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The Native Addictions Services Society in Calgary acquired a new property, consolidated a number of formerly scattered services under one roof and expanded from 20 to 36 beds. This effort provides temporary housing with support services geared towards the needs of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples struggling with substance abuse issues. Staff assists residents in securing permanent accommodation to help them regain stability in their lives.
Although the Center, says Tanya Hutchens, offers its services to all people with addictions, 90% of its clients are of aboriginal descent. Confronted with expanding need, in 1999 the Center applied for and received an interest-free Proposal Development Fund loan from CMHC. This funding was a key catalyst in the planning of the new center.
The Centre’s total cost for the new building was $5,000,000. It received $2,000,000 from HRDC via the Urban Aboriginal Strategy and the Supporting Communities Partnership Initiative (SCPI). Several other organizations provided support:
- The Calgary Homeless Foundation contributed $720,000
- The Calgary Community Lottery Board provided $550,000
- The Community Facility Enhancement Program donated $250,000
- The Calgary Foundation added $89,000
- PetroCanada and Pan Canadian Energy Corporation each gave $75,000
An anonymous donor topped off the impressive list of supporters with $555,000. CMHC was prepared to insure a loan for as much as $2,500,000 but since so much of the capital funding was raised, the final loan amount was substantially less than that. The Center also sold its former property (built in 1912 and called the Sunrise Residence Society) for $360,000.
The Center’s new facility (also called “SUNRISE”) offers a holistic approach to addictions, including such traditional Aboriginal rituals as smudging, sweat lodges and pipe ceremonies. In addition, it includes a ceremonial room, for which there was no space at the old building.
Clients generally stay at the centre for about six weeks. Because of need, the program was lengthened in 2005 from four to six weeks. This can be followed by a long-term residential program of three months, if the client so chooses, which can then be augmented by a nine-month out-patient peer-support group. During the clients’ stay in residence, the staff assists in trying to find them permanent accommodation so that they can be eligible for social assistance and other government-funded services. Permanent accommodation can also be the beginning of stability as the clients attempt to leave their former life of addiction and homelessness. The new centre opened its doors in September, 2002.
