Harm reduction home staffers get new ideas for future facility

Staff members from the local wet shelter alcohol program are back from their trip to the nation's capital where their eyes were opened to new ideas that might prove successfulin Sudbury.

"To them it's not a treatment facility, it's their home," theCanadian Mental Health Association's Tina Ranta said in reference to residents of the programs in Ottawa. She and other staff members toured two Shepherds of Good Hope facilities to see how they approach people addicted to alcohol.

Sudbury staff got the opportunity to see first-hand how folks create an inclusive community for those affected.

• Harm reduction home coming to downtown Sudbury

"They have a lot of questions," said Lindy Roskowith the Ottawa non-profit group. "But it's good to see such a keengroup."

The future facility in Sudbury will hand out doctor-prescribed alcohol to help residents deal with their addiction. They'd like to minimize the amount of alcoholic alternatives such as mouthwash being consumed by some.

Theysay they hope to learn from Ottawa's own positive and negative experiences to build a successful centre for those with alcohol issues.The treatment home alsoaims to be an inviting place for future residents.

"Being open and wanting to share with the community,"said Ranta, the manager of the futureharm reduction home. She added the facility will be shaped by local needs.

A location for the Sudbury centre has not yet been chosen.