Filed under: DRUG REHAB, florida halfway house, fort lauderdale halfway house, ft. lauderdale halfway house, gay halfway house, gay sober living, sober living fort lauderdale, sober living ft lauderdale, sober living south florida | Tags: addiction as disease, Broward, broward sober living, Dade, dade sober living, DRUG REHAB, florida, florida halfway house, fort lauderdale halfway house, fort lauderdale sober living, ft lauderdale, ft. lauderdale halfway house, gay, gay drug rehab, gay halfway house, gay recovery, gay relapse prevention, gay sober house, gay sober living, halfway house, halfway house florida, halfway house Fort Lauderdale, halfway house ft. lauderdale, halfway house in S Florida, halfway house in south florida, helping others, innovative approach, men's sober living, recovery, recovery fort lauderdale, recovery ft lauderdale, recovery miami, recovery oakland park, recovery south florida, recovery wilton manors, relapse prevention fort lauderdale, S Florida halfway house, sober, sober living, sober living fort lauderdale, sober living ft lauderdale, sober living ftlauderdale, South Florida, twelve step program, wholistic approach to recovery
At the Sanctuary House, we are committed to providing a safe, caring and sober environment for men in recovery. We are committed to improving the lives of individuals who are ready to return to independence and to providing them with structure, stability; and the tools and confidence needed to live a life absent of alcohol and drug dependency. It is our goal to create awareness in the community through education and prevention programs and to maintaining the highest level of fiscal responsibility in all areas of service.
History:
The Sanctuary House was founded in 2008 by Jared Cashner, a retired 17-year criminal court reporter and James Sanzeri, who saw the need for a transitional living facility specifically for men, with emphasis on gay men and their unique needs, after the death of his only sibling, at age 15, from drugs. Now, he works to save lives.
The Sanctuary House sits on a sprawling acre of land in the heart of Wilton Manors, one of South Florida’s most heavily populated gay areas. It is made up of three buildings and can currently house 28 individuals. The facilities offer apartment-style living in a serene, tropical landscaped environment. Residents receive weekly random drug testing, nearby case management services, client advocacy, and HIV testing and counseling. Partnered with local hospitals and other non-profit groups, the Sanctuary House provides assistance to men with HIV and other health and mental health issues.
Constantly growing to meet the ever-changing needs of the community, the Sanctuary House now operates an emergency Food Bank, and provides a variety of education and prevention programs as well as support groups. This what we do. Sanctuaryhouse.info
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From the Desk of Jared Cashner, CCR, N.P.
It’s hard to believe that Sanctuary House is coming up on our third year assisting our community and to date, more than 160 men, since opening in December 2008. As the only gay sober living facility in Florida, we’ve worked to improve the lives of those who simply have had enough of drugs and alcohol. This pilot program has re-written the format by which many have taken notice at the innovative approach taken in the logistics of our program. Additionally, Sanctuary House of S. Florida is proud to finally announce the purchase of our fourth building that will be dedicated to our lesbian community, again, attempting to impact another segment of our diverse community. Sanctuary House is much more than a halfway house, but rather home to more than 40 members of the gay community.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: men's sober living, gay sober living, gay halfway house, gay sober house, sober living ft lauderdale, sober living fort lauderdale, Broward, Dade, South Florida, innovative approach, wholistic approach to recovery, addiction as disease, twelve step program, recovery south florida, recovery ft lauderdale, recovery fort lauderdale, recovery miami, relapse prevention fort lauderdale, recovery oakland park, recovery wilton manors, gay recovery, gay relapse prevention, sober, helping others, broward sober living, dade sober living, DRUG REHAB, florida halfway house, fort lauderdale halfway house, fort lauderdale sober living, ft. lauderdale halfway house, gay drug rehab, halfway house florida, halfway house Fort Lauderdale, halfway house ft. lauderdale, halfway house in S Florida, halfway house in south florida, S Florida halfway house, sober living ftlauderdale, halfway house, sober living, gay, florida, recovery, ft lauderdale, wilton manors
HAMMER AND NAILS OF SANCTUARY HOUSE
Tuesday, 23 November 2010 15:33 Written by Tony Adams
Have you ever pawned your wedding rings to pay someone else’s electric bill? Have you ever sold your beloved ’02 Thunderbird to house the homeless? Have you ever exhausted your retirement cash to continue your community service? There are two guys in Wilton Manors who can answer yes to those questions and have pawned their rings twice to keep 116 NW 25th Street afloat. In a town dedicated to dazed relaxation, there is much to admire in Jared Cashner, a retired court stenographer and son of a Kentucky coal miner, and James Sanzeri, a strikingly handsome 21 year old local man wise beyond his age, who have been a couple for two and one half years and are the founders and operators of the two year old Sanctuary House, a transitional residence providing sober and safe living for gay men in recovery.
