Welcome INFORMATION OPEN HOUSE Our Place Therapeutic Recovery Community
The cycle of moving from homeless to jail and back to the streets needs to be broken. Our Place is determined to end this devastating cycle by offering a Therapeutic Recovery Community. Don Evans, Our Place Executive Director The Objective Our Place Society serves Greater Victoria s most vulnerable residents individuals living in poverty, those who have suffered trauma, and individuals with mental health issues and addictions. Many find themselves caught in a cycle of homelessness, incarceration, and back to homelessness. Often these individuals have been through short-term detox and treatment programs repeatedly, without success in maintaining abstinence. A long-term recovery program in a safe, structured, therapeutic environment is needed for those who have been unable to break the cycle. A therapeutic community provides a cost effective path to recovery, and addresses the comprehensive, holistic, biopsycho-social, and ecological perspective of addiction, homelessness, and criminality.
What Are Therapeutic Communities? Community as Method approach 1940s Europe, coming to North America in 1950s Individuals work through substance use issues and the factors that led to them Foster individual change and positive growth through group and individual interactions in order to experience and understand accountability Improve relationships, develop career prospects, and restore health Positive outcomes reduce health care costs, lessen incidents of crime, and increase work productivity San Patrignano Therapeutic Community in Italy reports full recovery for 72% of residents who complete the program
Who Will Be Served? The Our Place Therapeutic Recovery Community will provide a realistic alternative to incarceration. Enhancing the rehabilitative aspect of an offender s sentence will provide long-term benefits to society and the individual. Judge Ernie Quantz REFERRAL SOURCES The Therapeutic Recovery Community will accept referrals from the following: BC PROVINCIAL COURT. As part of a justice integrated therapeutic process that is clientcentred, an offender may request entry into the Therapeutic Recovery Community as an alternative to a traditional custodial sentence. The court may direct an offender to the Therapeutic Recovery Community as an alternate disposition to a custodial sentence, or be directed by the court as part of the probation and release plan, subject to acceptability by the Therapeutic Recovery Community director. BC CORRECTIONS. Liaison with Vancouver Island Regional Correctional Centre (Wilkinson Road jail) will ensure that individuals completing custodial sentences, who would otherwise return to the streets, have the opportunity to choose the Our Place Therapeutic Recovery Community. Residents of the Guthrie Therapeutic Community, who have completed their custodial sentences, will have the opportunity to transfer directly to the new program at the Our Place Therapeutic Recovery Community. Since these residents have made a commitment to recovery, and are well into the process, they may serve as mentors and leaders in the new program. ISLAND HEALTH. Homeless individuals, who have undergone detox and stabilization and may have completed a short-term residential program, will be referred to the Therapeutic Recovery Community.
Cost Effectiveness Every dollar invested in addiction treatment programs yields a return between $4 and $7 in reduced drug-related crime, criminal justice costs and theft. When savings related to healthcare are included, total savings can exceed costs by a ratio of 12 to 1. Getting Serious About Crime Reduction Report of the Blue Ribbon Panel on Crime Reduction, Province of BC, 2013 The State of Homelessness in Canada report (2013) estimates that the annual cost of homelessness to Canadians is about $7 billion. The costs of hospitalization and provincial custody, along with current costs to operate Choices, are outlined in the table below. Based on operating costs of $1.8 million per year, the annual cost per person at the proposed Our Place TC is $36,000, when the facility is fully occupied (50 spaces). PLACEMENT ANNUAL COST PER PERSON Hospital bed $130,000* Provincial jail $74,000** Choices transitional housing $40,000*** Our Place Therapeutic Recovery Community $36,000*** * from State of Homelessness in Canada (2013) ** from A Profile of BC Corrections (2013) *** at capacity of 50 spaces
Lessons Learned Our Place staff members have visited other Therapeutic Communities located in BC to learn about their successes and challenges. These lessons will help the Our Place Therapeutic Recovery Community to successfully establish itself. BALDY HUGHES The Baldy Hughes Therapeutic Community and Farm is operated by the BC New Hope Recovery Society. As a 12-month recovery program with 65 beds, Baldy Hughes opened in 2007. For a period of time in 2011, operations were taken over by the Province due to management and financial issues. The program has undergone significant changes since that time. Participation is now strictly voluntary, which has resulted in much less use as diversion from the court system. Twenty-five percent of participants graduate from the program, and 25%- 30% withdraw in the first 30 days. Under the previous model, participants who where diverted from the courts reported back to the sentencing judge on a regular basis. VANCOUVER ISLAND THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY The John Howard Society operates a 10-bed TC in Nanaimo. Although there is capacity for 20 beds, currently only ten are funded. Advice/lessons learned include: Establish a program with nominal cost to participants. Identify a stable funding source(s). Start with a group of no more than 10 individuals strongly committed to recovery. Establish a program that is at least 12 months in duration, with a minimum of six months follow-up outreach. Keep intake to no more than three times a week to maintain a positive energy flow. GUTHRIE THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY In 2007, the Guthrie Therapeutic Community was established at the Nanaimo Regional Corrections Centre. The program is unique in that residents are serving a custodial sentence while being engaged in a TC. The following advice/lessons learns were shared: A 12 to 24-month program is needed. It is essential to develop a safe community, allowing participants to be vulnerable and open. Separateness from the outside community is critical to developing a supportive internal community. A TC is an opportunity for a diversion from traditional criminal justice practices. As the program develops, use of peer counsellors, in addition to addictions counsellors, is a critical component. Leaders will self-identify. It is important to involve them in developing the program.
