“We can restore and bring back our humanness, based on our principles and our values.”
— Łutsel K’e Elder Felix Lockhart
A longstanding missing piece of the addictions recovery puzzle in the Northwest Territories has been found in the shape of a two-storey house in Yellowknife’s Forrest Drive neighbourhood.
This new transitional housing program — a pilot project, with another being built in Inuvik — has been long called for by MLAs and advocates for those folks suffering from addiction who are sent to a recovery program in the south, only to return without any real prospects for long-term sobriety.
Yellowknife Salvation Army Major Tony Brushett, left, answers questions from Yellowknife Centre MLA Robert Hawkins, dark jacket, and Range Lake MLA Kieron Testart during a tour of a transitional housing project for those returning from southern addictions recovery facilities. Health and Social Services Minister Lesa Semmler is at right. (James O’Connor/CKLB)
As he stood outside surrounded by media and dignitaries, Łutsel K’e Elder Felix Lockhart said he was thankful and optimistic for the new facility.
“For recovery from addictions, and for recovery from trauma … sometimes, (people) come back from treatment centres and they go back to the same cycle again,” he said, holding a sacred eagle feather.
“I’d like to commend all the people that were involved in getting this place here together, all the work that’s involved, all the acknowledgement, so that whoever enters this place can help themselves to be able to be responsible for their minds and their behaviour, so that we can restore, bring back our humanness, based on our principles and our values.”
An upstairs living area of a five-bedroom transitional housing project in Yellowknife for those returning from southern addictions recovery facilities. (James O’Connor/CKLB)
The GNWT, in partnership with the Salvation Army and the City of Yellowknife, will in a few weeks be providing a fully staffed, sober living environment for individuals returning from treatment, helping them rebuild stability and reintegrate into the community.
The GNWT secured $1.3 million in federal funding through the City’s partnership with Canada’s Reaching Home strategy to purchase and renovate the home.
Housing NWT owns and maintains the property, which is on a transit route, while the Salvation Army operates the program, providing emotional support, life skills development, and recovery programming. The facility in Inuvik will be operated by the Inuvialiut Regional Corporation.
NWT Housing Minister Lucy Kuptana speaks outside a transitional housing project for those returning from southern addictions recovery facilities. (James O’Connor/CKLB)
Yellowknife Salvation Army Major Tony Brushett said all expenses will be covered by the GNWT for up to 90 days for the recovering addicts and alcoholics returning from a lengthy stay at a southern facility.
“So when they’re back here, they’re ready to take the next step: whether they’re looking to get back into the workforce, reintegrate back into community, or get together with their families again, that will be our sole role,” he said, noting securing a job is optional.
“The folks who are the staff working here are trained in different areas to make sure we can we meet (the residents’ needs) here, and if we can’t meet them here, we’re connected well enough in the city to make sure that we can meet the needs.
“The biggest house rules will be respect for each other, respect for the staff we have here, certainly respect for the neighbours in the neighbourhood here.”
Brushett called the Transitional Housing Addiction Recovery Program (THARP) a pilot project, setting the stage for similar houses throughout the territory. The GNWT, Housing NWT and local NGOs will administer THARP projects outside of Yellowknife.
The GNWT stated THARP Standards have been developed to recognize Indigenous methods of healing by including land-based addiction programs as a referral pathway to a THARP house, in addition to facility-based treatment programs.
