A shelter and addiction centre in Moncton says it's currently in negotiations to provide recovery programs for women in the Greater Moncton area.
Harvest House has been running on community donations and small city grants since its inception 19 years ago.
On Saturday, the centre held its annual Spring 2 Action Walk to help slowly grow its programs.
“We used to be behind coming into every spring, trying to play catch-up,” said Cal Maskery, executive director of the Harvest House. “So we thought, ‘How can we create a way for our community to help us and make a nice message to our shelter guests that we're here to make sure that it's open, it's warm, and you have all the things you need moving forward?’”
Tammy Clements has been drug-free since attending a recovery program in Digby 10 years ago. That program has since been shuttered, and she says it's left a “huge gap” for women in need.
“It's not just Moncton either, even the other cities across New Brunswick,” said Celments. “We have Saint John, all different parts. We have people calling all the time, wanting help, but we don't have a place to send them.”
Kim Allain also struggled with addiction earlier in her life, but now helps other women in high-risk lifestyles.
“I had to go to a program, but finding one was so difficult,” said Allain. “I have a lot of women out there screaming for help. Just last week, I had four or five girls asking for some sort of help, but I had nowhere to send them”
Maskery says the support for the program is overwhelming, and it will be a key piece in the puzzle in helping women move forward with a new lifestyle.
“Because we have such a growing step-up housing program, after they're done their recovery, they can still come into accountable, safe housing, and be in a community. I think for a long time, that's been the missing link in recovery,” said Maskery.
Harvest House is in the process of putting together the new addictions program, but a start date has yet to be set.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Cami Kepke.
