Transitional Housing Program Will Focus on Support for Black and African Americans in Recovery

Quest Center for Integrative Health has opened its new Woodstock Recovery House.

Nestled in the heart of Woodstock neighborhood just a six-minute drive from Quest Center, the house is a three-story Craftsman featuring a newly finished wraparound front porch, ample garden space and a bright and open communal kitchen. 

Next to the main house is an ADU where neighbor Tiffany has resided for the last seven years with no plans of leaving soon. “Four blocks from here is a nice big park that’s great for dog-walking. There’s an area for Tai Chi, picnicking, softball and basketball. New Seasons has a rooftop eating area and right next door is Grand Central Bakery.” Tiffany, who previously worked with youth in residential treatment, feels a deep connection to Quest Center's commitment to providing safe, intimate and affordable housing. “Quest has been great, they’ve done everything they can to make the transition as smooth as possible.”

The nine-bed house will provide transitional housing for individuals in recovery, prioritizing graduates of The Resilience Initiative (TRI). TRI is a unique addiction treatment program developed in partnership with the Miracles Club, a community recovery center that offers addiction peer services focused on the African American Community.

(Photo courtesty of Quest Center for Integrative Health)
Created more than two years ago, TRI addresses the historical and ongoing traumas inflicted on marginalized communities. It specifically recognizes the unique challenges faced by Black and African American individuals in accessing equitable treatment and housing. The program aims to combat issues like houselessness and substance use disorders through a culturally tailored approach.

“I really wish that The Resilience Initiative had been around when I needed it” said Certified Recovery Mentor Joresa Jefferson. In her role as a peer mentor, Joresa supports participants in a variety of ways—including housing navigation, accompanying them to local clothing closets, organizing group movie outings and more. When participants are able to look around the room and see others that look like them and come from similar backgrounds, they feel the freedom to speak.

“The trust is here, and trust plays a part in everything. We can’t get anything done if they can’t trust us” Joresa reflects.

The Woodstock Recovery House is the third addition to Quest Center’s housing program, but the first to be fully owned, operated and staffed by Quest Center. The purchase of the house was made possible with 80% funding provided through the Multnomah County Behavioral Health Division in partnership with Metro Supportive Housing Services Program. Quest Center has provided the remaining 20% of funds to purchase and complete renovations for the house. 

“Our Homelessness Response Action Plan specifically calls for measures to decrease homelessness and increase support for Black, African American and other priority populations,” said Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson. “Quest Center’s person-focused expansion of transitional housing is exactly what’s needed right now and will result in increased safety, stability and resilience for so many Multnomah County residents.”

Modeled after The Quest Foster House, a collaboration with Bridges to Change, the new Woodstock Recovery House offers a comprehensive approach to ensure a seamless continuum of care, enabling residents to build upon the progress they have made in treatment and successfully reintegrate into the community. 

Offering housing alongside substance use disorder (SUD) treatment programs significantly increases the likelihood of maintaining long-term recovery. Quest Center’s Foster House program saw a 50% success rate in residents finding permanent housing in 2023, demonstrating the effectiveness of this approach.

For underserved populations in recovery, finding supportive housing can be challenging due to systemic barriers such as: criminal records, employment and rental history, credit scores, and lack of stable income. 

Quest Center’s housing model centers on empowering residents to achieve long-term stability. Each resident will work closely with a Housing Case Manager to develop a personalized Client Housing Action Plan (CHAP). This plan will identify and address individual barriers to obtaining and sustaining permanent housing. Activities in the plan include graduating from a “rent well” class, meeting with a peer support specialist and participating in weekly recovery meetings. Graduates of TRI will continue to have access to individual sessions with their substance-use counselor for 6 months post-grad, as well as continued access to acupuncture treatments and skills groups.

For TRI graduate SirQuinn, having this level of support as he navigates sobriety has made all the difference. “The main thing I go back to is the meditation that they taught me here. I didn’t know anything about that before. I still have one on one’s with my counselor, and I know I can call someone from this group [TRI] if I need to.” Sirquinn will celebrate one year of sobriety on October 25. “They say I make it look easy, but it sure hasn’t always been” he says through a grin. “There’s no going back now, I feel better than ever.”

At the heart of the Woodstock Recovery House is Quest Center’s dedication to put community at the forefront of healing. The intimate housing model fosters a supportive environment where residents can develop communal living skills and learn to maintain a household. “We want to do everything we can to empower our residents to thrive not only in their recovery with Quest Center, but in all aspects of life" says Quest Center’s Director of Programming, Dani Deer.