As Jim O’Connor continues his quest for funding to transform his Crete horse ranch and harness racing training facility into a live-in addiction recovery center, he’s begun welcoming people from nearby recovery communities in need of short-term work.
“One of the reasons we bought a farm, and a farm this size, is it never runs out of work,” O’Connor said.
O’Connor launched the First Furrow Fund in February, working with the Recovery Community Center of Joliet to provide part-time employment on the ranch.
He is on the Recovery Community Center’s board and aims to help people leaving 28-day residential substance use disorder treatment facilities work toward financial independence. He said while the organization provides resources to help ease the transition from inpatient facility to recovery housing, rebuilding remains difficult for people recovering from substance use disorder.
“It’s a godsend and a lifeline to be in a sober living community and connected with peer support,” O’Connor said. “But the truth is, they’re coming out with no money, no bank account, no cellphone.”
Many of those things were true for Bret Johnson, who worked on the ranch Tuesday on a break from classes at Joliet Junior College.
More Top Picks Innway Card Find My
“I”m living off the Link and the (food) pantry two times a week, and I use a bus pass and I get Uber cards from school to help me in case I really need a ride,” Johnson said. “I have lived off the last few weeks — five dollars. And I saved the five dollars for two weeks until I really wanted, I think I wanted a pop or something like that.”
Johnson said he’s been unsuccessful in efforts to find a part-time job, which include walking from restaurant to restaurant and asking if they need a bus person or dishwasher.
He said after being rejected from a temporary staffing agency, he started panicking.
“It’s the fact that I’ve got a record and I’m an addict,” he said. “At least in my mind, I have to hide that, because they’re going to judge me.”
O’Connor pays workers $100 for six or seven hours of work and provides them with free transportation and lunch. The opportunity felt like a no-brainer for both Johnson and Margaret Vanmatre, not only for the money, but also the peace that comes with being outdoors and away from distractions.
“Being out here, you can think,” Vanmatre said. “You clear your mind.”
While dirt clung to their clothes and shoes by late morning, both smiled as they spoke about the ranch. Vanmatre said she didn’t exactly know what she was getting herself into, having been given work boots after showing up in tennis shoes.
“I came in here, put my makeup on, which I didn’t need to do,” she joked. “No makeup needed, the fence post was not impressed.”
After fixing fences and clearing brush, the workers said O’Connor explained his vision for a recovery center that provides on-site housing with no set departure date, allowing people to stay as long as they need to before finding a job and gaining stability.
“To have everybody in the program working on the same goal — and it’s not just work, it’s about a peace of mind and having a life again,” Johnson said.
Both said they would have jumped at such an opportunity and were excited to return for more ranch work later in the week.
“It’s hard work, but it’s worth it,” Vanmatre said. “Anything in life is hard, but it’s always worth it in the end. You will succeed as long as you’re willing to work hard for it.”
Meanwhile, O’Connor continues raising money to make his goal a reality, hoping to receive state funding soon to begin construction this summer. Buildings still needed on the ranch include residential housing for the up to 30 men who will be able to live at the recovery center at a given time, a 7,000-square-foot communal lodge and a pair of single-family homes for leadership.
The project has secured $500,000 in private donations and a $250,000 grant from the Will County Opioid Program, while about $4.25 million more is needed to get the program up-and-running.
“The number of people that have seen this program and seen our model — there is unanimous consensus,” O’Connor said. “It’s an amazing program for homelessness, for substance use recovery and for people who join the workforce.”
While public funding is pending, O’Connor continues seeking private donations as well. Individuals can donate to the project’s GoFundMe, which can be found at www.gofundme.com by searching for Second Story Foundation charity. There is also a fundraising barbecue and bluegrass event from 4:30-6 p.m. on June 6 at the ranch, 2400 Bemes Road, Crete.