Following Grant Announcement, Rotary Set to Develop Recovery Housing Assistance Program.

In January, the Rotary Against Human Trafficking Foundation was awarded over $60,000 through the Kansas Fights Addiction grant program. The Foundation, administered through the Rotary Club of Community Action Against Human Trafficking (CAAHT), will use the funds to expand an existing Rotary initiative within the Shawnee County Adult Detention Center called Intersection to Care (ITC). 

The KFA grant will enable Rotary to expand its housing assistance program, providing critical support to women who have experienced substance misuse and are participating in recovery programs within the jail system. 

“This funding will allow Rotary to not only strengthen the resources available to these women but also to extend the program to include male participants. By offering stable housing options, the initiative aims to reduce the risk of relapse, improve recovery outcomes, and help individuals transition back into society with greater stability and support,” explained Patti Mellard, founder and current Treasurer of CAAHT. The expansion of this program demonstrates Rotary’s commitment to addressing the unique challenges faced by both women and men leaving incarceration, providing them with the tools they need to rebuild their lives.

Proving safe, sober housing for justice involved individuals is part of the CAAHT Rotary Club’s goal to reduce an individual’s risk of being exploited and trafficked. “Our experience has been that when the individual does not have a safe, sober place to live when released, they choose the trafficker waiting in the parking lot. We need to break that cycle and give them another choice by providing sober living assistance,” said Mellard. 

The Rotary Club of Community Action Against Human Trafficking is a community of Rotary members committed to ending human trafficking, supporting those experiencing trafficking, and providing opportunities for members to learn more and take action. Intersection to Care, a program of CAAHT, attempts to disrupt the desperate life circumstances that can lead to involvement in trafficking for those discharging from incarceration. For more information, visit https://rccaaht.org/.