building hope in recovery: christy’s story

At Kinnic Falls, recovery is more than treatment alone. It’s about rebuilding lives and creating spaces where people can learn how to truly live again in sobriety. Few people embody that mission more fully than our counselor, Christy.

After beginning her own recovery journey, Christy knew she wanted to help others in theirs. She returned to school and obtained an associate’s degree in human services, and eventually a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a concentration in addiction studies. During this time, she began interning at Kinnic Falls and later joined the team full time. Today, she works directly with clients at Kinnic Falls, while also helping address another critical gap in recovery care in the community: safe recovery housing for women with children.

Through the recovery community, Christy met Peer Perspective Inc. founders Kyle and Sam. During conversations with others in recovery, one unmet need became clear: there were very few sober living environments where mothers could remain with their children while addressing their recovery. For many women, that barrier can become devastating. Recovery often requires stable housing, structure, and community support, but too often mothers are forced to choose between entering supportive housing or staying with their children. Knowing this, the group began discussing what it would look like to create something different. What started as brainstorming conversations quickly grew into a mission.

After a year of planning, meetings, fundraising, and gathering community support, Ashley’s House officially opened in January 2026 in River Falls. The home was named in memory of a friend lost to substance use disorder, serving as both a tribute to her life, and a reminder of why this work matters.

Christy now serves as Board Vice President for Ashley’s House, helping to secure funding, plan programming, and ensure their vision of a safe space for women in recovery and their children, remains a reality. Peer Perspective continues fundraising efforts to help keep rent affordable for residents, cover bills and expenses, and ensure women and children can access the support they need.

Along with a safe and substance-free place to live, Ashley’s House offers peer-led programming, recovery support, life skills education, and parenting resources to residents. This support is offered directly in the home, helping residents build routines, accountability, and independence. Most importantly, Ashley’s House allows mothers to heal without being separated from their children.

Currently, six women and their children are living in the home. Since opening in January, there have been no relapses among residents. something Christy speaks about with pride and hope. She lives by the quote, “The opposite of addiction is connection.”

This philosophy aligns closely with why she enjoys working at Kinnic Falls. Christy describes Kinnic Falls as having a home-like feel and a strong reputation within the recovery community. It fills what she calls a “lost level of care” – a place where people in recovery can practice real life in sobriety while still receiving structure, support, and accountability.

For Christy, both Ashley’s House and Kinnic Falls represent the same core belief: recovery works best when people are surrounded by community, compassion, and opportunity. We’re grateful for the work Christy does both at Kinnic Falls, and in the greater recovery community.

If you’d like to learn more about Ashley’s House or support Peer Perspective’s work, visit their website at www.peerperspectiveinc.com/