Traverse City’s Addiction Treatment Services (ATS) announced this week that it would be temporarily shuttering its Recovery Homes program. That program spans six different transitional housing buildings in the area, intended to help recovering addicts stay clean and sober after leaving a more intensive residential treatment program. ATS is closing those homes in hopes of soon consolidating all of its operations to a single central headquarters.

“As we celebrate 50 years of ATS, we can’t help but imagine what the next 50 will look like,” reads an ATS press release sent to local media on Tuesday. “We envision improved client care, operational efficiencies, and building a healthier community across Northern Michigan. We picture consolidating all 11 buildings and facilities into one headquarters to grow our programs and make recovery even more accessible.”

In closing the Recovery Homes program, ATS plans to sell those six properties, which constitue the majority of its real estate portfolio. Such a move, the organization states, will allow the organization “to take the next steps in consolidating into one center.”

“Although the decision to temporarily close the program has been hard, we are grateful to be taking our first steps in making one facility a reality,” said ATS CEO Paula Lipinski. “Getting ATS under one roof has been our goal for many years to improve client care, our company culture and become more efficient for the next 50 years.”

To prepare for the sale of the six houses currently being used for the Recovery Homes program, ATS has paused new client admission and will phase out current clients “upon program completion.” ATS expects all six homes will be closed by the end of this summer, and that the houses will hit the market shortly thereafter. All other aspects of ATS, including programs for withdrawal management, residential treatment, and outpatient services, will continue as normal.

ATS has encouraged those in need of a recovery home to seek assistance from the Michigan Association of Recovery Resources, Project Unity for Life, or Keys to Freedom Ministries.