OBSERVER File Photo The Mental Health Association in Chautauqua County’s North County Recovery Center is temporarily closed because of issues with their space in Grace Lutheran Church in Dunkirk.

DUNKIRK — More than two weeks ago, a critical resource in northern Chautauqua County shut its doors. With little clarity on what comes next, staff, volunteers, and clients are feeling uneasy.

The Mental Health Association’s North County Recovery Center in Dunkirk has temporarily closed due to “issues with their space” at Grace Lutheran Church, located at 601 Eagle Street. Upon the temporary closure of the site, Executive Director Michael Nordin apologized for any inconvenience it would cause.

An announcement regarding a reopening was said to be coming “as soon as possible.” In the days since, a recording on the county’s MHA answering service stated that while the Dunkirk office will still be located at Grace Lutheran Church, 601 Eagle St. in Dunkirk, it is expected to open in “late September.”

Nordin believes that a solution will be found much sooner than that.

“We hope to be open very soon,” Nordin said. He noted that MHA has evaluated temporary solutions for space in the coming weeks in the event that the issues with the church persist.

Corey Kaus, a volunteer at the Recovery Center, spoke on the work being done in Dunkirk and the impact a long-term closure could have on the community. He stressed the importance of the facility to the region, claiming that he has witnessed several people in the county relapse and/or get sent back to rehab centers in recent weeks.

“It’s not going well. It’s bad,” Kaus said. “I’m just sad seeing that, after all the work that me and my partner put into it.”

Kaus said he believes the presence of mold in the building is the reason for the closure. He was only aware of mold in parts of the church that the Recovery Center did not operate out of, so operation continued for weeks. Then, all of a sudden, there was an abrupt closure.

“I just don’t think it’s fair that they just shut the place down with no warning,” Kaus said. He stated he would volunteer to help with reopening the facility.

Kaus claims there is a “huge discrepancy in funding” between Dunkirk and Jamestown’s facilities. Nordin later clarified that funding had nothing to do with the Dunkirk site’s closure – that it was strictly due to issues with the site.

“We are working with the church to get the issues corrected,” Nordin said. “It has nothing to do with funding. This was strictly the issue with the church and people safety.”

In the past year, Kaus said he has been donating time and money to help keep Dunkirk’s center up and running. Kaus held counseling sessions and led peer groups and meetings, while his partner would host arts and crafts and writing groups.

“We made a difference. Even if we helped one or two people out, it makes a difference,” Kaus said.

Kaus estimated more than 35 clients relied on the Dunkirk Recovery Center in various capacities. Many of those clients do not have the means to travel far to receive the services they seek.

“There are a lot of addicts around here who come for help,” Kaus said. “… We don’t have many people you can talk to about addiction around here. It’s a very upsetting story.”

Kaus knows firsthand the struggles of addiction. He overcame addiction to opiates, which he began taking after an injury at work. He stated he has been clean from taking opiates for 13 years, and also overcame a dependency on alcohol. He is currently taking Academy of Peer Services courses online as he works toward becoming an official peer advocate.

“The most important thing is people talking to each other. That is the most important thing you can do, have a group of people get together,” Kaus said. “We have fun, we laugh and joke around, and we have our serious times. It’s a good place to go. When you have nowhere else to go, you have no family to turn to, it does help a lot.”

Anyone in recovery from substance use or mental health disorders can reach out to the Jamestown center for help, in person or by calling (716) 661-9044. Jamestown’s hours are Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m., and Tuesday and Friday, 9:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m., located in the Gateway Building, Door 14, at 31 Water Street.

Coaches may be made available to meet in Dunkirk, away from the MHA site, for anyone in need of assistance. Each Tuesday, a coach will be present at the Friendly Kitchen in Dunkirk, as well.

For more information, follow MHA Chautauqua on Facebook, visit MHAChautauqua.org, or email info@MHAChautauqua.org. All MHA services, including xylazine wound care kits and fentanyl test kits, are free of charge.