The long-awaited opening of an addiction recovery facility – the personal project of a P.E.I. woman looking to provide people the help she wished her late son had received – appears close at hand.
The Lennon Recovery House is set to officially open on March 27, according to its website.
“Since 2013, we have worked towards building not only Lennon House itself but also building up this community of supporters that we have been blessed with,’’ the site stated.
“We are so happy to soon be able to open our doors and offer a warm, safe shelter for those recovering from addictions and mental illness. With our holistic recovery approach, we hope to make Lennon House a temporary home for those in need, providing them all with care and support that will last a lifetime.’’
Dianne Young started pushing government 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 cold North River.
The Diocese of Charlottetown donated its former Belcourt Retreat Centre in Rustico to serve as the future home to Young’s dream facility.
Lennon Recovery House Association Inc., named after Young’s late son, was established in March 2017.
Trying to get the doors open for business has been a lengthy and costly process.
Well over $300,000 has been spent on repairs and maintenance.
Perhaps the greatest challenge still remains: finding the means to meet an estimated annual operating cost of $760,000 with a staff of about 15 full- and part-time employees, including an operational manager and two program facilitators.
Young told The Guardian five months ago that the business plan calls for each client paying $2,500 per month in a facility that will be able to eventually house 32 clients.
She said considerable ongoing financial support from the province, which has already invested close to $200,000 into the project, is being sought to cover the bulk of operating costs.
However, a spokeswoman for the province informed The Guardian last week that “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".
The spokeswoman added that the Department of Health and Wellness met recently with representatives from Lennon House to discuss the next steps, and more information is anticipated from them this week.
Young told The Guardian in an interview in September that Lennon House, which has a homey, comfortable feel with a mix of donated furniture, will provide care modelled after Nova Scotia’s standards for funded recovery houses.
The model calls for providing long-term, transitional housing for persons requiring a safe, supportive and healing environment to stabilize their recovery from addiction. It also calls for recovery houses to be autonomous, incorporated, not-for-profit organizations, which are not currently licensed or regulated by government.
Programs and services provided by these recovery houses should be client-centred, delivering quality, evidenced-based services and have clearly stated goals and objectives.
The Guardian is waiting to hear from Young and the president of Lennon Recovery House Association board for details on the planned opening and operation of the facility.
