New addiction-recovery home goes beyond harm reduction with whole-person approach

In brief

The Talitha Koum Society opened Hope House, a new addiction-recovery home for women and their young children, in Coquitlam, B.C. The Christian-faith-based charity launched the facility following a series of funding commitments and volunteer efforts.

Mary O’Neill, president of the society and a member of St. Joseph Catholic Parish in Port Moody, B.C., said the project moved from a dream to reality after securing operational funding from the Bitelli Family Foundation, a philanthropic fund for a North Vancouver Catholic family. The Christian and Missionary Alliance denomination, CA Church of Coquitlam, also committed funds to help cover house rental costs.

The Archdiocese of Vancouver’s Living Waters Fund, established last year by Archbishop Richard Smith, provided several grants this year to support the society's general operations. Additionally, volunteers from the Society of St. Vincent de Paul at All Saints Parish in Coquitlam assisted with cleaning and painting the home before its opening.