Five students are living in a new dedicated space at Virginia Tech while they recover from a substance use disorder.
The Roost, located in Payne Hall, is overseen by a staff member with the Virginia Tech Recovery Community, a unit of Student Affairs.
The Roost includes 14 beds on the same hallway as a recovery lounge, which houses Virginia Tech Recovery Community staff offices, a kitchen and space for gatherings.
The remainder of the beds have been filled this semester with students who are safe and supportive of the recovery community.
“What we were finding and what is very typical for students is that if they’re living off campus with roommates who aren’t in recovery themselves or who maybe aren’t understanding how important it is to support people navigating recovery and sobriety, that can be difficult,” said Kaitlin Carter, assistant director in the Virginia Tech Recovery Community. “For students, especially those in early recovery who are at higher risk of returning to use, being able to live in a community with others who are also in recovery can enhance their recovery capital and minimize return-to-use risk because they have support immediately available to them.”
Students living in The Roost are required to attend a Virginia Tech Recovery Community seminar each week exploring topics related to recovery, addiction, academics and wellness.
With The Roost, Virginia tech joins a growing number of universities dedicating residence hall space for those looking to grow stronger in their recovery journey.
Virginia Tech is also home to Meraki, also located in Payne Hall, a living-learning community in which students focus their passion, creativity and souls into finding themselves through well-being.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony for The Roost is scheduled for Friday at noon outside of Payne Hall.
The event is the first of many planned at Virginia Tech for National Recovery Month.
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Crystal Graham
