Project Acorn
A Critical Need: Addressing the Substance Use Crisis in Rutherford County
Rutherford County is facing a devastating crisis. With some of the highest substance use disorder (SUD) rates in North Carolina, residents are experiencing unprecedented levels of overdose deaths, homelessness, and untreated addiction. According to NCDHHS data, as of November 2024, Rutherford County ranked third in the state for overdose deaths relative to population size and ninth in Fentanyl-positive death rates. Neighboring counties, including Burke and Cleveland, face similarly alarming trends.
Despite these dire statistics, accessible recovery resources in Rutherford County are virtually nonexistent. Individuals seeking detoxification, residential treatment, or supportive housing must leave the county to access services—only to return home and find minimal and fragmented support to sustain their recovery. This cycle of displacement increases the likelihood of relapse, perpetuating feelings of hopelessness and despair. Without a local, comprehensive system of care, the path to long-term recovery remains out of reach for many.
Bridging the Gap: ACRN’s Comprehensive Recovery Solution
ACRN has spent the last three years working with regional partners to design a complete recovery ecosystem in Rutherford County—one that provides multiple entry points along the recovery continuum, ensuring that no individual falls through the cracks. Project Acorn will be strategically located on a 10-acre parcel of land adjacent to the county’s core supportive services, including public transit, emergency medical services, Veterans Affairs, the Department of Social Services, the Health Department, probation and parole offices, and the public library. The site is also within walking distance of Isothermal Community College (ICC), enabling access to workforce training and education programs.
Additionally, the property is connected to the Thermal Belt Rail Trail, a 20+-mile pedestrian corridor linking the county’s three main municipalities. This unique feature enhances accessibility to businesses and community services, further supporting individuals in their recovery and reintegration.
Community Support and Regional Collaboration
Project Acorn is not just a vision—it is a community-driven initiative with broad support from key stakeholders, including the local and state chapters of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), multiple recovery community organizations, area treatment services, and multiple mental health providers. ACRN is also an active participant in the regional recovery ecosystem, collaborating with Sunrise Community for Wellness and Recovery, an ARC grantee based in Asheville.
With a leadership team deeply embedded in the recovery community, ACRN has the expertise, partnerships, and strategic plan needed to make Project Acorn a reality. Now, we seek funding to turn this vision into action—providing Rutherford County with its first-ever comprehensive recovery campus that will save lives, rebuild families, and create a pathway to sustained recovery for generations to come.
Project Acorn is a transformative initiative aimed at revolutionizing the recovery process by creating a unified, comprehensive ecosystem that empowers individuals to rebuild their lives without encountering the barriers and fragmentation typical of current systems.
On land acquired by founder Matt LaBreche, Project Acorn will establish a continuum of care that includes a low-barrier homeless shelter, a 60-bed detox and residential treatment facility, a therapeutic recovery community with a large central building, two dormitories providing 50 men's beds and 30 women's beds, and a sober living neighborhood featuring 15 home sites.
This holistic approach ensures that individuals can enter the recovery journey at any stage and receive consistent support throughout their healing process—eliminating the risks of falling through the "cracks" often found in isolated, siloed services.
Over the past three years, ACRN has cultivated strong partnerships with a diverse network of community organizations dedicated to recovery and wellness. Acting as the coordinating hub, ACRN will bring these organizations together within Project Acorn to create a collaborative, person-centered environment. Here, individuals are met where they are and guided along a clear, supportive path to where they aspire to be.
By bridging gaps in care and fostering a nurturing community, Project Acorn aims to significantly reduce relapse rates, enhance access to employment, and promote sustained recovery. We invite you to join us in building this groundbreaking project that will transform lives and strengthen our community. Together, we can create a legacy of hope and resilience for generations to come.
The Location
The Program
Collaborating closely with FIRST at Blue Ridge and Burke Recovery our program will provide the highest quality of recovery care for the residents of Rutherford, Polk, McDowell, Burke, and Cleveland Counties. FIRST will provide program design and oversight honed over 30+ years of caring for the communities of Western North Carolina. This program management will ensure the most stringent evidence based practices are utilized in every aspect of our program. Burke Recovery will provide case management and clinical support developed in their 50+ years of practice experience. Together, this collaboration will lay the framework for all of the supportive services of our communities to converge seamlessly under one organization.
The Community
Final design of the community is not yet completed and changes are expected as we strive to meet the needs of our future residents and the communities we will serve. Below is one floor plan being considered for our recovery residences. What is certain is that these homes will be operated to meet highest standards set by National Alliance of Recovery Residences (NARR). Residents engaged in active recovery will have a safe and supportive environment that will allow them to focus on the difficult work of growth and healing.
Our community building will serve as an ideal location for our residents to come together. A large commercial kitchen and lounge space can support community development activities. Flex space can accommodate programs like support groups, yoga classes, job fairs, and so much more. Shared office space will allow collaborating agencies to come to our residents rather than requiring participants to travel to each agency.
The community layout provides the familiar feel of a suburban community. Participants engaged with us will receive their support in an environment that feels far less clinical and more like a home.
The Detox and Residential Facility
Longer term plans include the construction of the ACRN treatment facility. Once completed, this facility will boast 8 medical detox beds and 50 residential treatment beds. Additional office space will be available for community partners to engage program participants at all stages of recovery. This facility will be setup to meet American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) 3 certification guidelines. ASAM is the foremost authority in the nation regarding substance abuse treatment at all levels of care. Regular monitoring and evaluation will ensure residents are receiving the level of care they need at all times.
Beyond Treatment
The value of workforce training and employment assistance can not be emphasized enough. Individuals in recovery often have barriers from their past that disrupt or derail the recovery process. Engaging community resources that provide intensive vocational support is vital in maintaining a meaningful recovery. Several organizations are working closely together in and around Rutherford County to provide this much needed assistance. ACRN will work closely with these organizations to identify the best employment opportunities that not only serve as a source of income, but also provide a sense of personal fulfillment and satisfaction. For participants interested in starting a business of their own, ACRN will work closely with community partners to support those endeavors whenever possible as well.
