BILLINGS, MT—Community Leadership and Development Inc. has expanded its Hannah House recovery program for women, and will mark the milestone with an Open House on Friday, February 13, from 5 to 7 p.m. The event will include presentations by CLDI leaders, tours of the two new homes, and light refreshments. The public is welcome to attend.
The expansion is part of a three-phase initiative. Phase 1, the purchase of additional properties on South 32nd Street, was completed in 2024 to allow for a connected campus of six buildings across four lots. Phase 2 (construction of the two new structures on Lot 117) began last spring, and Phase 3 (redevelopment of existing spaces) is slated to begin this spring, with completion of the full campus expected in the fall.
When complete, the Hannah House campus will include two entry-level program homes, six transitional housing units, onsite daycare, an outdoor playground, increased common areas, and centralized program, office, and meeting space. Existing spaces will be remodeled, with new flooring, windows, and air conditioning among the enhancements.
Capacity will increase from 11 women and 20 children to 18 women and up to 46 accompanying children. Residents typically come directly from drug and alcohol treatment, incarceration, broken homes, and human trafficking situations. Women usually spend at least nine months in the entry program before moving on to progressively more independent living on campus.
The new campus will include significantly more transitional housing. “The added living space will allow Hannah House to provide residents a more seamless and steady transition toward independent living, in a healthy, supportive community,” says CLDI Executive Director Kaleb Perdew. “Hannah House graduates are enormously successful. They are stable, financially and emotionally, confident, and have the faith and practical tools to overcome life’s challenges. They are able to thrive once again, or perhaps for the first time.”
Onsite daycare will ensure smoother reunification of women and their children. “At Hannah House, women are balancing work, treatment, legal obligations, and counseling, all of which makes it necessary to find childcare. The onsite daycare will help mothers reunify with their children and fully engage in their recovery journeys,” Perdew says.
Significant funding for the $1.9 million initiative was secured through grants from the Gianforte Family Foundation, Harnish Foundation, Martin Family Foundation, and Mary Alice Fortin Foundation, as well as donations and in-kind contributions from individuals, local businesses, and corporations.
“The expansion of Hannah House, through added housing and services, is a boom to the Billings community,” says Catherine Koenen, executive director of the Gianforte Family Foundation. “We’re excited to see CLDI fulfill its mission of helping women flourish by walking alongside them on their journey to recovery and independent living.”
Carey Darlington, CLDI director of development, adds, “Hannah House is more than a recovery center. It’s a home. It’s a place where women grow in their skills, healthy relationships, and faith, and are empowered to rebuild their lives.”
Hannah House was founded by CLDI in 2012 as a structured, supportive recovery home for women. For more than 40 years, CLDI has invested in the Billings South Side community through a holistic faith-based program aimed at helping residents thrive financially, spiritually, and relationally. More information on CLDI is available at 406-256-3002 or cldibillings.org.
