(rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

important part of local recovery

Dream Centre holds grand opening after 7 months of operation

Jun 9, 2023 | 4:07 PM

The Red Deer Dream Centre (4614 50 Ave.) finally held its grand opening event on June 9, seven months after it began welcoming clients.

The 40-bed facility, currently only for men, has five clients going through the addiction recovery program right now, while at least two have graduated. At one time, there were 12 taking the program.

Wes Giesbrecht, board president, noted they’ve adjusted the program from a minimum 12 months to a minimum of four, at which point the client can decide whether they wish to continue. Another handful are expected to begin shortly.

They’re also still raising operating dollars through the community, with the goal of getting 3,000 people to commit to $40 per month.

Per person in the program, it costs the Dream Centre approximately $3,800 monthly.

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“It’s been really cool to see the community rally together to bring healing to Red Deer,” said Giesbrecht. “This isn’t the entire solution but it’s definitely part of it. When you have a community which believes in even what just the Bible says about serving people, reaching the lost, and looking after the broken-hearted, this is the practical fruit of that.”

A common area, with a hallway on the left leading to dormitory-style rooms at the new Red Deer Dream Centre. (rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

Giesbrecht says the 2023 goal is to have 23 people go through the programming.

The first 120 days, clients deal with learning new tools and confronting childhood traumas which may have caused them to go down the road of addiction. After those first four months, a transition period leads to utilizing employment resources and finding housing with rental partners.

The Red Deer Dream Centre, as Giesbrecht alluded to, employs what’s called the Genesis Program, a Christianity-based method of recovery.

He believes spirituality has a strong part to play in recovery.

Mayor Ken Johnston, who helped cut the ribbon Friday, says people who come to the Dream Centre are looking for hope and a way to get started in recovery.

“This issue is a community effort. We have to address addiction, mental health, homelessness and poverty; they’re interconnected, and without systems in place devoted to recovery, the ability to have a life and thrive just isn’t there,” he said. “That makes this an exciting day because this for sure is an important part of that process.”

Giesbrecht was also asked why women aren’t able to sign up, and if that could change.

He first noted the disparity between men and women experiencing homelessness.

In the 2022 Red Deer Point in Time Homeless Count, 334 individuals were tallied. Of those, 156 completed a survey, and from that number, 64 per cent (99) identified as men, and 32 per cent (50) as women.

“That’s why we did male-only at first. In looking at other recovery models, when you mix males and females, it’s never easy and it’s always problematic,” said Giesbrecht.

“Is there an opportunity to partner with or bring another facility for women? Absolutely. Adeara is looking at how to do their recovery program near Sylvan Lake where they’ve faced some opposition, and I would like to help them get started.”

For more information, visit rddc.ca.