In a year shaped by economic uncertainty and shifting community needs, one thing remained steady across Lancaster County: The GateHouse continued to meet people where they are, helping them rebuild their lives as they recover from substance use disorder.
This work showed up in many ways. It appeared in the stories clients shared, in the families who found stability again, and in the quiet but essential support that helped people move forward when it mattered most.
As we close out 2025, we are taking time to reflect on what this community made possible and what lies ahead in the year to come.
The Landscape of Recovery in 2025
Throughout 2025, recovery providers across the region navigated a complex and evolving landscape. While opioid overdose deaths in Lancaster County have declined over the past two years, new substances continue to emerge, and economic pressure remains real for many families. These conditions often make access to sustained support even more critical.
Within that environment, The GateHouse remained one part of a broader solution. We deepened community engagement, expanded access to care, and continued to focus on long-term recovery rather than short-term fixes. Families new to navigating substance use disorder found a place that offers both structure and hope, and individuals seeking change found support grounded in dignity and accountability.
What Your Support Made Possible
The GateHouse exists to strengthen the entire community by providing comprehensive, community-based post-rehabilitative services for individuals and families impacted by substance use disorder.
In 2024, 493 individuals went through GateHouse programs across residential, outpatient, and transitional living services. Final totals for 2025 will be available in early January, but the scope of care remains substantial and growing.
Behind that reach is a commitment to meeting people’s real-world needs. Over the past year:
- 46 rent scholarships were awarded, totaling approximately $30,000, to help individuals transition into stable housing.
- $66,000 in grant funding was used to cover direct client needs such as medical expenses, work clothing, work boots, and other unmet essentials.
This support is often the difference between someone stalling out and someone moving forward. Housing stability, access to medical care, and the ability to show up for work are foundational to sustained recovery.
Where Donations Go
One principle guides how donor dollars are used at The GateHouse: support should reach people directly.
Funds raised through community giving do not go toward administrative or operational costs. Instead, donations are allocated through a simple internal process that allows clinicians and case managers to advocate for clients when needs arise. Requests are reviewed and approved quickly so support can be provided when timing matters most.
Whether that support looks like covering rent during a transition, paying for glasses or dental care, or purchasing work boots so someone can accept a job, each dollar is tied to a specific outcome and a specific person.
Recovery That Reaches Beyond the Individual
One of the clearest lessons from this year is that recovery does not happen in isolation. When someone begins to recover, families often begin to heal alongside them.
Many of the stories shared throughout the year reflected that broader impact. Parents spoke about reconnecting with their children after long periods of instability and absence, while others described the relief of regaining trust and consistency in relationships that had been strained for years. Several individuals also shared how rebuilding structure in their daily lives created space to show up more fully for family, work, and community in ways that once felt out of reach.
In the year ahead, The GateHouse plans to more intentionally share these family perspectives alongside individual recovery stories. Doing so helps show the full scope of what recovery restores, not just for one person, but for everyone connected to them.
Recovery as a Path to Stability and Purpose
Another pattern continued to emerge in 2025. Many of The GateHouse alumni went on to build stable, productive lives that extended well beyond their time in the program. Some returned to the workforce in new ways. Others started businesses, employed others, or gave back directly to the recovery community.
These outcomes underscore a core truth of long-term recovery. When people are supported with structure, accountability, and practical assistance, they are able to reclaim purpose and contribute meaningfully to their communities.
Community Connections That Matter
Throughout the year, The GateHouse strengthened its sense of community and its culture of connection in both large and small ways.
Greenhouses at residential locations became spaces for learning and collaboration. Clients worked together to grow food and share responsibility, including using harvests to prepare meals together. A 12-step trail in Marietta is nearing completion and will soon provide a dedicated place for reflection and recovery-focused practice.
Events like TurkeyThon and our annual cultural event continued to bring clients, staff, and supporters together in gratitude and fellowship. Behind the scenes, leadership commitment also reached an important milestone, with 100% participation in Board giving, reinforcing a shared responsibility for the mission.
A Challenging Year for Giving, and a Community That Responded
Like many nonprofit organizations, The GateHouse felt the effects of a challenging fundraising climate in 2025. Economic uncertainty and broader political factors made some donors more cautious, and development efforts required persistence and flexibility.
Even so, the community continued to show up. Individuals gave what they could. Businesses supported clients through employment opportunities and matching contributions. Non-monetary donations filled practical gaps. Each act of support reinforced the idea that recovery is a shared effort.
Looking Ahead to 2026
As we look to the year ahead, several priorities are already coming into focus:
- Continuing to expand rent scholarships and direct client assistance
- Sharing a wider range of recovery stories, including family perspectives
- Completing our 12-step trail in Marietta
- Making targeted facility improvements as approvals allow
- Coordinating storytelling and outreach more intentionally throughout the year
What will not change is the heart of the work we do. The GateHouse will continue to focus on long-term recovery, practical support, and the belief that people can rebuild their lives when given the right tools and community.
Thank You for Being Part of This Work
For more than half a century, The GateHouse has helped individuals restore their lives and rediscover the strength of the human spirit. That work continues because of a community willing to invest in people, not just programs.
As 2025 comes to a close, we move forward with gratitude and resolve. The need remains. The work continues. And together, we will help more people find stability, connection, and a path forward.
If you are able, consider supporting this work through a donation that helps ensure continued access to housing assistance, essential services, and long-term recovery support.
