Home that helped Civil War soldiers could enter opioid fight

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(Gettysburg) — A local home that once cared for the wounded during Battle of Gettysburg may soon help those suffering from substance abuse.

Recovering addicts could have services within reach at a vacant, county-owned building in downtown Gettysburg.

The former Mercy House was part of Adams County’s space study because the vacant property was one of the four church-owned parcels purchased by the county several years ago for $1.4 million. The sale of Mercy House, St. Francis Xavier Elementary School and Xavier House occurred prior to the current board of commissioners.

Through the county’s space study, the former Mercy House was found to be not ideal for office space, according to Adams County Commissioner Marty Qually, who noted the second and third floors are not wheelchair accessible.

The building is not currently being used, Qually said.

The commissioners approved the $10,850 study on county-owned properties: the county courthouse, St. Francis Xavier properties, and the remaining 26 acres of land at the human services building.
Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates-Architects designed future expansion options based on findings from a committee of county staff.

The Gettysburg Times obtained a proposed drawing of Mercy House through a right-to-know request filed last month for the county’s space study and associated documents.

Qually said the county has been examining the possibility of renovating and leasing the building to the Recovery Advocacy Service Empowerment (RASE) Project, a community nonprofit.

“The center will contain a drop-in center for addicts to receive individual and group counseling,” Qually said.

The proposal includes five offices for counseling and four apartments to house six recovering addicts, according to Qually.

While all addictions could be served, Qually said he hopes there is a “focus on opioid addicts and people transitioning out of prison.”

“Between state funding and rental income, I believe this project can be self-sustaining with minimal expense to the county,” Qually added. “It is my hope that the Mercy House Substance Abuse Recovery Center will be operational in 2019.”

Qually said he is not sure of the total cost for the project, hoping to secure state funding within a couple of months.

Adams County Commissioner Chairman Randy Phiel noted the irony in the building’s name and how it fits for this potential project. The building was once a residence for nuns and used to care for those injured during the historic battle here, according to Qually.

“Our community and many communities around the country are in an opioid crisis,” Phiel said. “So I think it’s a win-win in taking a venue that isn’t being used – that was used to provide assistance to the community – and turn it into a venue that, again, provides assistance for this opioid crisis.”

Phiel said the county has been able to consider this project because of the York County joinder, which offers a partnership of services through Mental Health- Intellectual Developmental Disabilities and Health Choices.

Adams County only offers classes and case management services for substance abuse, according to commissioners.

“There are no beds dedicated to substance abuse here,” Qually said. “There are no facilities where you can walk downstairs and get the services you need.”