OCEAN CITY – One local resident has a vision to create Worcester County’s first recovery house in West Ocean City, but plans are currently on hold pending the approval of specific zoning permits.
Zach Klina said there is no guarantee that he can secure the licensing or the down payment, but he is making it his personal mission to serve the county’s residents who are struggling with addiction.
“It all started because, quite frankly, there aren’t any houses in all of Worcester County, and it’s definitely an epidemic,” he said. “If you are looking at the percentages, heroin addiction has increased dramatically, especially in younger kids. I recently had a friend living on my couch who didn’t have a place to go around here. He eventually had to go all the way to Wilmington to find help.”
Currently, Klina is looking to purchase a three-bedroom, two-bath house in the residential area of Center Drive, chosen for its close proximity to transportation, job opportunities and various addiction support meetings.
The house, labeled New Beginnings, will shelter up to seven individuals, including Klina, if approval is granted.
“I’ve been looking through Realtor companies,” he said. “It needs a lot of work. So right now I need to raise the funds.”
In addition to personal funds, Klina is seeking financial support through his GoFundMe account, which has a monetary goal of $10,000.
“I really need the help of the community,” he said. “It seems like this issue is being put aside, and it is unbearable.”
As of Wednesday afternoon, the fundraising page had garnished more than 1,500 views and $320 in donations.
The house would act as a self-sustaining residence. Money raised from the GoFundMe page will go toward the down payment and rent collected from the tenants will go toward the mortgage, utilities, insurance, maintenance and potentially four weekly dinners.
The rent will be based on the mortgage, but Klina said recovery houses usually charge $125 to $150 a week.
Those living in the house will have to abide by set rules: doing chores, paying rent, attending meetings, finding sponsors and maintaining sobriety.
Klina said these rules are not meant to restrict the individual, but to provide structure, support and responsibility.
“They will also have the support of each other,” he said. “Addicts need that.”
In moving forward with his plan, Klina took advice from Worcester County Zoning Administrator Jennifer Keener and has submitted a business proposal to the zoning division.
“At this point, I do not know what approvals he would need until he submits the plan for review,” Keener said.
Kline planned to meet with the zoning department Thursday afternoon to discuss his plans.
If they do not approve, or if he cannot raise the required funds, Klina said the donations will either be returned or donated to the Worcester County Warriors Against Opiate Addition, whichever the donors prefer.
“I met with [the Warriors], and they gave me resources to use,” Klina said. “I just think what they are doing is huge for this community.”
Klina has no specific deadline for purchasing the recovery house, but said he will look into other properties if it sells before funds are raised.
“Nothing is concrete,” he said. “It is just a vision I am working on. I just want to put it out there that someone is thinking about it.”
For more information, visit https://www.gofundme.com/newbeginningsrec.
