If all goes as planned, the former Choices Transitional Housing in View Royal will be home to new programming and new residents.
Our Place Society, which operated Choices, has proposed turning the site at 94 Talcott Rd. into a long term therapeutic recovery community (TRC). But for that to happen, View Royal council will have to approve a rezoning application for the site and the province will need to formally commit to funding.
B次元官网网址淭he neat thing about it is because itB次元官网网址檚 a community, the residents that come in will help choose a name and de-institutionalize it more based on their needs,B次元官网网址� said Grant McKenzie, Our Place director of communications.
B次元官网网址淭he name B次元官网网址楥hoiceB次元官网网址� came from when we first had people in tents,B次元官网网址� McKenzie explained, adding it was the option for people to stay in tents or transition inside.
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At an open house last Thursday, representatives from Our Place unveiled plans for the site and introduced the community to Dana Young, who will be the director of the therapeutic recovery community. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e really hopeful, I think it will make a big difference,B次元官网网址� Young said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 really exciting to see the changes I see in peoplesB次元官网网址� lives B次元官网网址� TheyB次元官网网址檙e people youB次元官网网址檇 want as neighbours.B次元官网网址�
She brings more than 30 years of experience in the criminal justice field and for the past 25 years has worked specifically in the areas of therapeutic communities and program development relating to drugs and alcohol. Young was the program manager of Guthrie Therapeutic Community at the Nanaimo Correctional Centre before making the move to Greater Victoria.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e hoping to start with about 12 residents and weB次元官网网址檒l gradually increase it,B次元官网网址� she said of the proposed program, which could house up to 50 residents with stays ranging from 12 to 24 months.
ItB次元官网网址檚 a model of treatment that includes B次元官网网址榩ush upsB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� positive things residents do B次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址榩ull upsB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� positive things residents do to help another that may need a boost B次元官网网址� and is similar to society in terms of values. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 about residents supporting each other and keeping themselves accountable,B次元官网网址� Young explained. B次元官网网址淧eople start to look at their hopes and dreams and whatB次元官网网址檚 preventing them.B次元官网网址�
Along with learning coping mechanisms and receiving treatment B次元官网网址� both mentally and physically B次元官网网址� residents will also learn life skills and how to be in healthy relationships. There will also be opportunity for social enterprise projects including a woodworking shop, kiln, community garden and more.
One of the primary differences between the new program and the old housing is that the site will be closed. Unlike residents of Choices, participants in the new program will not be allowed to leave the site or use drugs or alcohol.
B次元官网网址淭he people coming to the TRC are wanting to make a change,B次元官网网址� McKenzie said, noting they are people that want to get back to being leaders in society. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 about learning to make good choices B次元官网网址� it can take a long time if your whole life has been in a gang or on the street.B次元官网网址�
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The former residents of Choices were re-homed before the site closed on March 31. More than 100 residents transitioned from Choices into permanent housing with a large number moving to the former Tally Ho Motel, which was renovated and is now being operated by the Victoria Cool Aid Society.
Our Place has asked the province to contribute $1.1 million for the first year of the new therapeutic recovery program and a combined total of $4.7 million over seven years.
While McKenzie noted they have verbal support from the province, they donB次元官网网址檛 have a formal commitment for funding. However, the society is well on its way to achieving its private fundraising goal with $1.1 million of the $1.5 million goal raised.
Our Place has not filed their rezoning request with the Town of View Royal but expects to do so by mid-month. That process will allow community members to provide input. Our Place is also hosting a second open house on April 28 for residents who would like to know more about the proposal. It takes place at the centre, 94 Talcott Rd., from 1 until 4 p.m.
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