DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — A sober living facility in Daytona Beach is at risk of closing if it can’t catch up on bills.
What You Need To Know
- A recovery center's future at risk if it can't get more funding
- Fine Sober Living takes in people looking to get clean
- People can stay there as long as they stay sober, in program
- A car wash outside the facility Saturday will seek to raise money
The nearly 46 people that call it home could soon be out on their own. Fine Sober Living takes in those looking to get clean, allowing them to stay as long as they stay sober and attend a recovery program.
Mike Stamps, a recovering addict, knows firsthand the good that the facility does.
“We have two guys here that just got out of prison last week, had nowhere else to go,” Stamps said. “They’d be homeless if they weren’t here.”
Stamps has lived at Fine Sober Living for about a month, moving back despite graduating the program three years ago after falling off the path. He said he believes he wouldn’t be alive if it weren’t for Fine Sober Living.
“Living here has helped tremendously because not only do I help myself, but I get to help others, which in turn helps me at the same time,” Stamps said.
But now, he is worried about losing all the benefits of the facility, the Fine Sober Living at risk of closing down for good.
“We are all at that point where we need some help here,” Stamps said.
Owner Carl Smith said the bills just keep piling up. The pandemic has made things harder because more people than ever need help to recover but don’t have the funds to pay.
“We take clients in even if they do not have the money because this is the end of the road for them,” Smith said.
According to Smith, Fine Sober Living needs about $10,000 to stay afloat.
Stamps is not giving up. Instead, he decided to host a car wash.
“We can’t just ask people for money so we figured we would do something creative,” Stamps said.
The car wash will take place Saturday, Oct. 2 starting at 10 a.m., right outside Fine Sober Living on Ridgewood Avenue in Daytona Beach. It will be donation-based and will run until no more cars drive up.
Stamps said he is hopeful the community will help give back to an organization that gives so much to Daytona Beach.
“We are not giving up,” Stamps said. “We are never going to give up. We are always going to fight this fight, one way or another.”