North Cowichan will open the first recovery and treatment centre with the main focus on helping locally addicted and homeless people get the treatment they need.
The new facility is a partnership between Together We Can, and CleanUp V9L and according to founding member, Duncan city councillor Garry Bruce, the purpose is to give them everything they need.
“The idea is to take them right from the street and take them right into jobs and housing,” he says. “To take them through the whole rehab system and give them all hope.
“They want to have some help, they can heal and get better; therefore, becoming members of society again.”
Together We Can (TWC) has been working out of the mainland since 1993 and currently has 400 beds across various communities in BC, and TWC director of planning and development Susan Hogarth says it’s an honour to help the Cowichan Valley and those in need get better and the treatment they need.
“V9L reached out to TWC with their ideas for a Cowichan Valley-based treatment centre, and we were encouraged by their commitment for recovery focused on local addicted and homeless people,” she says. “We’re so happy to partner with V9L and open the first recovery and treatment centre in North Cowichan in years.
“We always wanted to thank the small business community, through V9L, for assisting in fundraising to make this project come to fruition.”
The facility is scheduled to be in a rather large house and North Cowichan councillor Tek Manhas says it’ll include 20 beds, a gym and a full kitchen.
He adds those who need the service will be allowed to stay in the facility for up to two years and it will differ from regular detox because people won’t be sent back onto the streets within seven days while they wait for a bed, but rather they’ll be given every opportunity.
“They’ll train you for a job and find housing for you too,” he says. “There’s everything someone would want in their own home.”
Manhas says with a men’s facility ready to go both organizations can focus on providing another centre for women and build a framework to get everyone the help they need.
“Now that we’ve secured a men’s facility, our focus will be on a women’s treatment centre and a separate aftercare and sober house, in conjunction with TWC,” he says. “While the province and our local governments continue to write unworkable plans, we decided to act.
“The North Cowichan TWC treatment centre shows that like-minded business people and citizens can get things done while governments can’t.”
Duncan Dariy Queen owner Travis Berthiaume says this project not only helps those addicted and experiencing turmoil, but it also acts as a beacon to provide light at the end of the tunnel for the whole community.
“It gives us all hope,” he says.
TWC and CleanUp V9L are expected to take ownership of the house on Aug. 1, and people can start moving in on Oct. 1.
