ALLENTOWN, Pa.— Change on Hamilton, a resource center for people in any stage of drug or alcohol addiction, has opened a new, bigger space at 927 Hamilton St. in Allentown.
In a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, community leaders, politicians, and those who have benefited from the center shared their gratitude and hope for the new center.
The District Attorney for Lehigh County, Gavin Holihan even showed up — and officials at the center said they were grateful for his support and even invited him, which might seem counterintuitive since he is in the business of prosecuting people who use drugs. But Molly Stanton, assistant administrator at Lehigh County Drug and Alcohol, said this is a normal symptom of the nature of their partnership.
"It's been a really good thing to have a district attorney's office that supports our mission and is part of the solution to substance use, rather than just depending on arresting their way out of the problem,"Molly Stanton
"It's been a really good thing to have a district attorney's office that supports our mission and is part of the solution to substance use, rather than just depending on arresting their way out of the problem," Stanton said.
Stanton, in her capacity with Lehigh County Drug and Alcohol which funds Change on Hamilton, played a large role in setting up the new center.
Change on Hamilton, which is not an addiction recovery center but instead more of a resource center, offers harm reduction services like Naloxone kits and Fentanyl testing strips. Other aspects of their services include sober social nights, securing business clothes for people who have just recovered or been released from prison, and providing career coaching and job application assistance.
In their new space upstairs, they have a computer lab where clients can get real-time resume coaching and do professional development programs.
They also employ case workers and social services staff, who check in on clients throughout their recovery journeys. The new bigger space does not come with a major change in programming, but just more space to do their meaningful work, and more comprehensive versions of those programs.
Eva
At the end of the speeches at Friday's ribbon-cutting event, one clearly evoked the biggest reaction in the room, moving some people to the point of tears. That belonged to Eva Norris.
Twelve years ago, Norris was addicted to drugs, and made a living as a sex worker in Kensington, PA.
"This center has been life changing for me. Every time I come in here, I get breathed into. I thank you for all the work you guys do and the things that you pour into me. And I, I come here every week and I tell you, it's like fresh air being breathing to me again, and I am so happy."Eva Norris
"I was an alley cat," she said. "I prowled. I prowled the streets looking for one more hit."
It was a dangerous life. She was living and working right in the neighborhood where the serial killer known as the Kensington Stranglerwas operating. He was eventually convicted of killing three women, all with a history of substance use, and one a sex worker. Norris said one of the victims was found literally in the backyard of her home, and after the police tape cleared away, the space behind her home was lit by candles in a makeshift memorial.
After an eight-year stint of sobriety, Norris was starting to build her life back together in early 2020 and moved to Allentown. She had an apartment, a job, and a new puppy.
Then, the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
She got sick with the virus, felt isolated, had just left an abusive living situation, and had $5,000 in savings. So, she started using again.
After falling back into active addiction, things fell apart for her. But almost by chance, she found Change on Hamilton. "I didn't know what the hell it was at first," she said with a laugh. "Somebody on the bus just handed me a pamphlet, and I said 'hmm I'm gonna check that out.'"
On Friday, fully sober and meaningfully employed, she delivered a powerful speech at the center's grand re-opening.
"I was in desperation," she said to a room full of people, some were politicians, some were clients in active recovery.
"What I discovered is this wasn't done to me, It was done for me. I get to do things that normal people don't get to do. I get to rediscover my life. I get to undo things and I get to redo some things. I get to level up on some things, and I get to take some things down a notch. I get to get to know me."
"This center has been life changing for me. Every time I come in here, I get breathed into. I thank you for all the work you guys do and the things that you pour into me. And I, I come here every week and I tell you, it's like fresh air being breathing to me again, and I am so happy."
Norris has been so inspired by the help she's gotten at the center that she plans to enter a field of study that would enable her to work helping those in recovery, and maybe eventually open her own recovery center.
"I show no scars," Norris, now 60 said. "What I discovered is this wasn't done to me, It was done for me. I get to do things that normal people don't get to do. I get to rediscover my life. I get to undo things and I get to redo some things. I get to level up on some things, and I get to take some things down a notch. I get to get to know me."
After her speech, there was a lineup of people who wanted to speak with her and give her a hug.
Keith
Keith Smith, Director of Change on Hamilton and Center Staff, was the emcee for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
He spoke with conviction and passion for the purpose of the center, and spoke from experience — in the new year, he will be 22 years sober.
"It's been an uphill journey. I wouldn't trade not one day of it,"Kevin Smith
"It's been an uphill journey. I wouldn't trade not one day of it," Smith said.
"My passion comes from being able to identify with people come here every day, desperate, broken, you know what I mean, and they're lost. And I remember. Even though it's been a long time, I remember what that feels like."
Smith said helping others get sober is his mission in life, and he finds it extremely fulfilling. Specifically, he said, what he finds fulfilling is being able to return people their sense of dignity.
"People in their addiction, they lose dignity. They lose dignity.
"The desperation of addiction can put an individual in a position where they're operating from desperation, and they're subject to undignified behaviors and experiences and so, you know, being able to come in here broken and lost and confused and be treated with dignity and respect, to come in and need clothes and have the clothes picked out and outfits put together for them, folded nice and neatly clean and presented to them with dignity and respect. It means a lot," Davis continued.
"It means a lot, and that's what we do."
More information about Change on Hamilton and their mission is available on their website.