Therapeutic Recovery Community Advisory Group MEMBERSHIP & COMPOSITION Group membership comprises community leaders with an interest in supporting the vision of Our Place for a therapeutic recovery community, and who have direct and related expertise. Members are appointed by the Executive Director, in consultation with the Chair of the Our Place Board. Currently, the Therapeutic Recovery Community Advisory Group members are: Ian Batey, Co-Chair, Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness Neal Berger, Cedars at Cobble Hill Residential Treatment Programs Cheryl Damstetter, Island Health Teri DuTemple, Warden, Nanaimo Correctional Centre Peter Fitzpatrick, Warden, Vancouver Island Regional Correctional Centre Dominic Flanagan, BC Housing Lisa Helps, Mayor, City of Victoria Fran Hunt-Jinnouchi, Executive Director, Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness Del Manak, Police Chief, Victoria Police Department Ernie Quantz, Judge, Victoria Integrated Court Kelly Reid, Island Health Kelly Sinclair, Vancouver Island Community Corrections Bill Young, retired, (formerly BC Corrections)
Draft Programming Budget A simple draft programming budget is outlined below, and provides staffing, food service, and operating costs, which have been calculated on a model of 50 beds and 24/7 staffing. It can be anticipated that a total annual budget, including miscellaneous costs, will be about $1.8 million for the first year of operation. ANNUAL DESCRIPTION OPERATING BUDGET Salaries & benefits $1,400,000 Food costs $250,000 Program costs (excluding utilities & capital maintenance) $140,000 TOTAL ANNUAL COSTS $1,790,000
What s the Difference? Some of the key differences between our former Choices Transitional Housing program, and the proposed Therapeutic Recovery Community are: CHOICES TRANSITIONAL HOUSING 50 people at any one time Male and female population from tent city and experiencing homelessness Open facility residents can come and go Harm reduction facility (substance use allowed on site) Supervised care and enforcement Stabilizes individuals Allows residents greater ability to stabilize and manage their drug use Provides a safe shelter environment in preparation for housing transition No structured daily regime Prepares people for housing Residents receiving stable shelter are from the Capital Regional District Shelter stays vary depending on housing availability Neighbourhood security needed Residents transition to permanent supportive/affordable housing No guests permitted THERAPEUTIC RECOVERY COMMUNITY 50 people at any one time Males who are experiencing homelessness and interacting with the criminal justice system Program delivered in a closed environment (residents can only leave premises when accompanies by staff or designates until they are reintegrated back into the community Residents are highly motivated for change Abstinence based No guests permitted Clients adhere to a highly structured and demanding daily schedule No neighbourhood security needed On-site medical treatment team, including psychiatrist, doctors, counsellors, nurses Residents are empowered and required to take responsibility using community as method Social enterprises will be developed over time (skills development, i.e., gardening, baking, woodworking) Residents primarily from the Capital Regional District Recovery stays would range from 12-24 months Reduces taxpayer costs and delivers greater services to the demand Reduces crime Residents change their lives and become contributing members of the larger community
A Therapeutic Recovery Community: Our Journey 2014 MAY Our Place begins learning about Therapeutic Recovery Communities NOV Our Place leadership tours facilities 2015 OCT Advisory Committee formed 2016 MAR Choices opened at 94 Talcott Road, View Royal FEB Project Brief prepared and circulated to stakeholders, including provincial government 2017 FEB/MAR Positive feedback & encouragement received from possible funders & project partners MAR Choices Neighbourhood Advisory Group introduced to concept of Therapeutic Recovery Community as possible future use of 94 Talcott Road MAR 15 Choices Neighbourhood Appreciation Dinner APR 5 THERAPEUTIC RECOVERY COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE 1 APR 28 THERAPEUTIC RECOVERY COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE 2 WE ARE HERE APR Rezoning Application submitted to Town of View Royal TBD Rezoning Application presented by Town staff to Committee of the Whole 2018 TBD Community Engagement JUN Neighbourhood update meeting TBD Rezoning Public Hearing AUG/SEP Interior renovations and changes to some fixtures and finishings to make facility more residential and less institutional OCT Neighbourhood update meeting WINTER Therapeutic Recovery Facility opens WHY IS REZONING NEEDED? CURRENT zoning allows for: Technical & vocational schools Youth-oriented correctional institutions with accessory uses: Cafe, office, full-service restaurant, retail store, residential uses for a caretaker/watchperson NEW USES proposed are: Residential Therapeutic Recovery Community with accessory uses: Commercial kitchen, market garden, craft or artisan trades, service store (e.g., bicycle repair)
Implementation Schedule YEAR 1 Initial intake 10-12 individuals After 3 months, initial group begins to move to second stage of recovery Next group of intakes begins after 3 months Move in 2 to 3 at a time; total of 10 to 12 individuals After 6 months, third group of individuals begins to move in (2 to 3 at a time; total of 10 to 12) At 9 months, final group of new intakes begins to move in (2 to 3 at a time; total of 10 to 12) until program is full (50 spaces) YEAR 2 New intakes move in to replace graduating participants & those who leave the program YEAR 3 New intakes move in to replace graduating participants & those who leave the program Operating cost reductions realized from food grown on site & social enterprise opportunities
THANK YOU For coming today. Our goal is to welcome our first residents in late 2018. These Open Houses are critical to Our Place continuing an open and respectful dialogue with the community and neighbourhood to ensure the Therapeutic Recovery is a strong community asset. COMMENTS? QUESTIONS? https://www.ourplacesociety.com/how-we-help/ therapeutic-recovery-community