Fundraiser Saturday For Dodge County Sober Living House

7/21/17 – A fundraiser is being held Saturday for the Beaver Dam area’s only sober living house. Bridges of Dodge County serves men with substance abuse issues ranging from alcohol to heroin. The facility opened its doors in December of 2015 and currently has three clients and one interim house manager. Bridges founding member Carol Roddy, who has been an AODA counselor for over 20 years, says the facility is an attempt to offer a modest solution to a problem that seems to be getting worse and worse. She says they started a men’s sober living house because more men are dying of heroin than women and because county and state officials are overwhelmed by the problem. Founder and Board President Cindy Hartt, who lost a child to drugs, says clients need to be clean and sober for 30 days before they can be admitted and they have one month to get a job. There is a $250 admission fee and $125 per week resident fee, that can be paid after a job is secured. Roddy says the resident fee is not called rent because a renter would not be kicked out for breaking the rules. A background check of each potential client in conducted and registered sex offenders are prohibited from joining in the program. Participants also have to sign onto house rules, find a church, attend Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous meetings and meet specific annual benchmarks. A signed contract allows clients to stay for six months with the possibility of additional months, if needed. The Bridges fundraiser will be held tomorrow at Beaver Dam’s Chapel of the Archangels on Madison Street with the doors opening at 6pm and music by Elwood and the Eccentrics beginning at 7pm. The theme is the “50th Anniversary of the Summer of Love” and prizes will be awarded for the best-dressed hippie. There will also be snacks, beverages and raffles. The goal for Bridges of Dodge County is to one day open a sober living house for women.