Residents across Waterloo Region and Wellington County struggling with addiction now have access to specialized housing units.
The program, funded by the Waterloo Wellington Local Health Integration Network, is a partnership between the Canadian Mental Health Association Grand River Branch, House of Friendship – Addiction Services, Waterloo Regional Homes for Mental Health Inc., and Stonehenge Therapeutic Community.
Twenty-one units are currently open, three in Cambridge, eight in Guelph, and ten in Kitchener-Waterloo. An additional 11 units will open this fall, one in Cambridge, four in Guelph, two in Kitchener-Waterloo, and four in rural Wellington County.
Residents receive housing, addiction counselling, and other services tailored to their needs. That can include addiction counselling, health teaching and lifestyle support, employment services, basic life skills, access to other health services and more.
The program aims to provide those struggling with an addiction a safe and supportive place to recover that will increase overall health, increase housing stability, reduce the number of visits to the emergency department, reduce the number of readmissions to addiction treatment programs, and reduce use of police and ambulance services.
“This collaborative initiative is truly exciting News for our region,” said Kitchener Centre MPP John Milloy. “By investing in this project, we are providing those struggling with addiction with the necessary supports they require to improve their overall well-being and reduce visits to the emergency department.”
Joan Fisk, chairman of the Waterloo Wellington Local Health Integration Network, said, “Waterloo Wellington’s Addiction Supportive Housing program is making a real difference in the lives of local residents today. By working together, local health service providers and the Waterloo Wellington Local Health Integration Network developed an integrated program to meet the specific needs of our local residents. We are already seeing the results in improved client outcomes and reduced emergency department visits.”
Heather Kerr, the executive director of Stonehenge Therapeutic Community, said “The investment of addiction supportive housing in our community is history making, providing for the first time housing support to those struggling with substance use.
“The collaboration between addiction and mental health partners for this service ensures seamless supports and transitions for those participating in the housing program. The impact of this new program for the community and across the health system will be significant.”
Executive director of the House of Friendship John Neufeld said, “As we increasingly understand the links between health and homelessness, the benefits of providing counselling become more apparent. Imagine having nowhere to live and somehow finding the strength to complete a treatment program for addiction.
“Imagine the difference it makes to your recovery to then have a home, and to have access to counselling. That’s the difference the new program is making.”
The program is targeted to help people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and who may have one of the following characteristics:
– repeat users of addictions treatment system;
– complex addiction problems; and
– those with a concurrent disorder.
In 2008-09, 4,462 individuals in Waterloo Wellington sought treatment from the addiction system, and of those. 9.7% reported “no fixed address.”
