Community support helps Hummingbird House add women’s sober living homes across the Treasure Valley

Idaho’s Boise One sober living home for women in recovery has been expanded to three locations in the Treasure Valley by a local group, and a fourth is scheduled to open this fall.

When Hummingbird House first opened three years ago, there was some opposition from the local community. Neighbors, however, have not only welcomed the mission but have actively encouraged its growth into further Treasure Valley communities.

“I feel like we’re a family, it’s not just sober living,” commented Becca Labrec, who manages a live-in house at one of the Boise Hummingbird House sites.

“We want to do our dinner thing like once a month, where we all get together and have dinner and just enjoy each other’s company, because there’s a lot of wonderful women here,” Labrec stated.

The most recent addition to the expanding network is the West Boise residence.Although some locals were against the notion of sober living houses in their communities in 2022, the community has since come together in support of women who are dedicated to starting over.

“One woman across the street would constantly bring us meals, and the neighbors at the other house were fantastic. The community is fantastic. I don’t think we would be where we are now without the community,” Labrec remarked.

Community support fuels expansion

Numerous women have found stability thanks to the support of the community. The newest home was equipped earlier this month by South Hills Church in Eagle, which donated furniture, supplies, and money to make it ready for occupancy.

Ashley Kinshella, the owner of Hummingbird House, stated, “I’ve discovered that when we open a house, we can instantly fill [it] in a couple [of] weeks and then end up with a wait list.”

Many of the women are homeless or formerly incarcerated. Leaders of Hummingbird House claim that giving them a secure environment to heal not only improves their lives but also fortifies the community as a whole.

“As we shared in the last story, I lived in the first Hummingbird House and being able to give back to these women, and give back to the recovery community as a whole through safe and sober housing for women, has been a blessing for me in my recovery,” said Skyla Child, Director of Operations at Hummingbird House.

They wish to share this blessing with more women, like Labrec, who is currently commemorating nine months sober.

“I am really appreciative of the bond I have with the women. “They saved my life; without [the organization], I would be homeless,” Labrec remarked.

Hummingbird House is starting a fundraising effort to help even more women in recovery as they open in Ada and Canyon counties.

You can participate by making a donation or purchasing things from their Amazon wish list.