Sanctuary House, one of the oldest structures in Wilton Manors and recently an abandoned crack house, is now a sprawling and comfortable collection of buildings on an acre of land that is divided into apartments each housing two or three men in shared bedrooms with common kitchens, baths, living space, gardens and a pool. Jared and James, who operate Sanctuary House without any other staff, live on the filled-to-capacity premises and are constantly forced to turn away applicants due to lack of space. (The size of the property would allow for the construction of several additional apartments should funds ever materialize.)
Jared and James are committed to helping gay men who are ready to return to independence and to providing them with structure, stability and the tools and confidence needed to live a life without alcohol and drug dependency. The minimum stay is three months and there are rules.
How and why would a retired stenographer and his very young partner, neither or whom have formal training as counselors or care-givers, establish a vibrant place like Sanctuary House? Jared explains “We had a friend who was down and out but willing to do some work for us. We were hesitant about inviting him to live in our home but rented him an apartment on NW 25th Street. He knew other men who had been through addiction and asked us if we could help them as well. We kept renting more space. That is how it began. Now we are partners with the Wilton Manors police, and with the local community service agencies, and with our residents’ case managers.”
Sanctuary House has rapidly grown by word of mouth among gay men needing assistance, and is such a desirable place to be that some straight men have falsely claimed to be gay trying to gain admission.
Jared and James approached the owners of the building, Steven and Andy Fisk of CitY First Mortgage of Hollywood, who helped them acquire it. Jared is grateful to them for their assistance. “They told us to give them whatever down payment we could manage and to make whatever monthly payments we could manage. They are extremely understanding about our circumstances, and they – and the whole neighborhood – are delighted with the transformation of the property.”
Some additional prying was needed to get these self-effacing men to discuss their personal lives that are the skeleton keys to Sanctuary House.
Jared fell into drug addiction following the hospitalization that led to his early retirement, and eventually was tried before a judge for whom he had once worked. She gave him back his life and he has kept his promise to stay clean. “I grew up in a very poor family. One of eleven kids. My mother was a stern woman and I guess the way I run this place makes me a lot like her. I’m strict about our rules. Mandatory 11PM curfew. No drugs or alcohol or sex on the premises. Random and regular testing. Group meetings. But my mother always put in an extra half acre of garden just to grow food to give away. She made us work that garden and taught us the value of helping those who need it.”
James, who grew up in Sunrise, lost a brother to addiction and has himself been through recovery twice. He met Jared through mutual friends and would not take no for an answer when Jarod repeatedly refused to date him. He soon brought him home to meet the folks.
Sanctuary House is at a critical juncture. James is its constant operations manager and Jared who works an additional job as a package courier is close to exhaustion and not without health problems. They receive no government funds but are in line for a HOPWA (Housing Opportunities For Persons With AIDS) grant if they can make some required improvements to the property. Their small board of directors includes police office Paul Nash who has been generous with his time, sometimes substituting for them as manager. (James and Jared have taken only one vacation, an overnight to a campground.) Attorney George Castrataro is providing pro bono help with the paperwork needed for 501c3 certification. Every piece of furniture, all the cabinetry, tiling and plantings are donations.
A brief tour of Sanctuary House with introductions to a few of its happy and hopeful residents will teach you the deeper meaning of gay pride which goes beyond waving rainbow flags to combat inequality and has more to do with the personal fight against the private demons that can ruin our lives were it not for men like Jared and James, who are not complaining when they say “We are the hammer and nails of this place, but we need some serious help.” In this season of Thanksgiving, please consider Sanctuary House. They won’t mind your visit and five minutes with these men will leave you eager to support their great work.
For more information, www.SanctuaryHouse.info
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: florida, ft lauderdale, gay, gay halfway house, gay men, gay sober living, halfway house, recovery, sober living, South Florida, transitional
Written by A. Sebastian Fortino In November 2010 SFGN interviewed Jared Cashner, a retired court stenographer and his partner of three years James Sanzeri. Two years ago they founded Sanctuary House, a residence providing sober and safe living for gay men in recovery. Initially they did things on their own, selling their own home, and a car to keep the 1957 property located at N.W. 25th St in Wilton Manors.
