Recovering addicts express gratitude for new Aspell property
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JACKSON, Tenn. — Help is on the way for West Tennesseans trying to beat drug and alcohol addictions, after the Jackson City Council approved giving a Midtown property to Aspell Recovery Center last week. “I’m just grateful for this place,” resident Coley Willis said. Thanks to Aspell Recovery Center many of those recovering have a safe place to live during and after treatment. “Just like a fresh start and the expansion will help with that,” Willis said. Aspell currently houses about 30 people maintaining sobriety at its recovery living apartments, Talbot Towers. “We’ve turned crack houses into livable places for people to continue with recovery,” Aspell manager Frankie Elliott said. Elliott said the new property on Princeton Street will allow them to help eight more people. “It takes a while to get used to living sober and they need places like this to feel safe,” resident Melissa Weatherspoon said. Weatherspoon and her daughter Jacey live at Talbot Towers. She said the apartment not only gives her a home but allows her to keep her daughter. “Being here, it helps a lot with staying sober when times get hard because you know you still have your support group,” Weatherspoon said. Weatherspoon’s neighbor, Willis moved into the facility in 2013. Willis said, “It’s the best place for me as of right now yes I love it and we look out for each other.” Willis explained without this residence, there’s no telling where he would be. “The thought scares me on where my life would be I have a pretty good idea of where it would be and it wouldn’t be all smiles,” Willis said. Both Weatherspoon and Willis said having this type of support system is priceless. Weatherspoon said, “If I have a problem I can call whoever or someone and they’ll come immediately.” Elliott said residents pay rent based on their income, and said they’ve already started cleaning up the new property. Repairs are expected to take at least six months and cost $50,000.
