His House of Hope Brings Recovery to Price County

By Price County Fun Editorial Team | Price County, Wisconsin

Last updated: June 11, 2026

His House of Hope residential recovery facility south of Park Falls, Wisconsin — His House of Hope, a residential recovery program for men located south of Park Falls, Wisconsin.

Drive south out of Park Falls on a county road most people just use to get somewhere else, and you’ll pass a house you probably wouldn’t think twice about. That house has been running an experiment in recovery for nearly two years now — three phases, one staff member, seven beds, zero public funding. And the early numbers are hard to argue with.

His House of Hope showed up before the Price County Opioid Ad-Hoc Committee on June 10 looking for a share of the opioid settlement money. Robert Nacka runs the place — he’s the executive director and the only full-time employee. He told the committee what they’ve managed so far: 23 men through the program since it opened, 12 of them back in the workforce, and 3,300 collective days of sobriety stacked up. Seven guys are in the program right now, each committed to staying 9 to 18 months.

“We’re killing it,” Nacka said. “I think we’re doing a really good job for the community and these guys.”

He wasn’t bragging. He was making a case.

How the Program Works

The program has three phases, and Phase One is the hardest. No cell phones. No job. Residents get a house phone they can use to call approved family members, and that’s about it for outside contact. The whole point is to strip everything away and figure out what got them here in the first place, the trauma, the circumstances, the patterns that led to addiction. Nacka spends 16 to 20 hours a week sitting with each guy one-on-one, working through what he calls the Genesis process, building a treatment plan from scratch.

Phase Two adds part-time work. The counseling and treatment plans keep going, but residents start putting in hours at a job. “I only do part-time because I want to see them transition into a proper fulfillment of who they are,” Nacka said. The idea is to keep the recovery momentum while they figure out how to hold down a job again.

Phase Three is the letting-go part. Full-time work, finding a place to live, furnishing it, easing back into society without someone watching over them 24/7. There’s still a safety net, graduates can call or come by whenever they need, but the structure loosens up so they can see if they’re ready.

The program covers just about everything you’d need to get your life back together: eye and dental care, mental health counseling, substance abuse counseling, court appearances and family court, parenting classes, budgeting, time management, resume writing, interview skills, job retention. Residents go to church, AA, NA, Celebrate Recovery. Nacka has already helped three men handle the court system across multiple counties to win back visitation or custody of their kids.

The Funding Gap

The math is simple. Nacka is the only staff member. A second person would cost roughly $43,000 a year. “If I could have a staff member for a year, I can push these numbers of impact higher,” he said.

He only found out about the opioid committee meeting two days before, so he didn’t come with a polished ask. He told the committee he’d be back next month with something more specific. Paula Hodc, who chairs the committee, said future requests should come through committee members so they can make sure everything lines up with what the opioid settlement actually allows.

That’s a bigger deal than it sounds. Nick Trimmer from the County Administration office pointed out the county can’t just write a check to a recovery program or a food pantry. It has to fund a specific, documented service that fits the state’s allowable uses for the settlement money. The good news, Trimmer said, is those allowable uses are broader than what the county normally deals with, especially for education and prevention.

“We as a county can’t just give money to a food pantry,” Trimmer said. “It has to provide a very specific outlined service for us.”

What the Committee is Considering

The Opioid Ad-Hoc Committee has five meetings total to figure out how to spend Price County’s share of the settlement. They’re on meeting two of five. Here’s the wishlist they’ve cobbled together so far:

A body scanner for the jail to keep contraband out
Drug testing machines, especially ones that can flag fentanyl
Drug court support and maybe an expansion
Narcan availability and training
Youth education programs and training for trusted adults in schools
Harm reduction supplies, lock boxes, terra bags, needle collection
A detox facility (members called this “a big ask”)
Paying for AODA assessments for juveniles who can’t afford them
Prevention and education booths at community events
Help with caseworker burnout in human services

The body scanner idea came from law enforcement members on the committee, who said contraband keeps finding its way into the jail. A fentanyl-specific drug testing machine would help both cops and treatment providers respond faster. The AODA assessment gap is one of those concrete problems that’s easy to overlook, kids can’t get the assessments they need to go home, because nobody’s paying for them.

Every proposal has to tie back to opioids. “It’s opioid related, that’s first of all, that’s the key word,” Hodc said.

The Bigger Picture

His House of Hope has been an official 501(c)(3) for about three years and running its residential program for just under two. Right now it’s men only, but Nacka has plans, a women’s facility, a youth facility, using the same three-phase model. With one staff member stretched across seven residents, expansion isn’t happening without money.

The committee’s next meeting is July 8. His House of Hope will be on the agenda with a formal funding request. Whatever the committee recommends goes to the Health and Human Services Board, and from there to the full County Board for a vote.

Think about what’s on the table. Twelve men back in the workforce. Three getting their kids back. Over three thousand days of sobriety from guys who showed up homeless and addicted. Those are the numbers Nacka brought to that room. The question for July is what Price County decides they’re worth.

FAQ

What is His House of Hope?

His House of Hope is a residential recovery program for men struggling with addiction and homelessness, located south of Park Falls, Wisconsin. It’s a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that’s been operating for just under two years.

How long is the program?

Residents typically stay 9 to 18 months. The program moves through three phases, intensive individual counseling first, then part-time work, then full independent living with a safety net.

What results has His House of Hope seen?

As of June 2026, 23 men have gone through the program. Twelve are back in the workforce. The program has accumulated 3,300 collective days of sobriety. Seven men are currently enrolled.

Is His House of Hope seeking county funding?

Yes. Director Robert Nacka appeared before the Price County Opioid Ad-Hoc Committee on June 10, 2026, asking for opioid settlement money. He plans to return with a formal funding proposal at the committee’s July 8 meeting.

Will His House of Hope serve women or youth?

Nacka hopes to eventually open a women’s facility and a youth facility using the same three-phase program. Right now the program is limited to men only.

Price County Fun will be at the July 8 Opioid Ad-Hoc Committee meeting covering His House of Hope’s funding request and whatever else shakes out.

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