“Soon after the article ran calls, emails and checks came flooding in,” said Cashner and Sanzeri, who after only three years start and finish each other’s sentences. “An older lady from Ocala who didn’t know much about gay people but knows when people are doing the right thing even sent us a check.”
Other donations – such as a check for $500 from the South Florida Bears – were welcome surprises for which the couple is very grateful. This is a far cry from when they pawned their wedding rings to pay bills.
The property was a den of iniquity before a sanctuary. Cashner shared stories of finding crack pipes and other paraphernalia buried under rubbish on the grounds of the complex, which consists of three buildings and seven apartments. The facility, the only one of its kind in Florida, currently accommodates 22 men. Yet, there is more to come.
“A private financer recently sent out an architect,” said Sanzeri. “The city of Wilton Manors recently redid the swells, and pavements.” The couple is very modest about the great scope of work they have done, although do admit it’s “very nice to be recognized for our hard work.”
They are not, however, completely alone in their mission to rebuild fractured lives. There are five people on the Board of Directors, including a former resident. In terms of administration Sanctuary House has one full-time employee and one retired volunteer who works in the office.
Furthermore, AIDS Healthcare Foundation established a relationship with Cashner and Sanzieri. Through their contract they are able to hire seniors on a fixed income to act as couriers and bring medication to shut-ins with HIV/AIDS.
“Not only are we able to help the shut-ins and the retirees but 35 percent of the funds allotted to the couriers goes back to Sanctuary House,” Cashner added.
Touring the facility there is a beautiful pool, original to the house, restored through local assistance. The garage –as well as a winnebago – were filled to capacity with wares to sell at one of three flea markets they host annually. What is not sold they redistribute to Out of the Closet and the Poverello Center.
There are fruit trees on the property, also original to the house. A path between the pool and main house, where Cashner and Sanzieri have their apartment, is flanked by tall palm trees while prized ponytail palms stand in front of the house. Cashner has been told the trees are quite valuable. The palms, for instance due to their age and height, could fetch $10,000, yet he will not sell them.
“This place is a sanctuary,” said Cashner. “They add grace and charm to the property – so I won’t sell them.”
At the close of the interview with Cashner and Sanzieri one of their cell phones rang. While it was a beautiful Friday, close to five in the afternoon, their work was not done. They have an arrangement with the Parole Board of Broward County to transfer men directly from the courthouse to Sanctuary House.
“We’ve got two more coming in,” said Sanzieri to Cashner. “We’ll send someone out there to pick them up right away.”
Visit SanctuaryHouse.info to make a donation or learn more.
Filed under: Uncategorized
It simply warms my soul to see a client do thie rightvthing and be rewarded by the court for his efforts. After advocating for my client in the Circuit Court in our county, my client prevailed simply by abiding by the court’s order and following thee rules of Sanctuary House of S. Florida, a facility dedicated to the safe recovery of gay men in recovery from drugs and alcohol.
Jared c cashier, ccr, n.p.
A non-profit organization
Filed under: DRUG REHAB, florida halfway house, fort lauderdale halfway house, ft. lauderdale halfway house, gay halfway house, gay sober living, sober living fort lauderdale, sober living ft lauderdale, sober living south florida, Uncategorized | Tags: broward sober living, dade sober living, DRUG REHAB, florida halfway house, fort lauderdale halfway house, fort lauderdale sober living, ft. lauderdale halfway house, gay drug rehab, gay halfway house, gay sober living, halfway house florida, halfway house Fort Lauderdale, halfway house ft. lauderdale, halfway house in S Florida, halfway house in south florida, helping others, S Florida halfway house, sober living fort lauderdale, sober living ft lauderdale, sober living ftlauderdale, sober living south florida, south florida halfway house, south florida sober living
The Hammer And Nails Of Sanctuary House
Tuesday, 23 November 2010 15:33 Written by Tony Adams
Have you ever pawned your wedding rings to pay someone else’s electric bill? Have you ever sold your beloved ’02 Thunderbird to house the homeless? Have you ever exhausted your retirement cash to continue your community service? There are two guys in Wilton Manors who can answer yes to those questions and have pawned their rings twice to keep 116 NW 25th Street afloat. In a town dedicated to dazed relaxation, there is much to admire in Jared Cashner, a retired court stenographer and son of a Kentucky coal miner, and James Sanzeri, a strikingly handsome 21 year old local man wise beyond his age, who have been a couple for two and one half years and are the founders and operators of the two year old Sanctuary House, a transitional residence providing sober and safe living for gay men in recovery.
