“I was completely detached,” said Daphne Erwin, talking about her addiction to methamphetamines, commonly known as meth. When hearing Daphne speak of this, it is surprising to learn she is the daughter of a minister and a school worker. She is eloquent and has a strong faith in God. But, she says, she decided to just try meth once…and that’s all it took.
After that single experience, Daphne’s only concern was where her next high was coming from. She lost awareness that she should care for her two children, who were eventually removed from her custody and given to Daphne’s mother. Even after that, Daphne says, she was convinced she was fooling everyone and no one knew she had a problem, but then she was sent to jail.
“Jail gave me a moment to realize I was hurting a lot of people,” said Daphne. “My experience in jail shook me up.”
After Daphne was released, she voluntarily entered the Women’s Addiction Recovery Manor (WARM) program on October 16, 2007. WARM is located in Henderson, Kentucky, and is part of Recovery Kentucky, an initiative to help Kentuckians recover from substance abuse, which often leads to chronic homelessness. Ten Recovery Kentucky centers have recently been built across the state, and each center serves up to 100 individuals simultaneously. Recovery Kentucky is a joint effort by the Kentucky Department for Local Government, the Kentucky Department of Corrections, and Kentucky Housing Corporation.
The Recovery Kentucky housing recovery centers reduce the state’s drug problem and solve some of the state’s homelessness issues. As transitional supportive housing projects, each center uses a recovery program model that includes peer support, daily living skills training, job responsibilities, and challenges to sober living.
Daphne had never been in a treatment program prior to entering WARM, yet managed to stay on track throughout the program without any slip-ups or setbacks. In May 2008, she graduated to Phase II of the program, which led to her own apartment in August of that year. The best part of her journey was regaining custody of her children in January 2009. Daphne relocated to Henderson to remain close to the program and maintain a strong support system. She now works as the transitional program coordinator with WARM to help other women working through addiction.
“I’m in a place where I never thought I would be,” said Daphne. “I love being a mother. I am a completely different person!”
To learn more about Kentucky Housing Corporation, please visit their website.
For more information on the HOME and Housing Credit Programs, see our advocacy page.
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