‘It’s going to save lives,’ says Barrie councillor, at groundbreaking for women’s residential addiction recovery centre

The recovery centre will house up to 12 women at a time

Simcoe County’s first women’s residential addiction recovery centre will open in late August or early September.

A ceremonial groundbreaking was held at 236 Dunlop St. West in Barrie on Friday afternoon, with representatives from Cornerstone to Recovery, which will operate the facility, as well as officials from various levels of government and the police.

The recovery centre will house up to 12 women at a time, providing them with their own bedroom and washroom.

The 90-day program is heavily subsidized to allow access to those who need it, and residents have free lifetime community care available to them.

“There is a critical shortage of treatment centres for women in Ontario as only a third of the available beds in the province are designated for women,” according to a news release from Cornerstone.

During Friday’s ceremony, Cornerstone officials acknowledged Mayor Jeff Lehman and Coun. Natalie Harris for pushing the treatment centre plan forward.

Groundbreaking for women’s residential recovery centre – Barrie – Barrie 360

“When I went through treatment in 2014, it was in Guelph at Homewood,” Harris told Barrie 360.

While she got better, being uprooted from her city, family and friends was difficult.

“It is such a huge deterrent, especially for women who are the main caregivers of their children to leave the city that they live in,” said Harris. “And sometimes it’s not even possible.”

She said having a local facility will be a first step for many women in the city, and “it’s going to save lives.”

Cornerstone is funded through community donations and a textiles program.

Harris said there are five textile bin locations in the Barrie and people can donate anytime.

“Not only will this divert textiles from our landfill, but money that is raised from the collection of those textiles goes to fund the treatment centre.”

Bannier image: Cornerstone to Recovery home – Barrie 360

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