Sanctuary House, one of the oldest structures in Wilton Manors and recently an abandoned crack house, is now a sprawling and comfortable collection of buildings on an acre of land that is divided into apartments each housing two or three men in shared bedrooms with common kitchens, baths, living space, gardens and a pool. Jared and James, who operate Sanctuary House without any other staff, live on the filled-to-capacity premises and are constantly forced to turn away applicants due to lack of space. (The size of the property would allow for the construction of several additional apartments should funds ever materialize.)
Jared and James are committed to helping gay men who are ready to return to independence and to providing them with structure, stability and the tools and confidence needed to live a life without alcohol and drug dependency. The minimum stay is three months and there are rules.
How and why would a retired stenographer and his very young partner, neither or whom have formal training as counselors or care-givers, establish a vibrant place like Sanctuary House? Jared explains “We had a friend who was down and out but willing to do some work for us. We were hesitant about inviting him to live in our home but rented him an apartment on NW 25th Street. He knew other men who had been through addiction and asked us if we could help them as well. We kept renting more space. That is how it began. Now we are partners with the Wilton Manors police, and with the local community service agencies, and with our residents’ case managers.”
Sanctuary House has rapidly grown by word of mouth among gay men needing assistance, and is such a desirable place to be that some straight men have falsely claimed to be gay trying to gain admission.
Jared and James approached the owners of the building, Steven and Andy Fisk of CitiFirst Mortgage of Hollywood, who helped them acquire it. Jared is grateful to them for their assistance. “They told us to give them whatever down payment we could manage and to make whatever monthly payments we could manage. They are extremely understanding about our circumstances, and they – and the whole neighborhood – are delighted with the transformation of the property.”
Some additional prying was needed to get these self-effacing men to discuss their personal lives that are the skeleton keys to Sanctuary House.
Jared fell into drug addiction following the hospitalization that led to his early retirement, and eventually was tried before a judge for whom he had once worked. She gave him back his life and he has kept his promise to stay clean. “I grew up in a very poor family. One of eleven kids. My mother was a stern woman and I guess the way I run this place makes me a lot like her. I’m strict about our rules. Mandatory 11PM curfew. No drugs or alcohol or sex on the premises. Random and regular testing. Group meetings. But my mother always put in an extra half acre of garden just to grow food to give away. She made us work that garden and taught us the value of helping those who need it.”
James, who grew up in Sunrise, lost a brother to addiction and has himself been through recovery twice. He met Jared through mutual friends and would not take no for an answer when Jarod repeatedly refused to date him. He soon brought him home to meet the folks.
Sanctuary House is at a critical juncture. James is its constant operations manager and Jared who works an additional job as a package courier is close to exhaustion and not without health problems. They receive no government funds but are in line for a HOPWA (Housing Opportunities For Persons With AIDS) grant if they can make some required improvements to the property. Their small board of directors includes police office Paul Nash who has been generous with his time, sometimes substituting for them as manager. (James and Jared have taken only one vacation, an overnight to a campground.) Attorney George Castrataro is providing pro bono help with the paperwork needed for 501c3 certification. Every piece of furniture, all the cabinetry, tiling and plantings are donations.
A brief tour of Sanctuary House with introductions to a few of its happy and hopeful residents will teach you the deeper meaning of gay pride which goes beyond waving rainbow flags to combat inequality and has more to do with the personal fight against the private demons that can ruin our lives were it not for men like Jared and James, who are not complaining when they say “We are the hammer and nails of this place, but we need some serious help.” In this season of Thanksgiving, please consider Sanctuary House. They won’t mind your visit and five minutes with these men will leave you eager to support their great work.
For more information, www.SanctuaryHouse.info
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Sanctuary House of S. Florida is the leader in South Florida for gay men in recovery. Transitional living is an important part of the recovery process.
At Sanctuary House, we strive to produce a safe, sober, peaceful place for gay men in recovery. It is important to locate and discuss your options with respect to choosing a place with an active program in the 12-step program, as well as resources in the local community
Drug Addiction Statistics
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Studies show an estimated 20 million people are addicted to drugs and alcohol.
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Approximately 135,000 people die each year as a consequence of drugs and alcohol.
