Penticton’s Discovery House continues to have a year of great success as it heads towards the addiction recovery program’s fourth building.
The program is also heading towards its goal of $150,000 for 2021’s Shed the Light On Addiction campaign ahead of their light-up event on Dec. 18.
The provincial government issued a release on Tuesday, Dec. 7 highlighting treatment and recovery beds that are now operational with funding from the government, including five beds at Discovery House.
Those five treatment and recovery beds are fully funded for three years, and include a dedicated Indigenous and a rural homelessness prevention bed. Those beds will provide access to populations who otherwise face difficulties in getting treatment.
“There is a much higher prevalence [per capita] of overdose in Indigenous persons due to unmitigated generational trauma, colonialism and systematic racism,” said Discovery House executive director Jerome Abraham in a press release. “Rural communities in our region have experienced overdose and addiction rates that are typically on par with larger centres, but traditionally received little or no government support for recovery or support services.”
READ MORE: B.C. announces 47 new addiction recovery beds, converts 58 private spots to public
The funding for the beds are the latest highlight in a year of growth and success for the program.
In April, Discovery House purchased their third property and opened Parker Place with five independent living beds for those who have completed their treatment at Discovery House and are working their way back into the community.
Funding for three-quarters of the new carriage house on the Parker Place property was also achieved, and Discovery House is currently holding their annual Shed the Light on Addiction fundraising campaign to raise the remaining $150,000.
Those spaces allow indefinite stays for those in the program’s care to get the support they need until they are ready to move out on their own.
Shed the Light takes place on Dec. 18 when the lights turn turn on at Discovery House and people are welcome to enjoy some hot chocolate and listen to speakers from 5 to 6 p.m.
For 2021, the program has seen 72 per cent of those eligible complete their 90-program at Discovery House, and had close 40 per cent of their clients achieve a year free of substance use.
“The guaranteed funding has allowed us to focus fully on client care rather than how to subsidize the cost of the beds and we’ve witnessed better outcomes, such as a nearly 50% increase in clients completing their initial 90-day treatment in the six-month period since this funding began,” said Abraham.
Discovery House also rolled out a continuing care program for alumni in 2021, which included weekly meetings for alumni and residents at Parker Place, monthly alumni meetings and dinners and weekly availability to the program’s counsellor.
To support the Shed the Light on Addiction campaign you can donate through their Canadahelps page, but Discovery House will also accept E-Transfers to: prrs@shaw.ca or cheques mailed to Discovery House, 633 Winnipeg St., Penticton, B.C. V2A 5N1 You can also contact Jerome Abraham at 250-462-1388 for more information.
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