PASSION & PURPOSE

Mary Lou Rodgers is the Founder of Ohana House and Ohana Recovery Residences. Mary Lou pursued and opened multiple locations in order to serve women who were struggling with substance use disorder.

Mary Lou herself struggled with substance use disorder, realizing it wasn’t as simple as admitting to being an “alcoholic/addict.” She found herself with an inability to stay away from the substances that were causing her harm within her family relationships, causing her to get multiple DUI’s, and sending her into a dangerous cycle of self loathing.

Mary Lou’s first experience with treatment started in January of 2006, and for the next four years her life became a living Hell. She would have extensive lengths of sobriety followed by turning to alcohol for an escape when life and all its pressures became too much. In July 2010, Mary Lou finally found a solution that has continued to support her well being to this day.

The solution?? Going to treatment over and over again wasn’t enough - she added transitional housing to the recipe. Transitional housing gave her the “break” she needed from the ongoing pressures of her family, her finances, her job, and it provided a safe haven to slowly implement the changes she was learning at IOP. Living with like minded women who were on the same journey of finding a better way to cope with the pressures of life, she was able to slow down and gain better understanding of how “little” brush it off situations could turn into depression and activate her anxiety disorder.

After a solid seven years of living life in a healthy and meaningful way, Mary Lou was inspired to create more of what worked for her, so other women could find their own solutions to a life of health and wellness.

Her passion for wellness created a new life purpose, which fueled her and have her the inspiration to open Ohana House & Ohana Recovery Residences.

Mary Lou, from her own suffering and experiential learning, knew that one ingredient didn’t make the “outcome”, it required multiple ingredients, the two primary being treatment and a safe place to call home while you do the emotional work that leads to lifelong wellness.

As Ohana’s founder Mary Lou is now an advisor to the staff and team that instills the values established under her leadership.