Security

Recovery Rising: The Campaign for Nexus

In 2022, Nexus established a vision for the future: Through public and private funding, Nexus’ entire 11-acre campus will be renewed, redeveloped, and revitalized to establish a state-of-the art recovery community for generations to come. Divided into five phases, the Recovery Rising Capital Campaign will create more privacy for clients and increase capacity by 33%–that translates to space for nearly 1,000 additional clients each year.

Phase I of the Recovery Rising Campaign launched in 2022 and secured $11.6 million to build a state-of-the-art medical center on-site at the Nexus campus. Phase I fundraising concluded in January 2025, and we began welcoming clients in August 2025. Admissions is now housed in the new Doswell Medical Building, affording women the privacy they deserve on what is an extremely emotional – and often painful –day. Admissions is available six days a week—prior to the expansion it was only available during business days. With this expansion in admission services, Nexus is the only non-profit of our kind in our region serving indigent clients seven days a week. The Doswell Medical Building also houses our Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) and Medical Detox programs. In September, our first full month of service in the Doswell Building, we saw a 42% year-over-year increase in client admissions, and we attribute this largely to our seven-day-a-week service cycle.

The response to the new building has been overwhelmingly positive. Intentionality is at the heart of the design of the new building, focused on comfort and safety for clients and staff alike. For the first time in Nexus history, staff have a dedicated breakroom to create privacy and a natural boundary with clients. Clients consistently note how welcoming the new building is- particularly clients who have been to Nexus prior to construction of the Doswell Building. In fact, many women have shared disappointment in having to leave the Doswell building once they completed detox—highlighting how important construction of new dorms (Phase II) are to create a consistent environment for the families we serve.

Recently, Erika, who has been unhoused for several months, arrived at Nexus for Medical Detox. She was hungry, tired, and full of shame because of her substance use disorder and her physical state. Our receptionist, Angelia, who is also a Nexus alum, greeted this client warmly. There was no judgement, only kindness, and she offered her a meal while she waited to be seen by the Admissions staff. This client was able to enjoy the hot meal in the privacy of our client waiting room, again without people looking on and filling in gaps of her story based on her appearance. Once she was admitted, she was able to rest in her detox room and shower in her own bathroom. Of everything she experienced that first day at Nexus, it was the retreat of a private bathroom and shower that stayed with the client.

“I felt whole again. I felt like I wasn’t someone to stare at and pity. I felt deserving of the hugs and encouragement I was receiving from the staff. I could look at myself in the mirror and I was able to look my counselor in the eye and let her know I’m ready for the road ahead.”