Laura's Story
Laura went to treatment in 2002 in an effort to regain custody of her 2-year-old son. She did well in treatment and remained sober for a period of time. Unfortunately, the only housing resource for her was in the neighborhood in which she used to use chemicals. She told people she could not live there, but there was nowhere else for her to go. Eventually, the lure of chemical addiction got the better of her. She was taken advantage of and murdered in 2005.
2009
In 2009, with the help of her parents, Tim and Cheryl Colestock, and the support of her husband, Matt Spence Sr., and her children, Matt Thomas and Celia Spence, Spence Specialties, LLC was born and Michaelene’s first sober home became a reality.
Located in North Minneapolis, MN, DeLaura House honored the memories of Deb and Laura. These were two women very dear to Michaelene who lost their battle with addiction.
2012
In 2012, Michaelene's family purchased their next sober home, Kelly’s Place. From there, things took off and the family was able to continue adding sober homes for women and children throughout the St. Paul area. Spence Specialities LLC acquired additional sober homes as well as an 11-unit apartment building for women in long-term recovery.
2013
Initially, our homes were self-pay sober houses. In 2013, Spence Specialties was awarded a contract with Ramsey County to provide Housing Supports (formerly known as GRH), which pays room and board for the women and children that live in our homes. This removed another barrier for our residents so they could focus on treatment, recovery, and healing while not worrying about paying rent and money for food. When people's basic needs are taken care of, they can focus on achieving their goals in recovery.
2016
In 2016, DeLaura House was sold as a fully functioning sober house to another owner so Michaelene could focus her efforts on serving women in St. Paul.
2018
In 2018, Michaelene stopped running treatment centers for other entities and took a leap of faith to open her own substance use disorders treatment center called ANEW Recovery Services for Women.
In fall of 2018, Michaelene was selected as the Women Venture Social Entrepreneur of the year. Our business would not be where it is today without Women Venture.
2019
ANEW Recovery Services for Women first opened as an outpatient treatment, residing in an 800 sq. ft space. The program quickly outgrew this space and so Michaelene decided to purchase a 3,000 sq ft. commercial office building in 2019 where outpatient services continued to expand. Although this space worked for a few years, Michaelene was blessed with an opportunity to lease a 20,000 sq ft. facility to add residential treatment to the continuum of care.
2021
With the expansion, a growing team, and additional services available, it was time to rebrand. ANEW Chemical Health Services encompasses all that ANEW has to offer. ANEW Chemical Health Services moved to their new home in January of 2021 and opened their first ever residential treatment program for single women.
Today
ANEW Chemical Health Services is comprised of residential treatment (capacity for 40 women) at both high and medium levels of care as well as outpatient treatment. Spence Specialties LLC owns 5 sober homes and a contracted 11 unit apartment building. Women who have completed our outpatient program are eligible to move into these apartments. All of the sober homes are located on the East Side of St. Paul, MN. Some of our spaces are self-pay and some are funded by the county. Our goal is to help women and their children reach the level of independence and strength in their recovery program to move into market rate rental homes, whether that be with us or somewhere else.
ANEW Health and Wellness Clinic opened it’s doors in September of 2023! We are now taking referrals for individual and group therapy!
On the Horizon
What is next you might ask? ANEW plans to open a Daycare Center in spring of 2024!