ARE

What ARE does

A.R.E Drop In Centers (legally ARE, Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) peer-owned and operated nonprofit organization headquartered in Jackson, Michigan, providing community-based mental health and substance use recovery support to individuals in Jackson and Hillsdale counties. Founded over 25 years ago, the organization has served 10,000+ members through a service model built on Certified Peer Support Specialists (CPSS), Certified Youth Peer Support Specialists, and Certified Parent Support Partners who deliver support grounded in lived experience of recovery.

The organization operates two physical drop-in centers (Jackson at 334 W. Franklin Ave and Hillsdale at 64 Hillsdale St.) and delivers core programs including Peer Support Services, Parent Support Partners, Youth Peer Support, and structured Support/Recovery Groups (WRAP, WHAM, Traveler's Guide, Pathways to Recovery). Services are provided free of charge to members, who are primarily referred through institutional partners anchored by LifeWays Community Mental Health, the regional CMH authority, plus the Jackson Community VA Outpatient Clinic, Center for Family Health, and several housing and substance use treatment providers.

Revenue is generated through two streams: (1) tax-deductible donations collected via the Zeffy online platform and by mail, and (2) online merchandise sales through a print-on-demand e-commerce store branded under the Hope Dealers and Recovery Renegade sub-brands, offering t-shirts, hoodies, letterman jackets, and water bottles priced from $11.50 to $75.00. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors (Christopher Moss, President; Christene Ryan, Vice President; Shelly Woods, Treasurer; Ronald Kidd, Member at Large) and led by CEO Ann E. Cole, who has served since 2009. No government contracts, grant amounts, or annual budget figures are disclosed in available sources.

Name

ARE

Legal name

ARE, Inc.

Website

https://arepeerservices.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

A.R.E Drop In Centers (ARE, Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating two drop-in centers in Jackson and Hillsdale, Michigan, delivering free, peer-led mental health and substance use recovery support to 10,000+ members over 25+ years, funded by donations and online merchandise sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Mental Health Peer Support Services

NAICS

Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Peer Support, Recovery Coaching & Sober Living Services (HLAFACAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Substance Use Recovery & Harm Reduction Support Services (BPAGAEAO)

Keywords

• Peer support services
• Mental health recovery
• Community mental health
• Drop-in support centers
• Nonprofit peer services

Headquarters

HQ city

Jackson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization relies on tax-deductible donations from the public to fund operations. Donations can be made online via Zeffy platform or by check mailed to the Jackson office.
2. Merchandise Sales: Online store selling branded merchandise including t-shirts, hoodies, water bottles, and letterman jackets. Products are print-on-demand and sold at various price points ($11.50-$75.00).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

ARE, Inc. (Activities, Recovery, Empowerment) operates two physical drop-in centers in Jackson and Hillsdale, Michigan that provide free, peer-led mental health and substance use recovery support. Services are delivered by Certified Peer Support Specialists, Certified Youth Peer Support Specialists, and Certified Parent Support Partners who use lived experience to assist individuals and families with housing, employment, benefits access, services planning, and recovery groups (WRAP, WHAM, Pathways to Recovery). The organization supplements its mission through an online merchandise store selling branded apparel.

Product overview

ARE, Inc. (Activities, Recovery, Empowerment) is a peer-owned and operated nonprofit organization providing community-based mental health peer support services across Jackson and Hillsdale, Michigan. The organization operates two drop-in centers and offers multiple service programs including Peer Support Services, Parent Support Partners, Youth Peer Support, and Support/Recovery Groups. Additionally, ARE operates an online merchandise store selling branded apparel and accessories under sub-brands including Hope Dealers and Recovery Renegades, with products such as t-shirts, hoodies, letterman jackets, and water bottles. The organization serves over 10,000 members and has been operating for over 25 years.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hope Dealers: A brand/sub-brand used for merchandise products including water bottles, t-shirts, and letterman jackets.
• Recovery Renegade

Products and services

• Peer Support Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 10,000+ members served over 25+ years
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• LifeWays Crisis R & RcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health crisis services partner providing crisis intervention and referral services for ARE clients
• LifeWays Medical ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedical services provider for Hillsdale and Jackson locations, coordinating healthcare access for ARE members
• Center for Family HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhysical health services provider offering primary care and dental services referenced as a resource for ARE clients
• Jackson Community VA Outpatient ClinicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVeteran services partner providing outpatient clinic services for veterans in the Jackson area
• Home of New VisionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSubstance use treatment provider referenced as a resource for ARE clients seeking addiction services
• Hope HouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSubstance use services provider offering residential treatment and support services
• TTIminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHomelessness and housing services organization providing shelter and housing resources
• Jackson Interfaith ShelterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmergency shelter services for individuals experiencing homelessness

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Bring Change to Mind: Bring Change to Mind is a peer-driven mental health awareness and peer support organization focused on youth and young adults — overlapping with ARE's Youth Peer Support service line but operating at national scale rather than community-drop-in scale.

Direct peers

• NAMI: NAMI is the largest nationwide peer-led mental health advocacy and support organization, offering support groups, peer-run programs, and education. Its affiliate network operates local drop-in style peer support very similar to ARE's model, making it the closest comparable peer-run mental health nonprofit.
• Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA): DBSA runs a national network of peer-run support groups for individuals living with mood disorders — a model directly analogous to ARE's WRAP and recovery group offerings. ARE's own COO serves as president of DBSA Metro Detroit, underscoring direct operational overlap.
• Recovery International: Recovery International runs peer-led self-help meetings for adults facing mental health challenges using the Abraham Low method — a structured peer support group model closely paralleling ARE's WRAP, WHAM, and Pathways to Recovery groups.
• Clubhouse International: Clubhouse International accredits and supports a global network of psychosocial rehabilitation "clubhouses" — peer-operated community centers offering recovery support, employment, and social connection. The clubhouse model is a structural sibling of ARE's drop-in centers.
• NAMI Michigan: NAMI Michigan is the state-level affiliate of NAMI, operating peer-led support groups, family programs, and advocacy across Michigan. It is a directly comparable peer in the same geography, with overlapping referral relationships with CMH authorities.

Broad incumbents

• Mental Health America: Mental Health America is the nation's oldest community-based mental health nonprofit, providing peer support, screening, advocacy, and education. It is a broader incumbent with overlapping peer-support programming but a national rather than community-based operating model.

Regional players

• Compeer of Michigan: Compeer runs volunteer-based, one-to-one peer mentoring for adults in mental health recovery across Michigan and other states. It is a regional peer support peer operating in overlapping Michigan geographies with a related (but mentoring-led, not drop-in led) model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ARE