Sober-living facility set to open on north side by holidays

Driftless Recovery is a voluntary
program, housing up to 15 men

A sober-living facility should be open on the north side of La Crosse by the holidays.

That’s the prediction from Driftless Recovery’s CEO Austin Reinhart, appearing on a recent WisEye program highlighting the facility and some of the addiction problems plaguing the area.

And they’re pretty significant problems, says Driftless president Brett Knutson, especially among young people.

“My work in the schools and my work with the families of some of the young people,” Knutson said, “there’s still some of this parental disbelief of, ‘There’s no way my kid could be doing this.’

“First thing they need to know, is to really respect and understand that it is here and is a major problem. One of the biggest things that I see is a ‘not in my backyard’ kind of attitude.”

The facility is meant to help deal with the significant addiction issues in the area. 

The Driftless Recovery voluntary sober facility on the north side will be in the former St. Clara mission on Caledonia St. It will house about 15 men and a one house manager.