Healing Transitions

Healing Transitions

Recovery for All

At the core of every community is its people—all of them. And Healing Transitions is a beacon of real community for all Raleighites via its “Recovery for All” MO: Always open. Always free. Always everyone. Always another chance. Always community.

Regardless of birth year or bankroll, addiction likely touches each one of us in our lifetime—whether ourselves, a partner, a parent, a peer, a child, a colleague and so on. And it doesn’t always look the way you’d imagine. It affects individuals and families from every community in all walks of life—tearing at the very fabric of who we are. Separating us from everything we’ve known. Alienating us from everyone we need. 

And no matter who we are or how it begins, we all come to the same realization that we’re powerless to control that addiction alone. But there’s a way to prevent “from OD to RIP.” And a glimpse of hope can reroute the course of an entire life. 

“Healing Transitions is committed to making essential, effective recovery services accessible to everyone—especially those who are homeless, uninsured and underserved,” says Healing Transitions Executive Director Chris Budnick. “To eliminate barriers, we offer all of our services completely free of charge. This means every single donation—no matter the size—plays a critical role in our mission. When we say every dollar matters, it’s because it helps us continue saving and transforming lives.”

A lifeline for neighbors in need, with a focus on “healing” (recovery) and “transition” (rekindling desire to return to meaningful and productive life), so-named Healing Transitions is dedicated to the notion that addiction doesn’t have to be the end of the story. With open doors 24/7, the organization is Wake County’s only long-term, peer-based recovery program, serving the needs of all those struggling—with no financial barriers. 

“Most importantly, Healing Transitions turns people’s lives around who can’t afford expensive recovery programs, but it also cleans up Downtown significantly,” says Healing Transitions board member David Meeker, who also serves as partner in Trophy Brewing, which has dedicated much of its resources and efforts, including the popular Trophy Trot, to the healing org. “We are so lucky to have Healing Transitions in Raleigh.”

Through its on-demand and innovative peer-to-peer addiction services ranging emergency drop-in shelter and nonmedical detox to long-term services and sustained sobriety, the recovery-oriented organization is dedicated to meeting anyone where they are, including those who are homeless, underserved and uninsured. In short, Healing Transitions saves lives. Period.

“What I love about Healing Transitions is they don’t give up on people who need help,” says local hospitality titan Scott Crawford, who, beyond his dedication to nourishing the community via his boon of best-in-class concepts, also serves as a distinguished member of Healing Transitions’ board of directors—and is marking his 20th year of recovery with his inaugural October Freedom Harvest event to benefit the nonprofit (p. 46). 

“There were people in my life who didn’t give up on me,” adds the renowned chef/owner of Crawford Hospitality and five-time James Beard semifinalist—including for Outstanding Hospitality this year. “And this is the reason I can celebrate 20 years of sobriety now—there’s no better way for me to celebrate than to give back to my sobriety community.” 

To that end, every dollar donated to Healing Transitions saves lives—“and the impact doesn’t stop there,” says Budnick. “It ripples out, touching families, friends and the broader community. And it’s our neighbors’ support that makes this possible.” healing-transitions.org