A new recovery program for teenage girls continues the city’s legacy of being a community that cares.
Westminster House applied to the city for a temporary use permit for 620 Third Ave., which would allow it to offer a residential recovery program for up to four young women aged 16 to 18. Westminster House already operates a residential centre in the Brow of the Hill neighbourhood that provides a continuum of care for adult women who are recovering from addiction.
“There is currently no service for youth girls in the Fraser Health Authority. There is a proposed, and I believe a plan, to do a 20-bed facility in Chilliwack, but that’s about two years down the road. Right now, we hear from families pretty much daily who are in need of some type of service for their child,” said Susan Hogarth, executive director of Westminster House. “We are just hoping the city will allow us a temporary use permit to do a pilot project to house these girls and provide treatment to them. If we are successful then we will go on to a permanent application.”
City council unanimously approved the temporary use permit Monday night, after hearing from several supporters of the project, including Crystal Coughlin, a maintenance superintendent at Westminster House, who has been working on the project.
“I didn’t get into Westminster House until I was in my 30s. I currently have almost four years clean thanks to Westminster House. I was struggling when I was 16 and 17 years old. My mom was told that there was no place that would take me,” she said. “It means something to me, this project.”
Along with a letter from the Brow of the Hill Residents’ Association, which unanimously supported the facility, the city received letters of support from other area residents.
Carmen Della-Vanchenza, who lives near the proposed facility, told council it’s sad that in a time when society is trying to boost up the positon of women, there’s a place in New West for young men to get treatment but nothing for young women. With New Westminster being a “recovery capital” that’s known worldwide for its programs, the father of four girls said it’s the perfect place for a program where young women can go to better their lives.
“We are known as a city that helps people,” Della-Vanchenza said. “I take a lot of pride in that.”
Westminster House anticipates its first clients will arrive on Aug. 1.
