Memorial in the dinning room of new Healing House recovery home for Collin Carter. | Photo by Julia Williams

Julia Williams

Editor-in-Chief

A case of opportune timing played a role in Healing House KC — a substance recovery organization — acquiring its newest property, which was an accomplishment 20 years in the making. 

From 3 to 6 p.m., on Friday, May 16, Founder and CEO of Healing House KC Bobbi Jo Reed — along with Healing House staff — welcomed the Northeast and Kansas City community to an open house for what marks the nonprofit’s 15th recovery home, “Collin’s House.” 

Collin’s House (within the Indian Mound neighborhood) will be an advanced home — housing program participants, 10 to 12 men, with full-time jobs, on their way to becoming first-time homeowners.

While this is Healing House’s newest recovery facility, it is also the one which is closest to its headquarters (4505 St. John Ave.) and one Reed kept her eye on for about 20 years. 

It was a goal, Reed shared, between herself and Mama Judi — a program participant and Reed’s Ministry partner who passed away in March 2020 — to turn this residence into a recovery facility. However, the timing, and the price, was never quite right — until now. 

While the residence had a couple different owners throughout the years, its previous owner faced some burglar-related challenges, which led to negotiations between Healing House and the owner throughout a three-month process of transferring the ownership. 

“I’m just excited,” Reed said in an interview, Friday. “Men living in this corner will make the community safer; Lives will be transformed.”

However, this home was not only a dream for Reed and Healing House but also for Jolene Carter, the mother of Collin Carter — a man who lost his life to substance abuse, and for whom this recovery residence is named. 

While Collin was never a program participant, his mom shared she got involved with Healing House after he passed away. 

“When you know someone in the world of substance abuse, you build a community,” Carter shared in an interview, Friday.

She said it is the mission and support Healing House offers for its program participants that piqued her interest — including the assistance that spans beyond 30 days, which she shared is the maximum amount of aid offered at traditional rehabilitation facilities. 

“It’s a bucket list thing,” Carter said in reference to having a recovery home named for her son. “I wanted to do it [for so long].”

She said she had wanted to get a Healing House facility named after Collin for around a year, but it had never worked out previously. However, following recent personal family matters, Carter was able to contribute a donation and along with a loan Healing House received, the program had funding to purchase the home, naming it in honor of Collin.

“I have a service heart,” Reed said in an interview, Friday. “We lead by example; We have 54 employees, 46 came through our program.”

Along with Collin’s House, Healing House additionally will be opening up “Comfort Cafe,” within the next three months along St. John Avenue and a Family Enrichment Center with counseling services — both of which will be available for anyone. 

“We’re fighting to reduce the stigma and shame of substance abuse,” Carter said. “Don’t judge them, give kindness and when they are ready, [they can] come to Healing House.”

For additional information on Healing House and its newest recovery home, visit: https://healinghouse.org/.