ALLEGHENY TWP — Davis Archway House is a halfway house outside Herman for recovering addicts.

It's named for the Rev. David Davis, a pastor with the Mercer United Methodist Church who saved Chet Leech's life in 1996.

“He believed in me and supported me,” Leech said. “It worked for me.”

Leech went through rehab and got his life on track. With his wife, Jessica, he has helped about 1,500 addicts recover over a period of 10 years through Davis Archway House.

The Leeches are building a treatment facility in Allegheny Township near Emlenton, Clarion County that they're calling the Davis Archway Treatment Center.

The 27,000 square-foot, 96-room, 60-bed building will be a co-ed center for recovering drug and alcohol addicts.

“It's taken a long time to get it built,” Chet Leech said.

It also has taken $4.5 million.

The Leeches invested in the center themselves, with a $3.5 million loan from First Commonwealth Bank and a $200,000 grant from Southwest Behavioral Health Management in New Castle.

Leech said the center will have many amenities, including a detox center. Physicians and nurses will be available to help “wean” people off drugs or alcohol.

“That's one of the things that Butler has needed,” Leech said. “It's the only one in Butler County.”

“The number of detox facilities and beds that are available (in Butler) is very low,” said Beth Neveux, Butler County Drug and Alcohol Programs case management supervisor. “Any new facilities ... are very needed.”

The center also will provide recovering addicts with short- and long-term residential care. For some men, the facility will be a precursor to Davis Archway House, where recovered addicts participate in community service and enter the workforce.

“We've kind of reintroduced them back into society,” Leech said. “We have a structured program.”

Leech said a business owner recently told him she has hired several men who have recovered with the help of Davis Archway.

“It changed her view on people with addictions,” he said. “A lot of our men stay clean and sober long-term.”

Neveux believes the new center will make it easier for former addicts to get back on track.

“It will support a really smooth and successful transition after detox,” Neveux said.

Butler County Drug and Alcohol Program Director Donna Jenereski said having a detox facility near Butler will provide recovering addicts with stability.

“(This) will afford individuals the opportunity to remain close to home,” Jenereski said.

The Leeches broke ground on Davis Archway Treatment Center in May 2018 and hope to wrap up construction in the next four weeks.

Chet Leech says the journey was supported by many people, including Butler County Commissioners.

“All three of them,” Leech said. “We built this from the ground up.”

It takes about 90 days to become a licensed facility. Leech hopes to begin helping people by January.

“I believe it will bring (Butler) a place where people can get quality treatment,” he said. “We've truly made our decisions based on the clients.”

Jenereski said the Davis Archway corporation is a valued part of Butler County.

“We continue to support Davis Archway,” Jenereski said.

Leech has worked not only to help addicts recover, but also to change public perception.

“They're human beings,” he said. “And they get treated badly.”