As summer drew to a close, Charles County Charitable Trust staff and board members visited The Jude House in Bel Alton, a cornerstone in the region’s recovery network. For decades, The Jude House, Inc. has served Southern Maryland through a continuum of care that includes residential and outpatient treatment, sober living, and community education designed to meet people where they are on their journey to recovery.
The Trust’s visit coincided with The Jude House’s Overdose Awareness event, a day dedicated to remembrance and resilience. Residents gathered to share reflections, listen to alumni speakers, and participate in creative healing activities, such as painting remembrance stones honoring loved ones lost to overdose. The day concluded with a community cookout — a simple yet powerful reminder of connection and shared purpose. It was an honor for Trust staff to see firsthand how The Jude House residents, staff, and volunteers come together in support of long-term recovery.
The visit began at the organization’s newly renovated administration building, located across from the main residential facility. Designed to offer a warm and dignified first impression, the building features patient intake rooms, private meeting areas, classroom space, and offices — elements that underscore The Jude House’s commitment to compassionate care. Across the street, the residential building has undergone extensive upgrades, supported in part by the Charitable Trust’s 2025 Fiscal Year grant. The improvements include new flooring, fresh paint, modern furnishings, and updated workspaces; changes that may seem small but carry deep meaning for those working toward recovery.
“It’s hard to heal in a space that feels forgotten,” one staff member explained. “These updates are a visible promise that residents matter — that their recovery matters.”
Residents have private rooms for up to four patients with bathrooms and have access to shared living areas, laundry facilities, and a commercial kitchen where meals are prepared daily by a culinary professional. The facility also includes a fully equipped gym, a music therapy department, and a community garden, where residents cultivate both fresh produce and a renewed sense of purpose.
Recovery at The Jude House extends beyond treatment. Each week, residents participate in job skills and workforce readiness training, including computer literacy, life skills, and hands-on trade instruction in fields such as HVAC and electrical work. The Maryland Department of Labor’s Southern Maryland JobSource Bus visits the property monthly, connecting participants to open positions across the region.
Graduates of the program often return through a thriving Alumni Program, serving as mentors, volunteers, and advocates — living proof of the program’s lasting impact. “Recovery is not just about sobriety,” staff say. “It’s about rebuilding a life — and being welcomed back into a community that believes in you.”
How to Get Help
The Jude House offers DUI/DWI classes, Intensive Outpatient Services, and Inpatient Treatment Programs tailored to individual needs.
Call 301-932-0700 or email info@thejudehouse.org for confidential assistance.
How to Help
Community members can support The Jude House’s mission through donations and volunteerism (including serving as Board members!):