For 20 years Safe Harbour Society has helped people struggling with addiction on their journey towards health and healing.
But it hasn’t been easy for the feisty non-profit that runs a medically supported detox, housing, outreach support, shelter for people intoxicated or under the influence, and an Indigenous support program Wellbriety Recovery.
“Our solutions are outside societal norms. People have to wrap their head around the things we might want to do. We have to spend so much time and energy convincing people they are necessary to keep people alive,” said executive director Kath Hoffman.
But turning your back on those in need is not an option, she said.
“These people don’t stop ringing our doorbell.
“I always think my biggest job is to define reality and what’s real is the need for those life-saving services. It wasn’t real 20 years ago when we started. It’s very real now.”
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She said the opioid crisis has been one of those times when Safe Harbour had to be nimble and pivot to the needs of the community. Back when its shelter program started, clients were dealing mostly with alcohol and cocaine addiction. Opioids have changed the needs and behaviour of clients.
“It’s been a struggle for us at Safe Harbour, for the city and everywhere across the province and country.”
But the crisis has shone a light on addiction and urgency for programs and education. Now some great things are coming to Red Deer like the drug treatment court, and two residential treatment centres — Red Deer Dream Centre and the Red Deer Recovery Centre, Hoffman said.
“We’ve been a residential treatment-free zone in central Alberta forever so there’s lots to celebrate.”
She said long-term residential treatment is ideal for Safe Harbour shelter clients who usually need a lot of care and help.
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Recently Safe Harbour was accredited by Accreditation Canada, an organization that assesses health, social and community services. As part of the evaluation, Red Deer nonprofit’s detox model received special recognition for its strategy to have doctors visit the site every day, unlike most programs.
“(Accreditation Canada) was a great experience. They were really impressed with our detox model and we anticipate our detox getting busier as these treatment centres open up. We’re excited to be part of that continuum.”
Safe Harbour is holding its annual general meeting on Sept. 15 at Fort Normandeau, from 4 to 6 p.m., and the public is invited to come out to celebrate the 2oth anniversary. RSVP at office@safeharboursociety.org.
Safe Harbour’s first Wellbriety conference runs Sept. 22 to 25 at Cambridge Hotel and Conference Centre. The Red Deer nonprofit is the first organization in Canada to be certified by White Bison to offer the Wellbriety recovery program based in the United States.
szielinski@reddeeradvocate.com
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