We’re excited to share this news story about Project Alley, a recovery initiative founded by Heath McDougal-Deans, pastor of Kingsbury Community UCC and a current Member in Discernment in the Rocky Mountain Conference. To learn more, please see the original article in the Vernal Express.
This past November, the city of Vernal, Utah celebrated the Grand Opening of the new home of Project Alley, a sober living house founded by Heath McDougal-Deans in 2023. Project Alley began as a dream born from Heath’s own recovery journey and ministry, and it is growing into a spiritually inclusive sanctuary where women can rebuild their lives free from substances, isolation, and shame.
“Project Alley’s name comes from the idea that even in the darkest alleys of life, there is a way out. A whole new world is out there but change really comes from within. The way is self-love, connection, and community,” said Heath.
Project Alley is rooted in the belief that every person deserves a second chance and a safe place to come as they are and become what they are meant to be. The facility houses up to ten women at a time, and it provides them with a safe and drug-free environment, as well as peer support, encouragement, and structure as they take the step toward a new future.
“I often think about what this town of Vernal has done for me, the kind people I have met, and I am oh so grateful,” said Heath McDougal-Deans.
Heath arrived in Vernal fourteen years ago, and at the time, he was working to get sober. For over eight years, he has ministered at the church that he visited during his first week in Vernal, the Kingsbury Community United Church of Christ. Heath went on to get his master’s degree and has worked as a therapist in the drug court for seven years. Along the way, he and his husband, who grew up in Vernal, adopted two more children. To them, Project Alley is more than just a home. Their goal is to ensure that it is place of dignity, transformation, and healing.
If you would like to help support Project Alley, you can make a donation via their Venmo page, which you can access at venmo.com/u/projectalley. You can also scan the QR code below to donate:
To learn more about Project Alley, please check out this follow-up article in the Salt Lake Tribune or visit the Vernal Express.
