Pictured from left: THDA board of directors Chairman Brian Bills; CADAS Director of Transitional Housing David Brown, CADAS Regional Housing Facilitator Susan Greene, CADAS Executive Director Paul Fuchcar, and THDA Executive Director Ralph M. Perrey
A sober-living facility being built by the Council for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services was the focus of a Tennessee’s Best award Chattanooga-based nonprofit received last week during the 2016 Governor’s Housing Conference in Nashville.
CADAS earned the Tennessee’s Best award from the Tennessee Housing Development Agency
in the Housing Plus category. The Tennessee’s Best awards honor outstanding individuals and
organizations whose contributions on behalf of affordable housing, whether producing,
designing, developing, financing or promoting housing policy, inspires others to serve
Tennesseans’ housing needs.
CADAS Executive Director Paul Fuchcar said award shows the importance a stable and structured housing environment can for those working through recovery.
“We are extremely pleased to be recognized by the Tennessee Housing Development Agency,”
Mr. Fuchcar said. “The sober living facility will help those living there redefine how they view their
personal recovery and assist them in regaining their lives.
THDA Director Ralph M. Perrey praised the deal for improving the quality of life for hundreds of families and individuals across Tennessee.
“We realize the important role housing plays in helping those struggling with addiction and
commend CADAS for making it a central part of its efforts to help those who need it,” Mr. Perrey
said.
"CADAS embarked on its most ambitious project to date in 2015 when it received funding and
broke ground on a new sober-living facility in Chattanooga’s Northshore community. The 24-
unit Sober Living Residence was built with the help of a THDA Housing Trust Fund grant and
allowed CADAS to expand its residential treatment offerings for patients," officials said.
According to CADAS, the Sober Living Residence enables those struggling with addiction to
heal in a more controlled and long-term environment. While they offer highly-successful short-term recovery programs, CADAS officials say some cases require more stability, structure and
long-term work in order for the person to stay clean amidst the challenges of daily life.
The development is the largest construction project CADAS has taken on since it was founded in
1964 with the mission of helping those in the community afflicted with the disease of addiction, officials said.
CADAS was one of six 2016 Tennessee’s Best awards winners from throughout the state
announced at the 2016 Governor’s Housing Conference.
The 2016 Conference was held Oct. 12-13 at the Music City Center in Nashville with a goal to
"encourage sharing of best practices."
Tennessee’s Best awards are considered among several categories: Best in Innovation, Program; Best in Innovation, Finance; Remarkable Achievement, Rural; Remarkable Achievement, Urban; and Excellence in Partnership and Housing Plus. Awards are not made in every category every year.
A full list of winners, as well as award summaries, can be found at THDA.org.