Center for Chemical Addictions Treatment Garden

History

The Center for Chemical Addictions Treatment (also known as the CAT House) sits on a 3 acre site in the West End at the corner of Ezzard Charles and the entrance to northbound I75. CCAT and CGC were contacted by a Civic Garden Center Hauck Society member in February of 2004 and asked if there was an interest in placing a community garden in the space fronting Ezzard Charles. She was interested in funding this project. CCAT provides meals to residents from the Joseph House. The Joseph House houses homeless veterans. Up to 20 of the residents participate in a halfway house program certified by the Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services. The halfway house program involves daily group sessions, individual counseling and case management to help the resident know and resolve the issues that caused their homelessness. The Joseph House residents helped to build the garden, along with students from Cincinnati State's Landscape Construction class. After working with some of the guys the first day, Jonathan said, “You know – this is the closest to nature I've ever been – I grew up on concrete. This garden is going to help me free myself.”