Church restores home in Salem to house women in recovery

SALEM, W.Va. (WDTV/WTAP) – A Salem church has restored an 1890s home to house women in recovery.

On Friday morning, Horizons Church in Salem opened its first shelter as part of its Recovery Alive program.

Originally built in 1894, the house was in disrepair and condemned.

Christine Sturtevant, the head of the church’s women’s ministry, said where they saw a light shining through the walls, they also saw hope to give women a safe and comfortable place to recover from addiction.

“A lot of the ladies that are probably going to live here have lost everything, but God provides second chances, and so God is going to be first and foremost in this program, and we’re just super excited to be able to love on the ladies who will live in this house and can see the restoration in their lives, just like the restoration in this house,” Sturtevant said.

The modest living home can accommodate up to six women.

Pastor Mike Allen said it is more than just a shelter and rehabilitation program. The goal is to help these women become part of a community.

“They need a safe place to go, and often that’s not at home, not in their old environment, especially not around old friends,” Allen said. “It gives them the opportunity to live their lives in a clean way and gain a foothold. They work, get a job in the community, support themselves, and eventually they will leave their home and then go back into society and be fruitful.”

Allen said he is grateful for all the community support that made this possible.

The inspiration for the house comes from a recovery book called ‘Restoring Victoria.’ However, Sturtevant said her cousin’s journey to recovery has made this mission much more personal.

“She is my why for this house,” Sturtevant said. ‘I want her to have a place where she can stay, where it’s safe and warm and where people have the chance to love her, because that’s what she deserves. Everyone deserves a second chance.”

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