Sanctuary House of S. Florida, Inc.
A Non-profit halfway house for men in recovery
116 Northwest 25 Street
Wilton Manors, FL 33311 (Part of Ft. Lauderdale)
954-882-8363
Jared C. Cashner, CCR, N.P.
Executive Director
Filed under: broward sober living, dade sober living, DRUG REHAB, Florida drug rehab, florida halfway house, fort lauderdale halfway house, fort lauderdale sober living, ft. lauderdale halfway house, gay drug rehab, gay halfway house, gay sober living, halfway house florida, halfway house Fort Lauderdale, halfway house ft. lauderdale, halfway house in S Florida, halfway house in south florida, S Florida halfway house, sober livin miami, sober living fort lauderdale, sober living ft lauderdale, sober living ftlauderdale, sober living south florida, south florida halfway house, south florida sober living
In all the world, the “hump”, or the period where staying sober sinks in, is a line that for most, moves with the situation. Think of it this way, it’s like a cake mix. If you leave out even one ingredient, the cake, like sobriety will fall.
Jared’s Recipe for sobriety
One pound of determination
2 cups of honesty
and a big handful of willingness to live a different life.
It’s been my experience in the halfway house industry, here at Sanctuary House of S. Florida, that many people are under the impression that two out of three “ain’t” bad. WRONG, if items in your life are standing in the way of waking each day with the same determination that keeps us all functioning sober, then they must first be addressed.
Filed under: Uncategorized
As director of Sanctuary House of S. Florida, I u seeing trends in several categories of clients, i.e., age, drug of choice, work history, and upbringing.
First, let me start by saying that it is my opinion that the age groups of 18-40 have the toughest time in establishing and maintaining sobriety, while battling addiction. This particular age group seems to have the compounded obstacles of peer pressure, an over exaggerated need to fit in, and coupled with the sex drive attributed to the period of life that defines “young people”. In counseling young clients, it has been my experience that an inordinate amount of time is spent discussing issues of “fitting in”.
While obtaining the feeling of being a part of the whole, reminding this age group often includes reassurance in the areas of self-discipline, examining consequences for actions, especially involving others; and the need to give more consideration when electing to date or having casual sexual partners. A great deal of emphasis in placed on friendships/socializing with individuals actively engaged in drinking and the use of drugs. The need to conform more with a recovery program, over the need to be “sociable”, and making efforts to “stay busy” with a schedule, that also helps with the “sobriety killer”, isolation;
Jared C. Cashner, CCR, N.P.
Sanctuary House of S. Florida, Inc.
A Non-Profit Organization
Wilton Manors, FL 33311
Filed under: Uncategorized
More often than not, here at Sanctuary House, we’ve noticed trends in the recovery process. Among others, there is often a need for addicts to rationalize inappropriate behavior in the areas of conformity and responsibility. The first 30 days in a halfway house is the time-frame where making excuses on how funds should be spent begins and reasoning go out the window. This is enhanced when that Social Security check arrives and all good sense gives way to a cycle that puts the addict squarely back to ground zero. Rather than meet their obligations to their own shelter cost, food, and rehabilitative services, they often find themselves, with a fist full of cash, in areas that are dangerous, with safety being a minimal concern. It has been my experience, working with addicts, that there is a false sense of security, as believing that with a monthly funding source, that doing the right thing is only appropriate when it is convenient to the moment. Afterwards, the addict is often without financial resources within the first 3 to 5 days, leaving them little option but to re-check back into a local hospital, detox facility, or rehab center, costing the Americal tax payer millions in revenues that could otherwise be used in funding healthcare and preventative measures. Local law enforcement is often pushed to the limit during this same time period, with calls for help from local residents caught in the “high risk” areas.
In the gay community, methamphetamine use is soaring, along with crack cocaine use, and alcohol.
Social Security should enact a mandate of recipient payess to individuals struggling with this issue and help, through example of how funds should be used, until such time as the recovering addict can reasonably manage the obligations that come with being a Social Security Disability Benefit recipient. I do believe that addiction is a medical issue and if the “trigger” of addiction is better handled, the process of recovery would be an easier transition back to social understanding, responsibility to one’s self, and alleviating the need to pad the pockets of recovery institutions that are quick to accept the addict back, when often, the addict is used to treating the “hospital” as a hotel.
Sanctuary House of S. Florida, Inc.
Jared C. Cashner, CCR, N.P.
Executive Director
