Chris' Corner Opens In Milford With Range Of Recovery Services

MILFORD, MA — The long-planned recovery support center Chris' Corner is now providing in-person services from its base in Milford, an offering that was delayed due to the pandemic for more than a year.

Chris' Corner offers a wide range of recovery services for people with substance use disorder and their families. It's a new approach in the region that aims to offer long-term services for a disease that can often be derailed by life changes like the loss of housing or a job.

A $1 million federal grant is funding Chris' Corner, which founder Amy Leone secured with help from Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early Jr. Leone is also the founder of Milford-based Community Impact Inc., a mental health counseling service that specializes in substance abuse and behavioral disorders.

"[Substance use disorder] isn't something you kick in a week when you go through detox — it's nine months, 2 years," Early said of Chris' Corner. "This gives people recovery support."

Leone has hired recovery coaches and counselors to support families and children, begun offering yoga classes and hosts AA meetings. Chris' Corner also helps local residents find services like detox facilities and sober houses, grief support and Narcan training — all under one roof.

On a recent Tuesday, Leone had taken a phone call from a woman whose son's alcoholism had worsened to the point where she had to ask him to leave her home. But Leone had the resources in at Chris' Corner to help the man find shelter, counseling and a job lead, possibly avoiding a worsening of his disease.

"We have many resources available depending on what your journey of recovery really is," she said.

The center is named after Chris Swindell, a Milford man who died in 2018 after an opioid overdose. Swindell had been in treatment when he overdosed, and it spurred Leone to work with Swindell's family to turn the tragedy "into something good," she said.

After getting the federal grant in fall 2019, Leone set to work finding a space for Chris' Corner. By spring 2020, the center was almost ready to open, if not for the pandemic. Clients were able to get help over the past year through virtual programs, however.

To sustain Chris' Corner beyond the federal grant, Leone will apply for a state Bureau of Substance Addiction Services grant. All services are free right now, she'd like to be able to accept health insurance, including MassHealth, which supports low-income residents.

Although located in Milford, Chris' Corner's services are open to anyone who needs them. Leone emphasized that the center is for people in recovery, but also their relatives, loved ones and children.

"We say our mission is, 'No shame, no judgement — just truth'" she said. "We're just here to get to the truth of what is going on and find out how we can help."

For hours of operation and a full list of resources and services, visit www.chriscornermilford.com.