Today we’d like to introduce you to Caleb Madison.
Caleb, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
R3House began in 2016 out of a very personal place. After addiction directly impacted their family, John and Wilma Roberts, along with their son Paul, recognized a critical gap in Lancaster County, there simply were not enough high-quality, structured sober living environments for individuals serious about recovery. What started as a response to personal hardship quickly became a mission to serve others walking the same path.
From the beginning, the vision for R3House was clear: provide more than just a place to stay. We believed that people in recovery deserve to live in a quality home, in an accountable and supportive environment, where they have real opportunities to grow and flourish spiritually, emotionally, and physically. We understood that recovery doesn’t happen in isolation, it requires structure, community, and a foundation of dignity and stability. That belief became the backbone of everything we built.
At R3, we center our work around three core outcomes: helping individuals recover from addiction, restore their identity and self-worth, and rebuild their lives. Recovery is about breaking free from substance use, but it doesn’t stop there. Restoration means rediscovering confidence, repairing relationships, and recognizing one’s God-given value. Rebuilding is about stepping into a future filled with purpose, direction, and hope.
As R3House began to grow, it became increasingly clear that housing alone was not enough. Our residents needed more structured support to succeed long-term. This realization intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019, when the need for comprehensive services became undeniable. In response, John founded R3 Recovery Services as a nonprofit organization designed to support the growing needs of our community.
We developed a robust case management program that included needs assessments, ongoing 30-, 60-, and 90-day follow-ups, life skills development, and individualized support planning. The goal was to help each member build a sustainable foundation for recovery, not just remain sober, but truly succeed in life.
In 2022, we took another major step forward by expanding into clinical services, adding drug and alcohol therapy to our offerings. Today, R3 Recovery Services provides Partial Hospitalization (PHP), Intensive Outpatient (IOP), and Outpatient (OP) services. These programs are available both to residents of R3House and to individuals in the broader community who are seeking high-quality treatment.
Throughout this journey, our mission has remained the same: Recover, Restore, Rebuild. We exist to help people overcome addiction, reclaim what was lost, and build meaningful, purpose-driven lives. Everything we do, from our housing to our clinical services, is guided by this mission.
Our core values shape how we carry that mission out every day. We are deeply committed to growth, not only for our clients, but for our staff and our organization as a whole. We believe in the power of team, recognizing that recovery happens in community and that no one succeeds alone. We are mission-driven in every decision, constantly asking whether what we are doing moves people closer to lasting recovery. We prioritize kindness, creating an environment where people feel safe, supported, and valued. And we stand firmly on truth, knowing that honesty, accountability, and integrity are essential to both healing and organizational excellence.
What began as a small, family-driven effort has grown into a comprehensive recovery organization serving Lancaster and beyond. But at our core, we have never lost sight of why we started, to stand in the gap for people battling addiction and to offer them not just treatment, but a real chance at a new life.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Nothing in life, especially in this field, is a smooth road. Our journey has been marked by both deeply painful challenges and incredibly meaningful victories.
One of the hardest parts of this work is the reality that we have lost people along the way. We have seen too many former residents lose their lives to addiction, and we have walked alongside families in some of their darkest moments, offering support and compassion through grief and loss. Those experiences never become easy. They are heavy, and they stay with you. But they also serve as a powerful reminder of why this work matters so much. Those losses fuel our commitment to keep going, to keep improving, and to reach as many people as we can, even when the road is difficult.
At the same time, we have also had the privilege of witnessing incredible transformation. We have seen individuals rebuild relationships with their families, restore their sense of identity and purpose, and go on to establish meaningful careers and stable, fulfilling lives. Watching someone move from hopelessness to purpose, from brokenness to restoration, is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do.
There have also been organizational challenges along the way, growing from a small sober living initiative into a comprehensive recovery organization required us to continually adapt, expand services, and navigate complex systems of care. The COVID-19 pandemic, in particular, tested us in ways we never anticipated, but it also pushed us to grow and strengthen our ability to serve.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Caleb Director of Operations – I began my career in the addiction treatment field by helping lead a drug and alcohol program in West Chester that focused heavily on opioid response during a critical time. That program offered PHP, IOP, and OP, along with psychiatric services and medication-assisted treatment. It gave me the opportunity to learn every aspect of addiction treatment, both clinically and operationally.
During that time, I saw the full spectrum of what addiction does. I watched many people rebuild their lives, reconnect with their families, and find stability and purpose again. At the same time, I also experienced the reality that not everyone makes it. Seeing both outcomes had a profound impact on me and ultimately shaped how I approach this work.
Addiction recovery became more than just a career for me. It became something personal. I realized that my strengths in leadership, structure, and organizational growth could be used to build programs that don’t just help people get sober, but actually change the trajectory of their lives. Being part of that process is something I consider a privilege, not just a job.
