A new drop-in and support centre focused on addiction recovery and housing supports has opened in Chatham.
The Chatham Community Hope Centre and The Foundation of Hope Recovery Community have established a shared hub for service and support at 52 Croydon St.
Through the partnership, the Hope Centre will continue to serve as a front-line resource and connection point, with a drop-in program that offers a hot meal and a safe, welcoming space. The drop-in centre operates from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m., seven days a week.
The Chatham Community Hope Centre opened its doors for the first time on June 15, serving 56 people in one day.
At the same time, the Foundation of Hope will be present at the drop-in centre on a regular basis, giving individuals who are looking for housing support and addiction recovery immediate, low-barrier access to care and programming.
Robert Sandwith, the manager of recovery care for the Foundation of Hope, said there is a need for this type of support, and more people are expected to come through their doors as awareness grows.
“We’re not here to completely eradicate the homeless issue,” He said. “However, what we know we want, is to be ready for the folks in the encampments that are visiting our drop-in [centre], that we are ready in real time, in that moment, to offer service into our care or into care that we’re connected to.”
The Foundation of Hope has been in talks with several local organizations, such as Chatham-Kent Ontario Health Team, the Canadian Mental Health Association Lambton-Kent, and the municipality, to better understand local needs and work in partnership.
“We can fill those gaps with our 30-day program, our 90-day program, and then we also anticipate moving into a one-year to 18-month transitional living [space] here in Chatham-Kent,” said Sandwith. “What we’ve recognized in Chatham-Kent is [an] amazing unity and working together of organizations, and we want to work with everybody. We are not trying to duplicate any of their services, but simply add to what they have.”
For additional information about the shared support hub, click here.