SEAFORD, Del.- Hitting milestones while helping people. Square One DE. Inc. has been helping people on their sober journeys since 2016. This year marks five years of the organization who help men who struggle with addiction. Five years and hundreds of people helped later Square One DE. Inc is celebrating this milestone but it did not come easy, and for the people who stay in these houses, it's more than just that.
David Baugh, Co-Founder Square One DE. Inc. said, "We need to do something more." David Baugh, the Co-Founder of Square One DE. Inc has been sober since 2013, when he struggled with an opiate addiction. There are four houses for sober living have been opened since then all named after people who fought battles with addiction. Baugh says seeing people succeeded on their journeys is well worth it. He said, "The success stories the people who have regained their families, people that are now employed full-time that have moved on, people that have stayed in Square One for a number of years and that are thriving, those are the stories that make it all worth it and we know we're doing the right thing." So far in 2021 there have been 181 overdose deaths. Square One says it is here to help those struggling. Cris Blackwell, Manager, "Rob's House" said, "Square One was where I first got clean I would say." Cris Blackwell has been with Square One for nearly three years, and says looking back if he could say something to his old self, he would have a different perspective. Blackwell said, "Hey man you came a long way, I wouldn't be honest with you, I wouldn't believe today where I'm at now back in my past I don't think I would have made it." Over the last year 62 residents have come and gone, and now there are 28 people still in the four homes going through recovery. Nearing the end of the state of emergency, Square One says COVID was one of the biggest challenges it has faced so far.
Patrick Hunt, Director of Operations said, "It was a difficult time but we came out the other side and now that things are really opening up again it's really nice to see our house members communing with each other again and getting together at different houses that's one of the biggest benefits of having gotten through out."
Of those who have gone through Square One, 68 percent are employed, 25 percent are retired or get a pension, and the rest are actively looking for jobs. The state of Delaware has resources for those struggling with addiction that can be found
here.