Group raising funds to keep families together while addressing addictions

Adult & Teen Challenge of Central Canada is looking to raise $18 million to turn four floors of storage space at their headquarters into a 100-bed life transformation centre. Neve Van Pelt reports.

As hundreds of Manitobans continue to die every year as a result of toxic and poisonous drugs, one group is hoping to bring a new approach forward when it comes to addressing addictions.

Adult and Teen Challenge Canada is currently asking for funds to renovate a warehouse into supportive housing for people struggling with substance use, potentially creating a new reality for many Manitoba families, say leaders with the group.

“The Life-Transformation Centre here at 83 Kate Street, really is going to serve families with a full continuum of addiction treatment and recovery services under one roof,” said President and CEO of Adult and Teen Challenge of Central Canada, Daniel Emond.

Hoping to have roughly 100 beds across the warehouse, Emond says the project will meet families where they are at when it comes to receiving support and they want to ensure the facility is ready when they are, stressing to support the family unit as a whole is critical.

“Nine of the 10 calls we get are usually from a family member saying: ‘My loved one is struggling with addiction, what do we do?’” said Emond drawing on almost two decades of experience.

“It saddened my heart to tell families that: ‘Sorry, Dad has to go into in-residence programming and Mom is left with the kids at home and a mortgage and what to do.’ And I’ve seen families being broken apart.”

Emond says through their approach, families can stay together and be supported while one member is in recovery. Years in the making, the organization’s new facility, which will serve as the group’s HQ and will offer a number of programs, ranging from “step-down” initiatives for users of opioids and other chemical substances, to long-term recovery beds.

The cost of the project is pegged at roughly $18 million and Emond says the organisation is reaching out to all levels of government for financial support as they try to reach their goal, but stresses anyone can contribute to their work. 

“We’re asking everyone,” he said.

“We’re asking families, we’re asking foundations, we’re asking corporations and businesses and we’re asking our government. We’ve been here for 30 years helping families and our organization is worthy of all levels of government support to help families find freedom from addiction.”

On Thursday, a statement from the Government of Manitoba’s Ministry of Housing, Addictions and Homelessness said conversations with the group are already happening.

“We deeply appreciate all organizations working to support Manitobans in recovery. Our government has been working diligently with many local and provincial organizations to ensure Manitoba families are safe and can access the help they need when they need it,” said the statement.

The department of Housing, Addictions and Homelessness has met with Adult and Teen Challenge over the past couple of months and will review any proposals we receive.

As for Emond, he says he’s hopeful. So far conversations with various stakeholders have been positive, but said they still have roughly $14 million they need to raise when it comes to projected costs, and they don’t want to start construction without 80 per cent of funding secured and plans for the remaining 20 per cent in place.

“Everything is project-ready,” he said. “We’re ready for permitting.”

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