Dianne Young has once again seen her dream delayed.
The coronavirus crisis is the latest hurdle to opening Lennon House – a place Young wants to see provide a temporary home in a caring, healing community for persons recovering from addictions and co-occurring mental health disorders.
The planned March 27 official opening has been postponed until further notice.
“We still plan on opening whenever this crisis settles down,’’ she says.
“I was excited about opening but…this (pandemic) is so much bigger. We are in a worldwide crisis.’’
Young says the hope was to first open with 10 residents near the end of this month.
The mission of Lennon House calls for fostering a culture of self-respect and caring for each other in an atmosphere of compassion, responsibility and accountability and to engage clients, staff, volunteers and the local community in a holistic plan for healthy living.
Young is still waiting to hear back from the province on what support it may provide, but she is not pressing the government at the moment as it is busy dealing with the health crisis.
The Guardian has been unable to learn what, if any, support the province is considering.
Earlier this year, a spokeswoman for the Department of Health and Wellness stated: “funding to support Lennon House’s operations has yet to be considered as we are awaiting the updated business and operating plans, as well as full financial statements, from the organization.’’
LENGTHY AND COSTLY
Young started pushing the province to do a better job to help people struggling with drug addiction and mental health illnesses when her 29-year-old son, Lennon Waterman, took his life in November 2013 by leaping into the North River.
The Diocese of Charlottetown donated its former Belcourt Retreat Centre in Rustico to serve as the future home to Lennon House, which is named after Young’s late son.
Lennon Recovery House Association Inc. was established in March 2017.
Trying to get the doors open for business has proven a lengthy and costly process. Well over $300,000 has been spent on repairs and maintenance.
The heftiest toll, however, is expected to be the annual operating cost. The hope is government will provide considerable financial assistance towards operations.
