Named for a mother who never got her chance at recovery.
Vera's Place is named for the late Vera R. Williams. We lost her on July 28, 2018, in the middle of her own ongoing battle with substance use and alcoholism. Vera never fully got the chance to begin her recovery journey.
She was small in stature but brave, with a heart of gold, and naming a recovery house in her honor fits who she was. Vera is still breathing life into people, and still a safe haven for those facing the same road she walked. That speaks to her bravery and her commitment to serving others. She lives on through her son, Randall, her grandchildren, and every life this house touches.
To inspire hope and action by rewarding commitment to recovery. We transform every step forward into an opportunity for growth, helping people rebuild their lives with purpose and pride.
Our visionA future where recovery is celebrated, supported, and sustainable, where every person has the resources, recognition, and opportunities to thrive.
Randall S. Williams II, founder.
Vera's son. President and CEO of the Resource Advocacy Network, with deep roots in McKees Rocks and a personal stake in the recovery community. He built the house's policies to Pennsylvania's Chapter 717 licensing standards and answers the email himself until there's a house manager on the line.
A resident here has a whole network behind them.
Vera's Place is one of the organizations under the Resource Advocacy Network, alongside Redefine Support (certified peer support in downtown Pittsburgh), The Worx! (recovery support services and the Recovery Housing Bridge Program), the REVAMP Initiative (a nonprofit), and WillSTAN Housing. That's peer specialists, case management, and housing options a standalone recovery house can't offer.
Licensed by the Commonwealth. Standards published in full.
Vera's Place holds DDAP License #027030RH from the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs under 28 Pa. Code Chapter 717. That means inspected housing, a written training policy for staff, published resident rights and a grievance procedure, a beginning-of-residency policy, incident reporting, and Narcan on site. It's also what allows state-funded providers and county agencies to refer to us.
The Women's House is going through the same licensure now.