The WMARI Recovery Campus: Growing Hope Close to Home
Recovery is possible, and having the right support close to home can make all the difference.
Western Maine Addiction Recovery Initiative (WMARI) is taking an exciting next step in expanding recovery resources for our region. Our new Recovery Campus in Norway, Maine, will bring together The HILLS Recovery Center and a much-needed women’s recovery residence, creating more opportunities for people to find stability, connection, and long-term support within their own community.
Building on a Strong Foundation
WMARI began in 2015 when people from different backgrounds, professions, and life experiences came together around a growing concern: addiction was affecting their neighbors, families, and communities, and Western Maine needed more ways to respond. What began as a small grassroots effort to bring people and resources together has grown into something much bigger.
In 2023, that work led to the opening of The HILLS Recovery Center, a welcoming, community-based space staffed entirely by people in recovery. Today, The HILLS provides a range of free services including:
- Peer Recovery Support & Resources: Free recovery meetings, one-on-one coaching, case management, and help accessing treatment, housing, healthcare, transportation, and other essential services.
- Recovery Outings & Adventures: Free opportunities to get outside, try new things, and build friendships through hiking, kayaking, camping, snow tubing, dragon boating, and more.
- Creative Expression & Wellness: Art, crafting, journaling, yoga, meditation, and other activities that encourage creativity, growth, and well-being.
- Connection & Celebration: Potlucks, social gatherings, holiday celebrations, and our annual Western Maine Recovery Rally, bringing people together to celebrate recovery and challenge stigma.
- Giving Back & Building Community: Volunteer opportunities, community cleanups, peer leadership, and partnerships that empower people in recovery to contribute, connect, and make a difference.
And we’re ready to build on what we’ve started!
Our Vision: The WMARI Recovery Campus
We’ve seen what becomes possible when people have access to support, connection, and opportunity. We’ve also seen the gaps that continue to stand in their way. One of the greatest is the lack of safe, affordable recovery housing for women in our region. Too often, women working to rebuild their lives must leave their communities to find appropriate housing, or return to environments that make sustaining recovery more difficult.
Our new Recovery Campus project, located a short walk from downtown Norway at 35 Cottage St, is an opportunity to change that.
The project will bring together two essential pieces of our vision:
- A new home for The HILLS Recovery Center, allowing us to continue building on the free peer support, recovery services, and community connections already making a difference in Western Maine.
- A 10-bed women’s recovery residence, providing structured, supportive housing alongside access to recovery coaching, case management, transportation, employment resources, and a community of support.
Together, these resources will help create a stronger, more connected path forward for people building lives in recovery, while addressing a critical unmet need in Oxford County.
Be Part of What Comes Next
Our community has brought us a long way. What started with a group of people willing to give their time and do something about a problem in their own backyard has become an established organization, a thriving recovery center, and a growing network of people and partners committed to making recovery more accessible.
Now, we’re asking others to help us take the next step.
With the right investment, we can build on the work already underway and create something our region has needed for a long time. The Recovery Campus is an opportunity to make a lasting difference in the lives of individuals, families, and the wider Western Maine community.
Whether you’re an individual supporter, a local business, or a potential funding partner, we invite you to be part of bringing this vision to life.
Interested in discussing a larger contribution or partnership? We’d love to connect! Fill out the form below or contact WMARI’s Executive Director Kari Taylor with your questions, thoughts, or ideas!
Kari Taylor
karitaylor@wmari.org | 207-450-5578