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Ministry of Forests and Range and Minister responsible for Housing |
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NEW PROGRAM HELPS ADDICTS RECOVER IN FRASER
REGION |
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VICTORIA – The Province, through a partnership between BC Housing and Fraser Health, is starting a new drug and alcohol addiction recovery program that will provide 26 units of housing and support services.
“This
program will help people during a critical stage of their recovery process by
providing stability and shelter,” said Minister Responsible for Housing Rich
Coleman. “By providing housing at this crucial time in their lives, we are
helping people break the cycle of addiction.”
The
Addiction Recovery Program will provide transitional housing, counselling and
support services. A project co-ordinator will place individuals into BC Housing
subsidized apartments throughout the Fraser region and arrange for resident
access to additional support programs.
“The Province has taken a number of
steps to build a system of effective mental health and addictions services in
our province, increasing program funding by nearly 20 per cent since 2001 to
more than $1 billion this year, ” said Health Minister George Abbott. “
Programs like this bring together needed supports for effective addiction
treatment so that people have a better opportunity to concentrate on recovery,
as opposed to worrying about basic needs such as shelter and safety.”
“This
partnership between Fraser Health and BC Housing will greatly benefit
individuals recovering from addictions,” said Keith Anderson, president and CEO
of Fraser Health. “Bringing together affordable housing and support services
makes it possible for them to focus their energies on recovery.”
Clients are
referred to the program after they have achieved sobriety through a Residential
Support Recovery Program funded by Fraser Health. They must have demonstrated a
commitment to their recovery for at least three months and be dedicated to
achieving an alcohol and drug-free life.
The
18-month program also provides an individual recovery plan, which includes
social reintegration, job skills development, education or training, and
employment counselling. Graduates of the program move on to permanent supported
housing, or private market housing, while they continue to receive counselling
and support.
The program is modelled after BC Housing and Vancouver Coastal Health’s successful Addiction Recovery Program, which has about 90 units throughout Vancouver. Since its inception in 2002, approximately 40 people have graduated from the Vancouver program.
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contact: |
Communications Specialist BC Housing 604 439-8583 604 805-4960 (cell) |
604 450-7881 |
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For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca. |
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