New Westminster, BC— Jun 10, 2022 — Westminster House hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to signify the opening of 10 new gender-specific substance-free transitional supportive recovery beds. The facility's purpose is to help women successfully transition from addiction treatment to housing and prevent relapse, and subsequent homelessness.

The project would not have been possible without the generous support of partners. The funding for the project was provided in part by Reaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy, which is administered locally by Lu'ma Native BCH Housing Society, Reaching Home's Community Entity for the Greater Vancouver area, in partnership with Vancity Community Foundation and endorsed by the Greater Vancouver Community Advisory Board. Contributions totalling $514,467 over two years were used to help the society purchase and renovate a property.

"Every Canadian deserves a safe place to call home. Westminster House's initiative will help women in the recovery transition from substance use treatment to living under their own roofs. Canadians experiencing homelessness are among our country's most vulnerable, and we must ensure they are not left behind. That is why through Reaching Home, our government is supporting Canadians who need it most," said The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion.

The renovation improvements to the facility included updating the electrical, repairing the exterior foundations, and renovating and restoring the 1908 Heritage House in New Westminster. "Without the support from Reaching Home, Lu' Ma and the team at Vancity Community Foundation, WHS would not have been able to undertake this initiative," said Scott Emerson, Westminster House Society Board President. "Their contributions will translate into helping hundreds more women achieve sustainable recovery."

Westminster House Society hosted an open house on June 8, 2022, and the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Honorable Sheila Malcolmson, cut the ribbon at a ceremony to signify the facility's opening. The organization was elated with the support of over 100 attendee's over 2 hours, including special guests Honorable Sheila Malcolmson, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Honorable Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Education, New Westminster City Councilors Patrick Johnstone and Nadine Nakagawa, and Kent Patenaude, President of Lu'Ma Native Housing Society.

About Westminster House
Westminster House Society is a licensed and registered trauma-informed, gender-specific addiction recovery program in New Westminster, British Columbia. The nonprofit society offers addiction recovery services for youth girls, adult women, and their families in a bed-based environment as well as virtually. For over 40 years, the programs have supported clients to permanently exit addiction, secure housing, and return to their families, workplace, and lives.

https://www.westminsterhouse.ca/our-story/