Drug addiction recovery center breaks city ordinances

One of the community's most brightly colored buildings also represents a bright future for Detroiters struggling against addiction.

Located at 400 Cortland, the Bray Recovery Home for Men overlooks the John C. Lodge Freeway traffic as passing drivers catch sun-like rays of words that include "God," "Hope," "Honesty" and "Patience." But as September - National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month - nears its end, staff and residents at Bray find another word in the midst of their efforts: violation.

The Highland Park City Council says that Bray's "Recovery Starts Here" slogan and inspiring outer decor of the renovated home breaks city ordinances.

"The Wayne County Land Bank donated the house to us. All of the wiring, plumbing and siding were stolen," recalls Andre Johnson, president and CEO of the Detroit Recovery Project. "There were holes in the walls. Squatters lived there. In November 2008, we started the renovations by holding fundraisers and raising cash, a little at a time. We invested $25,000 into the house, paid over $1,800 in city taxes and covered an outstanding water bill of more than $700."

While Johnson says he didn't know that a permit was necessary to paint a mural on the Bray Recovery Home, he hopes to gain Highland Park's support for maintaining the building's exterior. The serene green and blue paint on the house is a splash of light in a block of abandoned, deteriorating structures. The home is named in honor of the late Allen Bray, former CEO of the renowned Shar House recovery program who was also a recovering addict. Currently, the Bray Recovery home has two men living there who completed a rigorous treatment program and screening process that determined that they were serious about recovery. Both hold jobs. It is not a halfway house. It is simply a safe environment for men who are trying diligently to recover. This is just one of the services that the Detroit Recovery Project provides.

In honor of National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, another one of the Detroit Recovery Project's initiatives is called "Recovery Stories." It is an exciting and positive exhibit that opened this month in the lobby of Compuware in downtown Detroit. The exhibit showcases the real recovery success stories of people right here in the community. It was created to help the community see that recovery is possible and to celebrate those who have turned from addiction.

"We want to do good things in the neighborhood, not cause problems with City Council," Johnson says. "At the same time, we want the kind of help from leaders that will let us move forward, not backward. A lot of people don't believe in recovery. They only see the ugly side. Recovery doesn't always have to have an ugly face."