What I specialize in is creating programs and systems that support long-term success. I focus on building environments that are structured, accountable, and designed to help people grow in every area of their lives, not just abstain from substances. I am known for taking a big-picture approach, making sure operations, culture, and clinical care all align toward the same goal of lasting recovery.
What I am most proud of is the impact. Seeing someone who once felt hopeless begin to rebuild their life, restore relationships, find purpose, and move forward with confidence is incredibly meaningful. Knowing that the work we do contributes to that transformation is what drives me every day.
I don’t see this as just treatment. I see it as a mission. My work is grounded in my Christian faith and in a deep belief that every person has inherent, God-given value and dignity. That shapes how I lead, how I treat people, and how I build programs. I am not just focused on helping people survive addiction. I want to help them fully rebuild their lives and step into who they were created to be.
At the end of the day, I care deeply about doing this work well, building something that lasts, and creating real opportunities for people to change their lives.
John Roberts CEO and Founder- John Roberts serves as the visionary and strategic leader behind R3, bringing a unique combination of business acumen, operational excellence, and mission-driven leadership. He oversees property development, financial strategy, and mentorship within the organization, helping shape both the long-term vision and the day-to-day standards that define R3.
John has over 30 years of experience in Information Technology consulting, where he has held executive and partner-level roles at organizations such as IBM, Accenture, and Avanade. In addition to his work with R3, he currently serves as an Executive Partner at a global IT advisory firm. His professional background has given him a strong foundation in leadership, systems thinking, and organizational growth, all of which he has brought into the development of R3.
While his corporate experience is extensive, what truly drives John’s work is personal. His family’s experience with addiction deeply shaped his perspective and ultimately led to his involvement in building R3. For him, this is not just an organizational effort, but a mission to address a need he has seen firsthand.
John is known for setting a high standard across every area of the organization. He pursues excellence in a very intentional way and challenges those around him to do the same. He does not settle for mediocrity and consistently pushes the organization to improve, grow, and operate with integrity. His leadership creates a culture of accountability, responsibility, and purpose.
He is also deeply committed to mentorship. John invests time in developing leaders within the organization, encouraging others to grow both professionally and personally. He believes in building people, not just systems, and works to ensure that the team is aligned, equipped, and motivated to carry out the mission.
At the core of everything he does is his faith. John’s Christian beliefs shape how he views leadership, people, and purpose. He operates from a conviction that every individual has inherent, God-given value and dignity, and that belief influences how he approaches both business decisions and relationships within the organization.
What sets John apart is his ability to combine high-level executive leadership with a deeply personal and mission-driven approach. He brings the discipline and excellence of the corporate world into a setting focused on life change, while never losing sight of the people at the center of the work. His leadership has been instrumental in building R3 into an organization that is both structurally strong and deeply committed to helping individuals rebuild their lives.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
There are many people who deserve credit for the success of R3. What we have built has never been the result of one person, but of a team of committed individuals who have each played a critical role along the way.
Our Clinical Director, Marleigh Johnson, has been instrumental in building a strong, structured clinical program. Her leadership and dedication to quality care have helped ensure that what we offer is not just supportive, but clinically sound and effective. She has played a key role in shaping the therapeutic side of our services and raising the overall standard of care.
Paul Roberts has also been foundational to the growth of R3House. He worked tirelessly for years to help build the program into what it is today. His consistency, work ethic, and commitment to the day-to-day operations helped lay the groundwork for everything that followed.
Wilma Roberts has been a constant source of support both for John and for the organization as a whole. She has done whatever has been needed to help R3 grow and succeed, often behind the scenes. She also brought a unique strength through her design and attention to detail, helping ensure that our homes are not just functional, but welcoming and high-quality environments where people can take pride in where they live.
Our staff deserve significant credit as well. They show up day in and day out with a genuine desire to serve and support our members. The work is not easy, but they continue to lead with care, consistency, and commitment. They are the ones building relationships, walking alongside clients through difficult moments, and helping create the environment that makes recovery possible.
Our community partners have also played an important role. Organizations like Caron Treatment Centers, BriteLife Recovery, and Brookdale trusted us early on and welcomed us into the broader recovery community. Their collaboration and confidence in our work helped us grow and allowed us to serve more individuals effectively.
Finally, our members themselves deserve a tremendous amount of credit. They are at the center of everything we do. They show up, do the work, and push themselves to grow and change every day. Recovery takes courage, discipline, and persistence, and we see that lived out consistently. Their effort and commitment are what make the mission real.
In many ways, the success of R3 is a reflection of all of these people working together toward a shared purpose. It is a team effort in the truest sense.
Pricing:
- We accept all health insurances!
- The best way to get in contact with us is to apply through our website and we can give you a cost breakdown specific to you plan.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.r3house.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/r3houselancaster/ ; https://www.instagram.com/r3recoveryservices/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/recoveryhouselancasterpa/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/r3-recovery-services/posts/?feedView=all ; https://www.linkedin.com/company/r3-house/posts/?feedView=all
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@r3house649
- Other: https://r3recoveryservices.com/
