Regional politicians will get a look today at plans for a $25-million addictions recovery and housing centre in Pouce Coupe.
North Winds Wellness Centre Society is scheduled to present an update to the PRRD on their development of a 60-unit facility, including 10 beds for detox, 10 for addictions treatment, and 40 for recovery housing.
North Winds, which currently operates a 10-bed centre in Farmington, says statistics substantiate the need, processing 228 applications and accepting 75 into treatment in 2021-22.
Of those, 147 were from the north, including 64 from the Treaty 8 and PRRD areas, according to the society. Another 81 applicants were accepted from the Island, Interior, Fraser, and Vancouver Coastal regions, as well as three from the Yukon and one from Saskatchewan.
An expanded facility in Pouce Coupe would use an addictions recovery community housing model (ARCH) in collaboration with Vancouver-based Streetohome, according to the society. As well as detox and treatment, the facility would also include dining and meeting rooms, a library, kitchen, and laundry, as well as reception, intake, and administrative areas.
“There will also be a Recovery Community Centre at the hub of the facility that will use therapeutic models of treatment to support recovery,” the society says in its proposal outline to the regional district board, adding it is working with Streetohome "to be the first Canadian Wellness Centre to use the ARCH Model, providing the whole continuum of care under the same roof.”
The society says the project is planned for 23 acres of land already zoned for its proposed use, and that public engagements with the local council and community were held from February to May last year.
A development application was submitted in June. Kumlin Sullivan are the architects of the planned net-zero building, and Synergy-ROC has been appointed construction manager, which is aiming to start on site as early as this May.
“A complete feasibility study has been prepared; a building permit application is currently being progressed with submission in the next 6-8 weeks,” the society outlines in its presentation to the board.
However, it adds, “We are still needing to meet the target budget.”
“Our intent is to start on site when the weather improves in May 2023,” the society said. “The project has been designed to maximize off-site manufacture so that we can fast track the delivery and completion anticipated by October 2024.”
The project so far has secured $834,000 in seed funding from the health ministry, Northern Health, and CMHC, as well as $5.6 million from the First Nations Health Authority. The society is also seeking project funding from BC Housing, Streetohome, and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
Read the presentation materials below to learn more:
North Winds Wellness Centre Society - Development of Addiction Recovery Community Housing by AlaskaHighwayNews on Scribd
