The B.C. government is putting $4.7 million into a proposed recovery program at the former youth-custody centre in View Royal, to help men fight addiction in the midst of an opioid-overdose crisis.
Judy Darcy, minister of mental health and addictions, announced that a therapeutic-recovery community will be run by non-profit Our Place Society for people in a cycle of addiction, homelessness and incarceration.
The goal of the program is for residents to leave after a year or two in control of their addiction, have a place to live, a job and all the life skills necessary to thrive in the wider community, said the government. The idea is that the community heals the individual.
“Our government is working to provide a full spectrum of connected and holistic mental-health and addiction supports to help all British Columbians live happier, more fulfilling lives,” said Darcy, in a statement.
The proposed therapeutic-recovery community will begin accepting male clients in 2019-20.
The program will be free for those referred through the criminal-justice system, Our Place Society or related social-support service providers, and assessed as ready for treatment and suitable for the program.
Counsellors, case managers, health-care and social workers will guide residents over the course of a year or two as they perform tasks to keep the community running, keep to a work schedule, learn job skills and gain confidence.
Residents in this community approach are expected to hold themselves and others accountable, and learn to improve their social skills and behaviours, and build positive relationships.
Clients on medication for opioid-agonist therapy — the drugs methadone or buprenorphine for the management of opioid dependence — will receive appropriate supports.
“We are grateful to the government of B.C. for supporting this life-changing program,” said Don Evans, executive director of Our Place.
Our Place Society is a non-profit organization that helps people in Greater Victoria connect with mental-health, addiction, housing and social services.
“This is an opportunity to not only transform the lives of individuals, but to also transform our community,” Evans said in a news release.
Island Health is partnering with Our Place Society to support the evidence-based clinical services.
The proposed location for the therapeutic-recovery community is the former youth custody centre at 94 Talcott Rd. in View Royal.
In supporting the project, B.C. Housing will lease the property to Our Place for a nominal rate and provide a grant of about $310,000 for site renovations, and three years of property-tax costs, said the government.
Selina Robinson, minister of municipal affairs and housing, said the youth-custody centre has played an important role in helping more than 100 people transition to permanent housing and she is excited to see it play a new role providing the housing to help people rebuild their lives.
Our Place has modelled its program on the San Patrignano Therapeutic Community in Italy, which reports a 72 per cent full-recovery rate for people who complete the program, according to the province.
