The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Men’s recovery home marks 1st year
Tikvah Home for Men had a successful first year, says House Manager Edward Taton.
Taton, who is also known as the guardian angel of Tikvah, explained that lives are being transformed at this men’s recovery home in Willoughby.
A 24-year-old who was living in Arizona prior to moving into Tikvah Home for Men has really turned his life around, he said.
“He is setting a great example,” Taton said.
“He has been sober for over a year, gainfully employed, was just baptized and a contributor to society.”
That was Friends of Recovery Northeast Ohio Next Step Living Ministries’ goal when acquiring the property.
Friends of Recovery NE Ohio Ministry is a nonprofit organization that seeks to provide Christcentered recovery homes offering hope, healing and restoration for individuals recovering from addictive substances. In fact, the name Tikvah was chosen because it means “Hope” in Hebrew.
Taton said a key part of the program is building faith.
“Many of the guys that come in here do not have faith or a God of their understanding,” he said. “It’s all about mind, body, spirit — you have to get in shape physically and mentally and build up your faith. The house is very engaged in the faith community. A part of being here, you have to attend church and you have to provide community service.”
They perform various community service projects.
“We help feed the poor,” he said. “We built the benches for the church next door and help single mothers with landscaping. We clean the yards and do all the heavy lifting. It is important to give back.”
Giving back led Taton to the house manager position.
“With the challenges that Lake and Geauga counties particularly have with this plague of addiction, I wanted to be part of the solution,” he said. “Although, I’m not an addict and have never been one, my role here is to help people get back on their feet and contribute to society. I volunteer to do this and I get a lot out of it.”
The home operates on three principles: respect,responsibility and relationship.
“We are a family here, but it takes time to develop this,” he said.
“A lot of these guys never had a family or were in a dysfunctional family. They have to learn how to interact as a family unit. We don’t expect that to happen the moment they walk in the door, but you have to be willing, you have to want it and you have to work.”
The residents must also be involved in a dependency program or an Alcohol Anonymous program.
Additionally, there are men fellowship and Celebrate Recovery meetings.
“You don’t have to be in recovery from substance abuse to be a part of our fellowship,” Taton said.
“We don’t just focus on alcohol or drugs in those meetings, there are a lot of addictions discussed.”
Taton is pleased with Tikvah’s first year and hopes recovery housing continues to expand.
Friends of Recovery is planning to open a women’s recovery house in Lake County called Arukah Home for Women.