By Karen Haave

The 2nd Story Ranch Recovery Program is living proof that sometimes the sequel is better than the original.

Jim O’Connor and his longtime friend Erik Christenson learned this the hard way.

The two have gone through some terrible times, once struggling with severe alcoholism and homelessness. But thanks to a high-performing inpatient rehabilitation program, and later, a horse farm in Palos Park, they were able to turn it all around.

These days, they are looking to help other men make the same successful transition to a healthy life through the 2nd Story Ranch Recovery Program, a division of The Second Story Foundation.

O’Connor, who serves as executive director of the foundation, holds a degree in Addiction Studies and is a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor.

Christensen is director of operations and has experience as a Substance Abuse Counselor and as a farm operator.

They have over 25 years of continuous, active sobriety between them, along with first-hand knowledge of a farm-based recovery program.

Together with their wives and friends, they work at a 69-acre horse farm in Crete, helping a small group of men on their own journeys to life sequels.

“Based on our years of experience working with men in need of recovery housing, most – if not all – of the men who join the 2nd Story Ranch Recovery Program will have been homeless before entering substance abuse disorder treatment, not all the same, not always what you think,” O’Connor said.

“I’d like people to know that the program we’re developing will not just save lives, but radically change them.

“The people who join our program will be offered supports that no other program in Illinois can offer: A stable home, a meaningful job, directors and peer supports with decades of continual sobriety and professional credentials, a built-in community, a healing environment in a natural setting, spiritual direction, love and time.

“We also have commitments from local health care providers to ensure full medical, dental, psychiatric and (medical assessment) support for our members.

“Providing these dimensions in a holistic program with wraparound care is unique, and it changes the course and trajectory of a person’s life from the abject suffering of severe substance use disorder, homelessness and chronic unemployment, towards purpose, joy and growth.

“I’d also like to people to know that we set standards for success higher than any other recovery home we know of. The goals we set for our members begin with: Completing the program with one-year sober;
obtaining a good-paying job; signing a one-year lease in the independent rental market.

“We commit our full support to our members who work to achieve these goals.

“We believe that what we offer to our members is everything they need to begin building a new life, and that it’s all a gift. We ask that our members earn the gift each day.”

The inspiration for this program arose from shared experiences between O’Connor and partner, Erik Christenson.

Both suffered from severe substance use disorder, homelessness and deep despair. Each in their time was given the gift of housing, work, direction and time at a farm-based program.

“When I first travelled out to look at what is now The 2nd Story Ranch, I called Erik to come out and see the farm. I shared a vision of building out an intentional community, based around a recovery home and jobs program, and I quietly hoped he’d tell me he couldn’t see it working.

“(But) Erik saw what I saw. And we both feel beholden to giving to others what was given to us. We talked for a couple hours and ended-up concluding that we know how to deliver the program, and that it would be a shame if we didn’t work like hell to bring it to life.

“‘What’s stopping us?’” Erik asked. “Hard work and money,’” I said immediately.

“We decided the work doesn’t scare us, and we’d do whatever it took to find the money. We’re still on that journey.”

O’Connor said he still wrestles with tremendous doubt, but he has learned that doubt — fear really — requires courage.

“I rarely trade in certainty, but I believe deeply, I know in my bones, that our program is necessary, achievable, inspiring and transformative. … I directed a long-term recovery program for men on a children’s farm for four years. The model we developed was successful beyond belief.”

In the program, people suffering from severe substance use disorder and its attendant losses and consequences are asked to give-up nearly everything they know about themselves and the world they’ve been living in to make a radical life-change, and to trust the kindness of strangers.

“That is truly overwhelming. But it is also the way forward to love and self-worth, deep meaning wholeness; it’s the way to healthy adulthood and to full-citizenship — and it is hard.

“Being brave enough to undertake this project is the least we can do to show the way forward.”

O’Connor said he works with the horses in the stables, including three that have been brought on to start the second story in their lives.

“We have been rebuilding horse stalls, managing pastures and a new composting system. And I’m currently working with a huge draft horse named Clooney to teach him to ride under saddle for the first time.

