ANNOUNCEMENT: Homeward Pikes Peak adds Recovery Capital Index to advance permanent housing initiatives

Homeward Pikes Peak to use the Recovery Capital Index to support addiction recovery efforts and measure long-term outcomes while housing those experiencing homelessness.

Colorado Springs, CO — Homeward Pikes Peak will add the Recovery Capital Index® to its housing and addiction treatment programming. The RCI will help personalize clinical and recovery care while measuring outcomes during and after individuals transition into stable and permanent housing.

Homeward provides housing to individuals experiencing both homelessness and addiction in Colorado Springs. Homeward has specific programs for mothers, veterans, and those that are criminal justice involved.

“We understand that sustained recovery requires stable and permanent housing but it also involves so much more,” says Beth Hall Roalstad, Executive Director of Homeward Pikes Peak.

“The Recovery Capital Index,” Hall says, “will give our team and those we serve a 360-degree view of a person’s wellbeing and ability thrive.”

The RCI will be used with the Harbor House, Project Detour, Bloom Recovery House, and out-patient clinical services.

“Stable and secure housing is a pillar not just for recovery, but whole wellbeing and potential,” says RCI architect and CEO of Commonly Well, David Whitesock.

“As Homeward manages the critical housing factor,” says Whitesock, “the Recovery Capital Index will provide insight into many other areas that help or hinder the strength of stable housing.”

One challenge many addiction programs have is measuring outcomes long term. Generally, this is because the relationship is short-lived. Since Homeward is building a deeper and longer relationship with their clients, long-term outcomes are more attainable.

“We see the RCI assessment as creating another conversation with our clients through data,” Roalstad states. “Our clients will be telling us where issues and success are happening and we can be prepared to meet the needs as they’re happening, not after it’s too late.”

The RCI was developed in 2013 to provide a multidimensional measurement of addiction wellness. It was used and further developed by Face It TOGETHER, a peer coaching organization where Whitesock served as Chief Innovation Officer from 2012 to 2020. The Recovery Capital Index was statistically validated in 2017, with findings peer reviewed and published in South Dakota Medicine in May 2018.

Commonly Well’s goal is to elevate the RCI as a standard measure of addiction wellness. This goal will be achieved through research with research academics like Field, communities, and providers and programs of all types.