Andrew Hirst passed away from a heroin overdose in 2010, inspiring his father Mike Hirst to start a nonprofit foundation called Andy’s Angels that supports families dealing with substance use disorder and promotes innovations in recovery. Knowing rates of relapse in traditional 30-, 60-, or 90-day treatment programs are as high as 80 percent and that the human brain can take years to fully heal from long-term drug use, Mike conceived the idea of creating supportive recovery housing.  Mike was ultimately connected to the Jackson project, which was in its beginning stages.  Connecting Andy's Angels with the Jackson project led to MSHDA, MATCP, Cinnaire, Andy's Angels, and Milner & Caringella, along with the Community Action Agency, to turn the Jackson development into Andy’s Place, in honor of Andrew Hirst.

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Andy’s Place addresses the need for long-term affordable housing combined with on-site support services for individuals suffering from substance use disorder. Located in Jackson, Michigan, it is the first permanent supportive recovery housing in the nation that incorporates the drug treatment courts, according to the project partners. The drug courts work to treat substance use disorder as a complex disease and not just a criminal issue, and
officials have found that the lack of affordable, stable housing is often a big obstacle to recovery. Andy’s Place helps to fill that void, providing 39 one-bedroom apartments for individuals and a separate building with 11 two-bedroom apartments for families earning no more than 30% and 50% of the area median income. Residents are referred through the courts, which also fund and manage on-site services, including case management and recovery programs.