Our History
We see a world where every person in recovery has access to a supportive, healthy, and safe home environment built on respect, focused on recovery, and led by peers.
What is a Sober House?
Community living designed to support the needs of those in early recovery through structure, peer accountability, and organizational oversight
House Manager and staff to lead and support recovery communities
Drug and alcohol screens, curfew, house rules, and peer accountability
Residency costs are straightforward, affordable, and all-inclusive; all rents are private pay
Our Model
We offer structured sober houses for men and women where every resident is supported in their recovery journeys. Residents live together as a family to develop the tools and strengthen their character in order to live free from substance abuse. Our homes allow for independence while guided by a set of recovery-focused house rules, standards, and expectations. The core of our structure is abstinence from drugs and alcohol. Residents are engaged in their personal recovery journey by attending meetings and working with a sponsor and our House Manager for support and encouragement. Residents adhere to a curfew, submit to drug and alcohol screenings, and participate in home and community events.
- Residents live independently in a gender-specific home
- Rooms are typically shared with one or more peers
- Residents pay rent weekly or monthly; we don’t accept health insurance
- Each home is lead by a House Manager
- Our homes are convenient, comfortable, affordable, and supportive
- Residents live according to our Resident Handbook and House Rules
Team
Hunter Foote
Executive Director
Hunter founded Vanderburgh House in 2016 with a mission to change the way our society supports those in recovery from substance abuse. Hunter has been our Executive Directory since our founding; a seasoned impact entrepreneur with experience in private equity and mission-focused business development. Hunter earned a graduate degree from Harvard University in Management and holds a Teaching Fellow position at Harvard. He also guest lectures on impact entrepreneurship around the world.
Denise McGee
Director of Operations
Denise, a twenty year veteran of the recovery industry, leads our operations and training. She has experience in program management, curriculum development, operational systems, training, and leadership in a number of prominent human services organizations in New England. She joined Vanderburgh House in 2019 and has developed our system and training programs to ensure progressive social impact and profitable business operations for our sober house Operators.
Dawna Foote
Director of Finance
Dawna is responsible for the financial, accounting, compliance, and risk management systems for both our organization and as systems for our Operators. She has experience in the fields of law, insurance, and accounting, and brings her breadth of experience and expertise to her work in developing systems to ensure the success of our operators, from insurance to accounting to banking to compliance.
Michael Moreshead, Esq.
Corporate Counsel
Mike holds the position of Corporate Counsel, offering a legal and regulatory perspective to the work we do. Mike leads our Operators and our organization in navigating the legal complexities of sober houses, as well as serving as the first lobbyist in Massachusetts advocating for the rights of sober houses. Mike is a thoughtful and dedicated leader and powerful force for progress for those in recovery and those who serve them.
Phil Marino
Director of Franchise Development
Phil is our Director of Franchise Development. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Phil has an extensive corporate background as well as having been a publisher and entrepreneur owning a number of small businesses including logistics, hospitality, and entertainment. Phil also worked with the California legislature on gaming issues. He has worked in franchise development across the world with individuals from different cultures and backgrounds, helping them become successful through franchising; working with two of the largest franchisors and a language franchise startup.
Kate Saad
Director of Corporate Homes
Kate is responsible for the success of our corporate homes. She has extensive experience in serving men and women in recovery, and works directly with residents to support and guide the homes for which our organization is responsible. She brings the experience to our leadership team to improve operations and the way we support our independent Operators.
Our Story
Our mission is to help Operators build recovery communities where residents are supported in their recovery journeys. Our team has dedicated their professional lives to further our our mission, and we will not give up until every community has the resources it needs in support of men and women recovering from substance abuse.
We further our mission by offering a franchise platform to sober house Operators, giving access to our system, policies, procedures, and resources, as well as comprehensive training. As one of the first mission-focused franchises in the United States, we are paving a new pathway using the franchise model to build a better world. Our Operators are supported by an influential organization behind then while working in their community to do the work they want to do, independently, as a business owner.
Founded in 2016, Vanderburgh House, the first Certified B Corporation® in Worcester, was formed to develop a system for sober house operation. The Vanderburgh House system is now offered by Vanderburgh Communities.