inc. for mothers and children. The first program, ShareHouse Sister’s Path, is in Fargo and the second is ShareHouse Stepping Stones in New York Mills, MN. Both programs provide an opportunity for parenting classes while allowing children to be with their mothers. The goal is that clients will leave as a sober family ready to live in the community.

The Sister’s Path program was started as the only one of its kind in the region and one of very few in the nation. The Stepping Stones program provides the same treatment and has the same goals. This is the first program of its kind started in North Dakota along with just a handful in Minnesota.

Deb Soliah, executive director of the ShareHouse Foundation stated, “One of my goals is for all of us to realize that an addict is someone that looks like me or you. And for people to understand that treatment works!” She continued, “We are all touched one way or another by addiction. It might be a family member, a friend, ourselves, our pastor, our doctor, a neighbor. This disease can and must be addressed. There is no place for shame. There is a place for treatment.”

The role of the community support is critical to providing the best client care, which led the Board to bringing on Soliah as the first executive director of ShareHouse Foundation. Lisa Trudeau was hired to serve as executive assistant. Both Soliah and Trudeau have long histories of serving the community.

ShareHouse Foundation was organized about six years ago and became operational in 2012 to help support the vision of ShareHouse Inc. Philanthropic gifts to the ShareHouse Foundation are used directly to serve the clients. These gifts make it possible for clients to accept jobs and purchase uniforms or work shoes. When mothers successfully complete treatment, they receive a Section 8 Housing Voucher from the Fargo Housing Authority. These gifts to ShareHouse are used to change and save lives. Soliah stated “Recovery is a long journey. We want to remove the barriers for our clients.”

As a nonprofit organization, volunteers initiated it and still continue as the leadership board of the organization. Carrie Simonson is an example of the impact a volunteer can have. She is a wife, mother, nurse and a recovering alcoholic for over 30 years. Simonson said, “I have learned that the only way to keep sobriety is by giving it away. I give it away by telling my story to others looking at their addiction, listening to others struggling in sobriety and educating others whenever the opportunity presents itself.” Simonson was first interested in getting involved in ShareHouse due to a family connection and wanted to find a way to give back for the blessed life that she has been given.

She is currently on the ShareHouse Inc. board of directors and was recently appointed to the ShareHouse Foundation board. This year, Simonson is heading up the annual fundraiser Jeans and Jerseys. Last year, this event had over 200 guests, raised over $81,000 and all the funds went to benefit clients here in the community. The funds were used to update the facilities by adding storage, updating kitchens, providing more beds, and adding a medication room at the recovery center, just to name a few.

This year, Jeans and Jerseys will be held on August 27 at the Ramada Plaza Suites in Fargo. It will feature a sporty theme complete with tailgating and a social hour outside. The event will then move indoors for dinner and a live auction. It will also feature vignettes from members of the community who have first hand experience with ShareHouse, Inc. Soliah stated, “That is what our fundraising event is all about – creating a team to bring this subject out into the open and help make treatment possible.” [AWM]

For ticket information

to the Jeans and Jerseys event, or to offer a gift to the ShareHouse Foundation, please visit www.ShareHouse.org.