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Keweenaw Alano offers sober living

CALUMET – For Tim Payment, the new Keweenaw Alano sober-living facility is providing a service not available anywhere else in the Copper Country.

Payment, who is president of the Keweenaw Alano Club Board of Directors, said the sober-living facility, which is located in a former Lutheran church at the corner of Eighth and Elm streets in Calumet, will not only provide living space for those currently in recovery from addiction, but it will also provide space for Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings.

“It’s kind of like two programs in one facility,” he said. “We’re basically looking to get in the business of saving lives.”

The Keweenaw Alano Club is located in Hancock.

Payment, who is a mental health and substance-abuse counselor, said he moved to the Copper Country from downstate Ludington and opened a facility in 2010 in Hubbell. From there the organization moved to Hancock. This past autumn, the facility in Calumet opened.

The sober-living space is located in the pastor’s house connected to the church. There is room for seven residents, but village ordinances limit how many unrelated people can live in one residence.

“We’re going to start with five residents,” he said.

After about one year, Payment said the group plans to approach the Village Council and request allowing two more residents in the facility.

“We want to prove ourselves first,” he said.

The Calumet location will be men only, Payment said. The group hopes to open a facility for women in the future. Rent will be charged on a sliding scale, but a base amount of $125 per week will be sought.

The purpose of a sober-living facility is to provide a safe and clean place for people recovering from alcohol or drug addiction, Payment said. There is only one other sober-living facility in the Upper Peninsula, located in Iron Mountain.

Payment said the Keweenaw Alano Club operates under the guidelines of the National Association of Recovery Residences.

In order to become a resident at the Calumet location, Payment said anyone interested should call him at 231-4799. An application must be filled out, then an interview will be set up, during which the applicant will be asked about his recovery efforts.

A drug test will also be required for applicants, and unemployed residents must be looking for work. Transportation to look for work will be provided for those without a vehicle.

Payment said there will be a house manager for the facility. That person may or may not be in recovery himself. Residents will be assigned tasks to keep the house working, such as cooking and cleaning.

On-site recovery support services will be offered, and food will be provided, Payment said.

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