CCS closes St. Mary's Center for Recovery

Friday, Nov. 27, 2015

By Christine Young 

Intermountain Catholic 

SALT LAKE CITY — Catholic Community Services closed St. Mary’s Center for Recovery, previously known as St. Mary’s Home for Men, on Oct. 31 due to a loss of Salt Lake County funding. 

The program was designed as a residence for 40 men; there also was an outpatient program for both men and women, which is why the name was changed about five years ago, said Danielle Stamos, CCS publication relations and marketing director.

The St. Mary Center for Recovery was “a much-needed program in the community, but unfortunately CCS was not able to operate the program any longer, with the loss of the funds,” Stamos said. 

All of the clients who had been at the center, most of whom were military veterans, were placed in other treatment programs through the Veterans Affairs Medical Center Mental Health program and other treatment centers so they can continue their recovery, Stamos said.  

Discontinuing the St. Mary’s program “was a difficult decision after so many years,” said Thomas Callanan, the outgoing president of the CCS Board of Trustees. “Fortunately, every client was placed in other facilities and all CCS staff were absorbed in other programs.” 

Callanan, who has completed a two-year term as president, will be succeeded in the position by Peter Corroon, former Salt Lake County mayor. 

“The past two years as CCS president have been more rewarding than I can say,” Callanan said. “Our board and staff have been outstanding; challenges remain, including all the near- and long-term issues with the homeless, but CCS will continue with its mission.”

The position of board president is more than honorary; because it is a governing board, the president devotes a lot of time, commitment and effort, said Stamos. 

“I am humbled and honored to be leading the board in 2016,” Corroon said. “We are sorry to see St. Mary’s Center for Recovery close, but CCS is making sure that all the clients have been placed in other facilities. CCS will renovate this facility for its own use.”  

CCS is in good financial position, said Corroon, who has on his plate several other matters regarding the organization’s programs. 

“We are engaging with the committees dealing with the homeless issues downtown,” he said. “Palmer de Paulis, who is leading the city’s committee, is also on our board and gives us regular updates. We are also watching what is happening with refugees coming into the U.S. after the Paris bombings. CCS takes in approximately 600 refugees each year. The Refugee Foster Care program is also an important service for those young people who have no family left overseas. We are committed to helping all refugees who come to Utah, irrespective of their national origin.”

The board is also devoting more time and effort toward CCS Northern Utah, “which hosts the largest food pantry in the state,” Corroon said. “It is really emerging as one of the pre-eminent non-profits in northern Utah.”