Safe Place Foundation

The Basics

Founded in 1988 by a recovering alcoholic in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Safe Place Foundation provides sober living for men in early recovery. Additionally, they have recently included a two-week 12-step immersion program, and unemployed newcomers to Safe Place must complete the curriculum prior to entering the program. Safe Place Foundation believes that recovery lies in the pages of the Big Book.

Accommodations and Amenities

Safe Place Foundation includes two adjacent, old fashioned-style  homes. One of the houses was built in 1898, and was an inn for tired passengers traveling by stagecoach. There were stables in the back, and today, there are still underground tunnels. Safe Place Foundation has a 40-bed capacity, with six beds reserved for new clients, who do not have jobs. Men are paired in double-occupancy rooms, which include twin beds, dressers and bedding. There are five single rooms, reserved for men with seniority.

The residents are responsible for their own groceries, which are prepared in fully equipped kitchens. Many of the men qualify for food stamps, which assist towards the purchase of groceries. Assistance with the paperwork is provided. Clients waiting to get their EBT cards are provided with food. No one goes hungry. Amenities include laundry facilities, cable TV, Wi-Fi, a landline and house computers. Staff lives onsite and oversees operations.

Rules and Regulations

Potential clients must contact Safe Place Foundation and undergo a preliminary intake interview. The typical wait time for admittance is between two and six weeks. Safe Place Foundation looks for clients who want to stay clean and sober and are willing to work a 12-step program. Clients must have undergone detox prior to moving in. There is a nine-month maximum length of stay.

The introduction to the program is two-weeks and includes daily 12-step meetings, cooking classes, life skills workshops, recovery coaching, meal planning, step study, prayer and meditation. After that time, residents move into phase one which includes attending a minimum of four outside 12-step meetings, acquiring and actively working with a sponsor, attending two weekly step studies and participating in the on-site peer support groups. They must also get a home group and if unemployed, acquire work. The curfew is 10:30 pm seven days a week.

Phase two accommodates clients’ work schedules, but typically men continue attending regular 12-step meetings, working on their steps and meeting with their sponsors, as well attending house meetings.  While the curfew is midnight seven days a week, men who want to have coffee and fellowship after a late night meeting are encouraged to do so. Some residents, often the criminal justice clients, attend Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) and referrals are provided if needed. Random drug and alcohol screenings are conducted. Residents who relapse, but are willing to recommit to their recovery are re-admitted on a case-by-case basis.

Extras

Job search assistance is provided, including resume writing and interview coaching. Clothing, shoes and boots are provided for men, especially those who need work attire.

As a non-profit organization, Safe Place Foundation relies on donations to offset program costs. They also accept non-perishable food items, washers, dryers, cleaning supplies and other household items.

In Summary

With executive director Mike Maynard at the helm, Safe Place Foundation is a wonderful place for men who want to rebuild their lives. Maynard, who has more than 24 years of recovery, is working on implementing an exercise program, as well as the services of a dietician into the curriculum. Safe Place Foundation is a sober living that truly maintains the integrity and altruism of 12 step principles. Additionally, they believe that one size does not fill all, and each client is treated with respect and individualized attention.

The Safe Place Foundation
527 6^th Avenue SE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401

Safe Place Foundation Cost: $350 (30 days). Reach Safe Place Foundation by phone at (319) 366-3430 or by email at bigbookmike@gmail.com. Find Safe Place Foundation on Facebook, Google+ and YouTube

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