Women and Addiction
A local restaurateur opens a shelter for women battling addiction.
Shattered.
A local restaurant owner is doing her part to help those who are struggling with addiction.
News 12's joeli poole has the details on why she decided to give back.
Poole "a well-known chattanooga restaurateur has launched a new nonprofit organization to help women struggling with addiction.
Owner of the big chill & grill and scottie's on the river, scottie bowman, has opened a home for women who are recovering from alcohol and drug addiction" scottie bowman "this is where the rubber meets the road.
It's tough.
If it were easy ,everybody would do it."
Bowman, who suffered from a substance abuse problem for 25 years, hopes that her non- profit organization, launch pad, will help women beat their addictions and remain drug free like she has for the past 19 years.
Bowman "these women are really stripped bare and are starting from the ground up.
Alcoholism and drug addiction has really taken everything from them including & most importantly their dignity.
We tried to build a house that's inviting, homey, and feels good."
Launch pad provides a full- time home for 8 women and a resident manager as they work to overcome addiction and rebuild their lives.
The program provides structure, accountability and recovery from substance abuse in a positive welcoming environment.
Bowman "this is the opportunity to get clean, build new family relationships, learn how to become a better mother because honestly when they come here we don't even know that.
Most of us can't even manage a checkbook when we get here.
We don't have any interviewing skills.
We need to teach them how to hold down a job, go to meetings, family connections and become members of society."
Bowman has high hopes for the future of launchpad and hopes to expand within the next few years.
Bowman "currently we are trying to put together a strategic plan and create a capital campaign so that we can build four more homes for women.
We have already precured all the property nearby.
We want to do this entire block as a community of recovering women."
Poole "the launchpad program requires that you be 30 days sober and committed to the program for at least a year.
For more information go to our website wdef dot com.
In chattanooga.
Joeli poole news 12 now."
Chattanooga will play
A local restaurateur opens a shelter for women battling addiction.