“We have help all over,” he added.

“We have many people in recovery volunteering their time and efforts both with the horses and with the property — preparing for our building phase. My wife, Francie, and my partner’s wife, Michelle, are indispensable both to me and our core support teams.”

O’Connor said faith is a large part of the program.

“My father was a Roman Catholic priest, and my mother was a nun when they met — Joseph and Mary were their names — true story.

“I had an excellent Jesuit education and I have a deep faith background that’s evolved over many years and a lot of suffering, grace, love and mystery.

“While we are not a ‘faith-based’ organization, we believe that all life is sacred, and that we are called to love in action. This informs everything we do.”

Plans are underway to expand the farm and build a new 7,000-square-foot lodge with a 2,000-square-foot community center and a kitchen/food pantry. O’Connor is hopeful that within a year, it will house 15 men.

Estimated cost of the lodge and community center is $2,380,800. So far, donations and pledges received total $493,000, with a remaining $1,987,800 still needed.

“The most difficult part is trying to raise money. I am not a professional fundraiser; I don’t circulate among the very wealthy and I haven’t found a playbook for doing this. In the year we’ve spent raising funds for The 2nd Story Ranch project, we’ve found that there is not a lack of money or wealth for a project like ours, both in the public and private sector.

“Gaining access to the people who make decisions on what to fund (public), or being able to meet with individuals who sit atop large family, private and corporate foundations is a process we’re learning on the fly — and getting better at.

That being said, they have been graced with generous donors and financial partners, some in the public and some private, that have helped them achieve the property acquisition of the 69-acre working horse farm, The 2nd Story Ranch.

“The easiest part is working with the people in early recovery who have joined us along the way. Hearing their stories and working in the barns or in the fields with them is an absolute joy for me. It’s hours spent laboring together for something greater than ourselves.”

A member of the Illinois Farm Bureau, O’Connor noted, “The rural qualities, the ag-land, the horses and the hands-on work that is part of the ag life is restorative, hopeful and drives us to do more with the natural gifts that we have on The 2nd Story Ranch. And absolutely every person who has spent time with us on our rural retreat has let us know that the time they spent with us gave them hope and brought them peace.”

To be clear, the ranch is not on the site of the vacant Balmoral Park racetrack.

“We don’t own the former racetrack property. We own a horse racing training facility. We have 84 stalls in our stables and a 5/8-mile limestone racetrack where the horses can train. We are about 5 minutes from the former racetrack.

“We own the property, thanks to a partnership with IFF-Chicago, a CDFI. Brett Mueller and his team there are inspirational and are a huge part of our success.”

Support for the project is plentiful, from both public and private sponsors.

“The fundraising is going well, but we’re a long way from our ultimate goal. We have been blessed with amazing people, and some amazing organizations, especially the Will County Board and Mental Health Board, that have supported us in our mission to build the 2nd Story Ranch Recovery Home and Jobs Program.

“We’re hopeful the Illinois Opioid Settlement grantmaking body supports us when we apply for capital dollars they approved in January to build recovery housing. We believe we’re the most exciting community-based organization they could fund.

“There is a prayer: ‘Oh Lord, Thy Sea is so great, and My Boat so small … ‘ A journey like this is daunting … But we have the model, experience, the people, and the work ethic to meet a need that is so great. We will need help raising the funding so we can do the work that will save lives and transform the suffering of substance use disorder to the joy of recovery.”

People can donate anytime in several ways: visiting The Second Story Foundation GoFundMe page or donate through their website: 2ndstoryfoundation.org.

Checks can be sent to The Second Story Foundation, 3456 Beckwith Lane, Crete, IL 60417.

Or you can call O’Connor at (708) 929-2978, and “I will meet you anywhere, to talk about it.”

Karen Haave is a freelance reporter.

Erik Christenson, longtime friend of Jim O’Connor, were inspired to create the 2nd Story Ranch Recovery Program based on their own experiences with substance abuse. (Photos provided)

Generous donations so far have allowed O’Connor and Christenson to renovate a former horse farm in Crete (Not Balmoral Park) into 2nd Story Ranch.