Sober house for military veterans with PTSD opens in southern Minnesota 6i3c31

Nestled amongst the trees and rolling fields in rural Winnebago is a newly constructed house that is the only one of its kind in the country. Bravo Zulu House is the first sober living environment in the U.S. exclusively for military veterans in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction, who also suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. And soon, 12 male veterans will call this place home as they continue their recovery from substance use disorders, while also healing from PTSD. About 300 people gathered outside the home Wednesday for the grand opening, including military veterans and their families, local government officials, mental health and substance use treatment providers, sponsors, donors and others. The goal of Bravo Zulu House is offer more that just a safe harbor, but a tranquil rural sanctuary for veterans striving to overcome addiction and vitally, treat their PTSD. A survey of military veterans by the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs found that veterans diagnosed with both mental health disorders such as PTSD, and substance use disorders had higher rates of suicidal ideation. Mike Feia, U.S. Navy veteran and house manager for Bravo Zulu House says he personally struggled with alcohol substance abuse and depression. What he needed most was brotherhood.Hannah Yang | MPR NewsMike Feia, a U.S. Navy veteran who will be the live-in house manager for Bravo Zulu House, says he understands intimately the challenges of alcoholism and depression. He’s battled both himself. And too often, he says, veterans struggle with these issues alone. But Feia says Bravo Zulu House can be a lifeline for veterans as a place where they can each other in recovery. “My experience with this is that veterans talking to veterans are the only ones that really, truly understand what it’s like to be in those situations, especially a combat situation, only another combat vet will know and understand what that’s like,” Feia said after the ribbon cutting ceremony. Tim Murray, executive director of the sober house, says Bravo Zulu means “job well done” in the military. He says it’s important to now serve veterans who have served their country and suffered because of it, and provide them with a place where they can rebuild their lives. He hopes those who come to live at Bravo Zulu House will eventually leave with the skills and tools to live sober, manage their PTSD, and succeed in both work and family life. In addition to traditional therapies and counseling, residents of Bravo Zulu House will be provided therapy dogs. Each veteran resident and their dog partner will go through “a program tailored and customized to each veteran’s unique situation.” Tim Murray (left), servant leader of Bravo Zulu House, embraces U.S. Army veteran Jack Zimmerman of Mankato, during the grand opening of the first all-veterans sober house dedicated to treating post-traumatic stress disorder and substance abuse.Hannah Yang | MPR NewsMurray also plans to take careful note of how well this treatment works in hopes of offering and expanding similar services and treatment programs all around the country.  “We really want to serve these first 12 men, do a world class job on that, and then have data that shows that this is an effective alternative or a different way to spend health care dollars, and maybe those who have the money to invest would look at that,” he said. Murray says the mission of Bravo Zulu House is to declare war on PTSD, and he and others involved in its development hope it will become a critical resource in the effort to stem the tide of veteran suicide. The $2.25 million facility is funded mostly by private donations, including some from corporate and institutional sponsors. Therapy and other services are provided in collaboration with Mayo Clinic Health System. Bravo Zulu House is also planning to open a sober house for women in Mankato in late 2026.  475654