Discovery House is looking for some help as they try to expand their operation in Penticton.
Discovery House is a facility for men seeking recovery from addiction. They currently have a five-bed facility in downtown Penticton, but are working to establish a new centre a few blocks away.
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The up and down duplex was originally used as a care home and is now a bed and breakfast. That means it has lots of space, according to Discovery House executive director Jerome Abraham.
“It is still in a residential setting, rather than an institutional style building and it is close to all the services our clients need to access,” said Abraham.
The house at 633 Winnipeg St. has a five bedroom suite on the bottom floor and a six bedroom one on other upper floor that can be split into two smaller units.
“It gives us a lot of flexibility,” said Abraham, adding that the building also has a commercial kitchen, which fits in well with one of their support programs.
But there are still a few hurdles to conquer to make their plans a reality, starting with a public hearing before Penticton city council on Oct. 18 at 6 p.m. in council chambers.
Abraham is asking people to come to the hearing to show their support for the project, which requires the city to rezone the property to proceed. He said he knows there will be some concern from the neighbourhood, but relies on Discovery House’s record.
“I know that there is going to be some fears. The neighbourhood we are currently in, all of the neighbours support us. We are happy to have people come and tour our current facility and talk to our current neighbours,” said Abraham.
“Based on our reputation over the past 10 years of running a similar facility five blocks away, I know that even the neighbours that are skeptical or fearful at this time, within a year of us being in there, they are going to be supporters.”
Besides support, Discovery House is also looking for some tangible support in the form of furnishings and everything needed to stock the house from kitchen to bedrooms.
Donations can be made online through tinyurl.com/discoverysupport or visit their website jthomasttc.wordpress.com for more information.