September 2, 2021

Watch news conference

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The Manitoba government has fulfilled its commitment of 100 new supportive recovery housing beds with an overall investment of $2.6 million, Mental Health, Wellness and Recovery Minister Audrey Gordon announced today.

“Recovery from substance use or addiction is challenging, and we know that a supportive environment is crucial in an individual’s recovery journey,” said Gordon. “Meeting this important goal works to fill a gap in the continuum of substance use and addiction services in Manitoba, and to better support individuals who are transitioning from treatment programs back into the community.”

Today, the Manitoba government announced a partnership with Brandon and Area Youth For Christ Inc. to develop nine new supportive recovery-housing units in Brandon, with an initial investment of nearly $90,000.

"We believe in creating a community of hope where every youth can find a place to belong,” said Dwayne Dyck, executive director, Westman Youth for Christ. “This funding will help our community develop the additional relational supports necessary for long term recovery.  We look forward to serving Westman youth together with our new partners."

This announcement brings the total number of new supportive recovery housing beds to 100 since first announced in 2019 and includes:

• the development of 70 beds with Siloam Mission, Riverwood Church Community Inc. and Tamarack Recovery Centre Inc. in Winnipeg;
• 12 units with Men Are Part of the Solution Inc., based in Thompson and targeting women in the northern region; and
• nine units with the Community Health and Housing Association Westman Region Inc. for the Brandon region.

“This funding will provide our graduates and our community with the essential support they need on their recovery journey,” said Lisa Cowan, executive director, Tamarack Recovery Centre. “We are grateful for the government’s continued support of and confidence in Tamarack Recovery Centre.”

Supportive recovery housing provides accommodation in a stable, abstinence-focused and recovery-oriented environment for six months to two years. Activities focus on coaching for daily living, as individuals transition back to community living.

Residents are provided with:

• a self-contained apartment or bedroom in a group living space, with shared living and kitchen spaces;
• basic supportive counselling and case management;
• service navigation and referrals to community resources;
• assistance developing daily living skills to attain greater stability and independence; and
• support to acquire skills to gain employment, further their education or contribute to the community.

Recommendations from the VIRGO report and the Illicit Drug Task Force report both identified the need to add supportive recovery housing units to help meet demand for these services. The VIRGO report also prioritized services for Indigenous people and recommended increasing capacity of services for women, including access to transitional housing. The minister noted these new units are significant in increasing access to services for both of these groups.

Funding will be provided through the Canada-Manitoba Home and Community Care and Mental Health and Addictions Services Funding Agreement.

For more information on Manitoba’s mental health and addictions strategy, visit:
www.gov.mb.ca/health/mha/strategy.html.

 

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