Maggie Spellman and her daughter Selena Lewis know addiction from the inside. Both in recovery themselves, the Des Moines mother and daughter have opened House of Inspiration.
It’s a peer-based women’s addiction recovery home that is turning their shared story of survival into a lifeline for other Iowa women.
A Family That Fought Back Together
Spellman spent six years homeless and trapped in intravenous methamphetamine addiction before finding sobriety.
Her daughter Selena was there through all of it, and when Spellman finally got clean, the two didn’t just heal. They got to work.
On February 1, 2026, Spellman opened seven beds at House of Inspiration, located near Keo Way and University Avenue in Des Moines.
Lewis quickly stepped in as co-lead and is bringing more than lived experience to the role, she is set to earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology this spring, which she plans to use to guide women through the recovery process.
“We offer a safe shelter, we offer encouragement and most of all, inspiration,” Spellman said. “The biggest thing is, what I tell all my women is, ‘I believe in you, 150%. Do you believe in yourself?'”
Lewis added that it is important for women at the house to take their time building themselves up emotionally, financially and physically.
She believes being surrounded by other women doing the exact same thing is often what makes the difference.
Why Women’s Addiction Recovery in Iowa Is Underfunded
Lewis and Spellman are straightforward: Iowa lacks sufficient resources for women in recovery, and they plan to expand services to help fill that gap.
Their long-term aim is to establish additional homes and an apartment complex where mothers in recovery can live safely with their daughters.
“Just because we’re women doesn’t mean that we don’t deserve the same opportunities as men or others,” Lewis said.
The data backs their frustration. Iowa’s methamphetamine crisis falls almost equally on both sexes, women make up nearly 46.5% of all meth treatment admissions in the state, often linked to polysubstance use.
Yet gender-specific recovery housing remains scarce. Iowa ranks 8th highest in the nation for methamphetamine use disorder treatment admissions, and Polk County, home to Des Moines, has nearly double the state’s average overdose death rate.
Real Women, Real Results
The proof that the model works is already living inside the house. Lasaundra Lanphier has been a resident for one month and is five months sober. It is not her first attempt at recovery, but she says it is her best one.
“This house has given me the strength to continue down my path,” Lanphier said. “I’ve made some really good friendships that are going to last a lifetime, and it’s helping me build the support that I need.”
Lanphier also shared that her daughter is “happy to have her mom back,” a detail that cuts to the heart of what House of Inspiration is really about: restoring the mother-daughter bonds that drug and alcohol addiction tears apart.
How the Program Works
House of Inspiration is structured around choice and accountability. Women apply on their own initiative, must have at least 30 days of sobriety to be eligible, and pay $625 per month in rent.
From there, they enter a six-month to one-year program tailored to each individual’s needs, building the emotional, financial and physical foundation for lasting recovery.
Residents must be enrolled in a 12-step, sober soldiers, or church-based recovery program and use a breathalyzer before curfew each night.
Spellman also plans to bring in a local physician for nutrition guidance and her brother, a yoga instructor, to offer fitness classes. The home was furnished almost entirely through community donations.
Understanding Meth Addiction in Women
Methamphetamine is a powerful stimulant that floods the brain with dopamine, creating an intense but short-lived high.
Users may develop dependence rapidly, leading to more frequent use and escalating doses.
For women, meth use is frequently tied to trauma, domestic instability, or the pressures of caregiving, making peer support from women with shared experience especially effective.
Signs of meth addiction include rapid weight loss, skin sores, tooth decay, paranoia, erratic sleep and withdrawal from family.
If someone you love shows these signs, connecting with addiction treatment centers in Iowa is an important first step.
A Message to Families Watching Someone Struggle
Spellman speaks directly from experience when she addresses the family members who feel helpless on the sidelines.
“Just don’t give up. Don’t give up as an addict and don’t give up as a spouse or a family member on the one you love,” she said.
“There wasn’t one time my mother didn’t tell me every night, even though I was an active addict, how much she loved me, and it’s important.”
That same unconditional love, modeled first by Spellman’s own mother, carried forward through her relationship with Selena, is now the foundation of everything House of Inspiration offers.
Finding Women’s Addiction Recovery Programs in Iowa
House of Inspiration is a peer recovery home, not a clinical detox or treatment program. Women who need medically supervised detox or inpatient care should connect with professional drug rehab centers in Iowa first.
Addictions.com lists verified rehab centers in Iowa and nationwide. Call
800-681-1058
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