The $3 million fundraising effort to help pay for a new residential building to house graduates of a 91大黄鸭 alcohol and substance recovery program is $10,000 closer to its goal.
The Frank J. Flaman Foundation, through its Rocky Mountain Fitness Store in 91大黄鸭, made the donation to Freedom House Wednesday. Freedom House is slated for the corner of Rutland Road and McCurdy Road and is being built by Freedom鈥檚 Door, the organization that runs the multi-stage recovery program the residents will graduate from. Freedom House will house 40 men.
鈥淭his project touches home for a few of us,鈥� said Rocky Mountain branch manager Rob Spencer in making the donation. 鈥淲e鈥檇 really like to help open (Freedom House鈥檚) doors.鈥�
Tom Smithwick, with Freedom鈥檚 Door, said a sizable donation such as the one received Wednesday means a lot because it shows the community cares and wants to help.
鈥淚t makes your day when know there are other people out there who care about what you care about,鈥� said Smithwick.
And while the store threw out a challenge to other city businesses to donate to the project鈥攚hich will cost a total of $9 million鈥擲mithwick joked he is wiling to 鈥渄o almost anything鈥� to raise money to help get Freedom House built.
Meanwhile, Freedom鈥檚 Door is awaiting word about a $4 million B.C. Housing grant from the province for the project.
Smithwick said he is confident the grant will be approved and that will go a long way towards helping fund the 40-unit mixed-use apartment building. At this point, Freedom鈥檚 door has raised just over $2 million for the project.
The controversial building鈥斺�攚ill feature residential apartments on the second, third and fourth floors of the four-storey building and commercial units, offices and a meeting room for the Knights of Columbus on the first floor.
Construction is slated to start next year and be complete by the spring of 2020.
At the public hearing, opposition was voiced by many residents who live in the area, concerned about just who would live in Freedom House and how it would be run. But it was also supported by many who turned out at the public hearing as well.
Smithwick said while the residents will be graduates of Freedom Door鈥檚 recovery program鈥攃lean and sober men who have already gone through recovery鈥攖here will also be a number of strict measures in place concerning the running of the building once it is open.
It will be a 鈥渄ry鈥� facility鈥攎eaning no drugs or alcohol will be allowed鈥攚ill have its doors locked at 10 p.m. and will have round-the-clock supervision. Smithwick added the men who will live there will also be the most stringent in making sure the rules are followed.
鈥淭hey know that one person could mess it up for everyone,鈥� he said following the public hearing.
Currently, detailed design of the building is proceeding, preparations are being made for a major fundraising campaign to secure the remaining $3 million (pending the B.C. Housing grant) and a project described as a major event, the likes of which the city has never seen, is being planned for next year as part of the fundraising effort.
Meanwhile, the work of Freedom鈥檚 Door also continues鈥攑roviding help for the hundreds of men battling alcohol and drug addiction who have passed through its program.
Freedom鈥檚 Door already operates five separate smaller houses where different stages of recovery service are offered.
With a waiting list, Smithwick said the need to provide housing for graduates of the program is great so more men can get help at the front end of the recovery process.
Following the public hearing, Smithwick conceded there is a need to reach out to the community and assure area residents Freedom House will be be a positive addition to the neighbourhood. He said he plans to do that in the new year but wants to give it a little time first.
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