If you didn’t know any better, you’d drive by Kinser Flats and assume it was another fancy complex housing Bloomington locals. When in reality, this beautifully renovated building is home to many in Bloomington’s homeless community who suffer from substance abuse and addiction.
The project was initiated by the Centerstone rehabilitation clinic in an attempt to continue the progress seen by the ‘housing first’ process of treating homeless addiction. Buildings like Kinser Flats are nothing new, but what separates it from other communal housing for the homeless is that each resident must suffer from a substance abuse disorder in order to live in the building.
Most communal housing for the homeless consists of individuals suffering from some sort of mental illness but by partnering with Centerstone, for the first time Kinser Flats became a safe place for those specifically dealing with addiction.
Jennifer Fillmore has worked in the field of substance abuse and rehabilitation for 28 years and finds it to be the most rewarding line of work possible.
Jennifer Fillmore is the Director of Substance Use, Recreational and Specialized services at Centerstone and has been with the company for over 10 years.
Fillmore is familiar with all different kinds of substance abuse and what can cause the addiction but most importantly she’s familiar with how specialized treatment can help each individual.
With providing housing first, homeless individuals are kept in a safe and supportive environment where seeking treatment is much more realistic then continuing to live on the street.
In addition to having a roof over their heads, homeless individuals have their basic needs taken care of at Kinser Flats and that goes a long way in building trust throughout the community.
Holly Farabaugh is a Centerstone staff member and Residential Coordinator of Kinser Flats.
As the residential coordinator, Farabaugh is on site everyday to check on Kinser Flats and its residents. She also meets with any individuals looking to live at Kinser Flats after their application has been reviewed.
In her time at Kinser Flats, Farabaugh has emphasized building a sense of community within the building and that is extremely evident when walking through the halls. She knows everyone by name and is constantly checking in to see how her residents are doing.
It’s that kind of encouraging and friendly environment that can help Kinser Flats residents to seek help and become a part of Centerstone as a client.
It’s people like Jennifer and Holly that are helping these individuals to have a chance to better themselves while staying safe and off the streets.
