SALINAS VALLEY — Sun Street Centers recently received $365,000 in donations to help complete the long-anticipated King City Sober Living Environment, the first phase of which got underway last month.
“I’m super excited,” said Sun Street CEO Anna Foglia. “This project has been in the making for years.”
The existing structure at 119 S. Mildred Ave., located behind Sun Street’s substance abuse facility in King City, was razed Aug. 5 in preparation for the Sober Living Environment (SLE) site. The new, prefabricated building is designed to house four men and four women up to 90 days each as they transition from their residential treatment into independent living and a sober lifestyle.
The demolition and foundation was funded through a grant from the John and Annette Romans Family Fund of the Community Foundation for Monterey County in March.
Over the past month, more donations poured in to ensure the project reaches completion.
Louis and Roberta Huntington heard about the need and reached out to Sun Street Centers, gifting $250,000 that will go toward the purchase of the prefab SLE home. In addition, Taylor Farms agreed to donate $100,000, which will support the project’s foundation, installation and finishes.
Carmel Rotary Fund of the Community Foundation for Monterey County also donated $15,000.
“These gifts will truly save lives, diverting people from becoming homeless in South County,” Foglia said.
According to Foglia, most of these clients would be homeless after completion of residential treatment, and the SLE will offer them the aftercare that is critical in ensuring long-term abstinence.
“They will be able to securely work to rebuild their lives with the guidance of Sun Street Centers’ partners providing housing and employment resources,” Foglia said. “Residents will pay their own way in the apartments, and share values of sobriety, cooperation, cleanliness and safety.”
Construction is expected to be completed in December.
Sun Street’s South County committee said it is pleased with the project’s progress.
“This SLE is what men and women battling substance abuse need, a good safe start at sobriety,” said committee member Janet Buttgereit. “I am so excited to have completed this first phase.”
Other committee members include Foglia, chair Susan Childers, Karen Fanoe, Mary Orradre, Arlene Dedini, Dee Acosta and Thricia Whited.
“This committee never ceases to amaze me with how well they understand their entire community and the needs of the residents,” Foglia said.
The committee offers private tours to anyone who wants to invest in Sun Street Centers’ mission in King City. Donations are still needed to fully complete the Broadway Street campus, which will provide pro-social activities for youth, storage and a recreational room for its residents.
For more information, or to donate, visit sunstreetcenters.org.
