Men's addiction treatment centre moving to Cambridge

The House of Friendship's residential treatment facility is moving into a biggernewspace in Cambridge.

The men's addiction service will soon be leaving its long-standing home in Waterloo forthe former location of the women's shelter Haven House, on Concession Road.

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"If you look at our presentfacility and building, it's sort of reflective of how we view addictions societally," John Neufeld, executive director of the House of Friendship told Craig Norris, host of the Morning Edition on Tuesday. "The building is physically inaccessible, not sustainable, not in a great location, but that's all we have in this community, and I don't think we'd ever say that's okay for any other health issue."

More space to grow

By contrast, Neufeld said, the new 15-bed facility is fully accessible, and located on a 1.2 acre property, offering about four times the indoor space of the Waterloo location, and about ten times the outdoorspace.

He says the new facility will also include more roomfor recreation, a playground for visiting kids and space to expand programming.

The total budget for the moving campaign is $3 million.

Neufeld said much of the money will come from fundraising, as well as the sale of the Waterloo property.

House of Friendship held a public meeting with neighbours living near the new facility Monday.

"Cambridge has been exceptional, incredibly welcoming, thoughtful," said Neufeld. "I am sure people have trepidationsometimes when they hear addiction treatment, but at the end of the day when people come to our doors they want hope, they want healing, they want treatment, they want to change their life."

The Cambridge facility is expected to be up and running in early 2018.