Empowerhouse asks Coffey County to consider recurring special alcohol allocations for recovery housing

Melissa Landis, who identified herself as a representative of Empowerhouse Ministries, told the Coffey County Commission that the nonprofit runs a women’s recovery house (capacity nine) and a men’s house (capacity 10) and that the program served roughly 92 individuals last year and about 230 children connected to those residents. Landis detailed a four‑phase residential program that moves residents from intake and stabilization through employment and budgeting to independent living and said the houses frequently serve people with felony records, probation or bond supervision.

Landis gave commissioners a budget overview, saying projected revenue for 2026 is about $136,000 while operational expenses total about $165,000, and described personnel as a primary shortfall. She asked the commission to consider allocating money from the county’s special alcohol fund — the local portion of the liquor‑by‑the‑drink tax — for ongoing staff support so Empowerhouse could hire a peer mentor/coach and expand services across its 10‑county service area. “Special alcohol funds ... should be expended for programs whose principal purpose is alcoholism and drug abuse education, detox and intervention,” she told the board and said Coffee County has supported the group in the past.

Commissioners pressed for details about past county support and the current balance of special alcohol funds; county staff pulled records and reported roughly $11,427 available at the time of the meeting. Commissioners asked for follow‑up on exact fund availability and agreed to take the request under advisement pending confirmation of the special alcohol fund balance and review during budget planning. Landis said she would contact other counties as she pursues multi‑county commitments and provided written materials and program statistics to the commission.

The commission made no immediate funding commitment at the meeting; members asked staff to include the request in budget discussions and to report back with precise fund availability and options for a recurring allocation or one‑time grant. The commission’s next budget meetings will determine whether and how much to allocate from special alcohol revenues.