VANCOUVER – New Democrat MLAs Melanie Mark, George Heyman and Mable Elmore say people in Vancouver struggling with substance use challenges will soon have access to at least 31 publicly funded beds at three addiction treatment and recovery homes in the Vancouver Coastal Health region following an investment of $4,368,037 by the BC New Democrat government.
“Many of us have friends, family or loved ones who have struggled with addiction and we have seen how challenging it can be for people to find the help they need. For too long, the high cost of treatment prevented people from reaching out and entering recovery,” said Melanie Mark, MLA for Vancouver-Mount Pleasant. “Our government believes that money should never stop someone from getting help when they need it. These public beds at The Salvation Army Harbour Light will go far to break the barriers people in my community have faced and empower them to thrive.”
“People deserve to have a safe place to turn to when they are experiencing addiction. Our government is committed to ensuring quality recovery centres like Turning Point Society in my community can welcome more people when they are ready to seek treatment,” said George Heyman, MLA for Vancouver-Fairview. “This investment is part of the work we are doing to strengthen our continuum of care so that people can get the care they need, when they need it.”
This provincial funding will allow the following organizations to convert several beds from private-pay to publicly funded, making treatment more accessible:
- The Salvation Army Harbour Light – at least 20 converted beds for men
- Turning Point Recovery Society – five converted beds for adults
- Chrysalis Society – six converted beds for women with systemic barriers to treatment
“For years, there were few resources available for people looking to begin their recovery journey and when people were able to find an option that was right for them, they often had to pay high costs or encountered long waitlists,” said Mable Elmore, MLA for Vancouver-Kensington. “Unlike the previous government, we are working to make sure more people have access to the mental health and recovery services they can rely on to improve their physical, mental and emotional well-being.”
These beds are being funded as part of the $13 million announced last fall, which is supporting more than 100 beds province-wide. The New Democrat BC Government feels this investment is an important step to address the overdose crisis.
Under the previous government, investments in bed-based care did not meet demand, resulting in long waitlists and lack of service in rural and remote communities. The New Democrat government is enhancing B.C.’s response to the overdose crisis, an integral part of A Pathway to Hope, B.C.’s roadmap for building the comprehensive system of mental health and addictions care British Columbians deserve.
This announcement is part of B.C.’s $10 billion pandemic response, which includes the Economic Recovery Plan, StrongerBC — a plan that protects people’s health and livelihoods while supporting businesses and communities.
Learn more: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2021MMHA0004-000226