Community leaders, recovery advocates, and public officials gathered to celebrate the grand opening of The McDaniel Apartments at Andy’s Place II, a major expansion of Michigan’s first Permanent Recovery Supportive Housing (PRSH) initiative.
The new phase is named in honor of Mark McDaniel, President and CEO of Cinnaire, whose decades-long commitment to housing justice and recovery support has helped transform the way Michigan addresses addiction.
“Recovery housing works—and we have the numbers to prove it,” said McDaniel, CEO of Cinnaire. “Nationally, opioid addiction recovery fails over 90% of the time. But at Andy’s Place, our recidivism rate is under 4%. No other program in the state has shown this level of success. That’s why we are not just celebrating what we’ve built here — we’re planning to build more.”
A Critical Expansion in the Fight Against Opioid Addiction
Opioid addiction remains one of the nation’s most urgent public health challenges, claiming over 130 lives per day and affecting more than 2 million Americans. One of the greatest barriers to recovery is the lack of safe, affordable housing. Andy’s Place, established in 2020, was the first in Michigan to directly link long-term housing with recovery services.
The opening of Andy’s Place II, now The McDaniel Apartments, builds on this success by focusing on keeping families together through recovery. Unlike the first phase, which primarily serves treatment court referrals, this phase is open to families applying directly, expanding access to critical support.
“Recovery isn’t just about individuals—it’s about whole families healing and building a better future,” said Mike Hirst, founder of Andy’s Angels. “This expansion is a tribute to my son Andy’s memory and a beacon of hope for families in crisis.”
Residents at The McDaniel Apartments will have access to the full suite of wraparound services offered at Andy’s Place, including:
- Peer recovery coaching
- On-site behavioral health services
- A resource center and community room
- Outdoor gathering spaces, picnic areas, and a tot lot
These features are designed to reduce relapse, prevent family separation, and help residents develop the skills needed for long-term recovery and independence.
“It’s about saving lives. Keeping families together is a critical part of recovery. The expansion of Andy’s Place, with the McDaniel Apartments, does that by offering safe housing, resources, and support to families to help their loved ones heal,” said State Rep. Kathy Schmaltz, Michigan’s 46th District. “We are fortunate to have Mike Hirst in our community, who’s dedicated his life to helping those with substance abuse disorders get better.”
The McDaniel Apartments were made possible through a collaboration among local, state, and private-sector partners, including Cinnaire, Huntington Bank, Comerica, Fifth Third Bank, Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) and various community-based organizations. This includes opioid settlement funds through the State of Michigan Opioid Healing and Recovery Fund.
“MSHDA is proud to be a partner in the expansion of Andy’s Place with investments of Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and Project-Based Vouchers, ensuring individuals and families most in need have stable housing as a foundation for recovery and long-term success,” said Lisa Kemmis, Chief Housing Solutions Officer. “The Mark McDaniel Apartments build on a proven model where housing and recovery services come together to save lives, strengthen families, and create lasting stability.”
“Stable housing is one of the most powerful tools we have to prevent setbacks in substance use disorder recovery and overdose,” said Elizabeth Hertel, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services director. “These investments provide people in recovery with the security, structure and dignity they need to thrive. By directing opioid settlement funds to recovery housing, we are creating meaningful, lasting change in communities.”
As the opioid crisis continues to evolve, so too must the tools used to fight it. The proven success of Andy’s Place has created a blueprint for recovery housing statewide.
“We plan to build more places like The McDaniel Apartments,” said McDaniel. “Every family deserves a fighting chance—and with the right support, recovery is not only possible, it’s sustainable.”
