Several dozen people attended a recent open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the opening of Jenni’s House, a new sober living recovery home for women battling substance abuse disorders, in Hillsboro.
The June 20 event included home tours, live music and refreshments.
Jenni’s house, at 428 Vreeland Road in Hillsboro, has 14 beds for women. It’s operated by Living in Victory (LIV) Sober Living, which has several other sober living homes in the St. Louis area. Jenni’s House is LIV’s first location in Jefferson County.
Cameo Jones, 36, of Lake St. Louis founded LIV in 2018 with her husband, Derrick Jones Sr., 41.
Jones said Jenni’s House is for women who are ready to make big changes.
“Jenni’s House is a recovery house for women dealing with substance abuse disorder and mental health who have made the decision to change their lives. They want to learn about the process of recovery and focus on their mental, physical and spiritual well-being here,” Jones said. “Jenni’s house is a place of healing.”
Jones said the home’s services are much needed in the Jefferson County area.
“God brought me here because we knew Jefferson County was on the map for overdoses, and we wanted to be part of that solution,” said Jones.
According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Jefferson County ranked the sixth highest in the state for drug overdose deaths in 2023.
Communal living room space at Jenni’s House.
Jones said Hillsboro was an ideal place in Jefferson County for the home due to its quiet, small-town location, access to employment opportunities and shopping and the supportiveness of the community.
“The level of love and community support we get here is just through the roof,” she said. “I’ve never experienced that.”
The new sober living home is housed in the building where the Kramer, Buchholz and Partney Law Firm operated before moving it operation to 10585 Business 21 in Hillsboro.
Jones said the 2,586-square-foot home didn’t require many changes to be ready for residents, just a renovation to the upstairs restroom, which now includes double showers and a laundry area.
The home sits on over an acre of land.
Jones said LIV already has been using the large yard to teach its residents gardening skills. The site also has a large three-car detached garage, which Jones says will eventually be fully renovated to use as a workshop for classes and garden storage.
Residents at Jenni’s House will learn skills, such as gardening in the home’s lawn garden.
Jones said residents are required to attend 90 12-step meetings in the first 90 days, get a sponsor and find a home group within the first 30 days.
While the women reside at Jenni’s House, LIV will teach them about resources to help them complete recovery and reconnect with society. Some of the resources include counseling services; access to Medication Assisted Treatment, if needed; life skills training and job placement. The house also holds house meetings and brings in recovery speakers.
Jones said Jenni’s house started accepting residents in March and currently has nine women living in the house.
She said the path to recovery is different for every resident. but typically residents stay at the home for six months to a year, if not longer.
“Throughout the process, we just meet them where they’re at and help them along in their journey, whatever that looks like. Sometimes it takes a little longer to get a job because of their anxiety. We really coach them through those moments,” Jones said.
During their time at Jenni’s House, the women will form tight bonds with each other, Jones said.
“They become sisters, for sure,” she said. “You walk in here, and it feels like family. We’ve been really intentional about making this a home that people want to stay in and live here long-term. They cook dinner together, and they create laundry schedules together.
“Knowing what it means to have a healthy relationship is new to them, but that’s what we’re helping them build while they’re here.”
LIV has locations in St. Louis, Hazelwood and three in St. Charles County.
Jones said Jenni’s house is named after a former LIV board of directors chairperson, Jenni Lenz, who died in 2023.
“She started with me and Derrick from the very beginning, specifically helping women,” Jones said.
Anyone interested in joining the program may call 314-667-5255 or fill out an application at livsoberliving.com.