Demetrius Fassas, Butte SPIRIT Homes Executive Director
Demetrius Fassas is this year’s Mignon Waterman Award recipient in recognition of his leadership of the Butte SPIRIT Homes (BSH) substance use disorder recovery housing and his support for recovery housing services statewide.
BSH is a community-based peer support center that runs two adult recovery homes that provide transitional living for men and women recovering from substance use disorders. The homes are licensed and state-approved to provide “clinically managed low-intensity residential treatment” (ASAM Level 3.1), meaning that they function as safe, alcohol and drug-free environments for people in the early stages of recovery or people who are transitioning to less intense levels of treatment but still need housing. Demetrius co-founded BSH in 2019 with the help of the Butte recovery community and serves as its executive director.
The recovery movement in Montana is on the rise, and I am grateful to be a part of creating systems that are both sustainable and accountable to a high standard of care. In early recovery, I had to search hard to find a sober living home in Butte and ended up having to move to the next county over to have a safe and supportive environment. Butte SPIRIT Homes was created by people in recovery, for people in recovery, and stands today as a strong model for combining the clinical and social models to create a peer-driven support network for people in early recovery. It is a great honor to have this work recognized through the Mignon Waterman Award, and I look forward to continued work with the incredible network of people who are raising the bar for peer-supported recovery across the country.
Demetrius Fassas, Butte SPIRIT Homes Executive Director
Demetrius has taken an innovative approach to developing a recovery program that marries the principles of traditional clinical substance use disorder treatment with a peer-driven social model of recovery. His philosophy focuses on managing the home’s environment—rather than its residents—in a manner that supports recovery.
The recovery program at BSC produces graduates with a 90% success rate of maintaining abstinence from drugs and alcohol.
Sean Wisner, BSH Board of Directors
Part of BSH’s success has been Demetrius’active approach to building strong partnerships both in the Butte community and with recovery organizations statewide. In Silver-Bow County, collaborations focus on developing a support community for BSH residents during and after their stay. Partners include the local health and police departments, mental health and chemical dependency treatment centers, job training, social services, and other community-based support for those in recovery.
BSH also became the first adopter of Montana Peer Network’s Affiliate Program, fostering connections among peer-driven organizations statewide. Demetrius and several of his 13 staff are certified Behavioral Health Peer Support Specialists.
In addition to serving as executive director of BSH, Demetrius plays an active leadership role in the Butte recovery community. He has served on the Butte-Silver Bow Behavioral Health Local Advisory Council, is vice-chairperson for the Recovery Residence Alliance of Montana, and is co-chair of the Butte-Silver Bow Governing Body for the Montana Opioid Abatement Trust. Other contributions include serving as a Butte Mile-Hi Lions Club member and as director of the Covellite Theatre. His community involvement led to his inclusion on the 2024 Butte-Silver Bow 20 under 40 list.
While Demetrius has made significant contributions to making substance use recovery services more accessible in Butte, he has also made critical contributions to state policies that support recovery residences across Montana.
His input helped modify legislation to facilitate effective and sustainable staffing models for recovery homes, improved staff training, ensured insurance coverage continuity for residents as they regained employment, and supported age-appropriate services for facilities that serve parents and children.
Demetrius sits on the governing body for the newly created state affiliate of the National Alliance of Recovery Residences affiliate for the State of Montana. He also routinely makes time to support new recovery residence operators and provides tours of the homes he developed and his process for establishing BSH with those interested in implementing a similar model.
Seeing your clinical model turned inside out, with the community at its heart, was something I didn’t think was possible until today. Whatever ‘it’ is, you’ve got it. Keep doing what you’re doing—you all are truly amazing.
Peter Maney, Recovery Residence Alliance of Montana Director
About the Award
In 2017, we created the Mignon Waterman Award to honor the life and legacy of our founding trustee, a tireless advocate for behavioral health in Montana. Each year, we accept nominations for individuals who embody the spirit of the award and have significantly contributed to improving behavioral health in Montana. Learn more about Mignon, the award, and previous recipients here.
