Adult and Teen Challenge seeks funds for recovery centre

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A faith-based charity that wants to transform four floors of storage space in Winnipeg’s inner city for addictions recovery is asking for government help.

Adult and Teen Challenge of Central Canada, which has relied on its thrift stores and micro-enterprises for funding over the years, is attempting to raise $18 million to turn the top four floors of its six-storey headquarters into a 100-bed “transformation centre” for treatment and supportive housing.

The evangelical Christian organization took out a full-page ad in Saturday’s Free Press talking about the impact of Manitoba’s addictions crisis, saying the solution — the former warehouse at 83 Kate St. — is “in plain sight.”

Adult and Teen Challenge says the 53,000-square-foot space will offer a comprehensive continuum of care, including 18 apartments to allow families to stay together while their loved ones receive support for addiction.

“Addressing this crisis requires collective action,” the ad says. “We are calling on foundations, corporations, families, individuals and all levels of government — including city, provincial, and federal — to contribute… The need is urgent and with your support we can meet the growing demand, fill the critical gaps in care and save lives.”

Mayor Scott Gillingham’s office confirmed receipt of a letter from the charity but said in an email “there has not yet been an opportunity for city staff to thoroughly review or discuss the proposal with the proponent.”

Manitoba housing, addictions and homelessness officials have met with Adult and Teen Challenge in past months and will review proposals received, a spokesperson for minister Bernadette Smith said via email Tuesday.

Pastor and CEO Daniel Emond said the plan for the former warehouse has been years in the making, since a self-evaluation seven years ago.

“We’ve developed a model that offers a full range of addiction treatment and recovery services with compassion and excellence. It’s really the best evidence-based approach but without compromising our faith-based roots and that’s how the life transformation centre concept began,” he said Tuesday.

In the run-up to the 2023 provincial election, they approached the former Progressive Conservative government for support, Emond said.

“They basically declined to help,” based on a concern that the faith-based organization wasn’t using an evidence-based approach, the pastor said.

On Tuesday, Tory housing, addictions and homelessness critic Carrie Hiebert said she’d toured the Kate Street headquarters and supports the project.

“I’ve had someone very close to me experience Teen Challenge in their recovery journey, and the outcome has been incredible,” she said in an email.

Smith, the Point Douglas MLA who was the NDP critic at the time, “visited the facility and expressed great joy and excitement for the direction that our organization was moving in … and said she would do everything that she could to kind of help us,” Emond recalled.

Since becoming minister of housing, addictions and homelessness, Smith has had a followup visit, he said.

“She encouraged us to continue to pursue support from the government (and) encouraging all levels of government to support this project,” he said.

The pastor said the biggest challenge is a misconception of what the organization offers: “People get stuck on our evangelical roots. They get stuck on the fact that that’s all we do. And that’s not a true statement. Our mission is to offer a full range of addiction treatment and services. That’s what we really need to get out because even the previous government had a very strong misconception of who we are and who we’re not.”

Emond said Adult and Teen Challenge offers service for anyone despite their beliefs or gender. The former 12-month Christian discipleship program no longer exists, he noted.

That doesn’t mean the charity is giving up its faith, though. The residence program includes a spiritual component.

“Ninety-nine per cent of people that come to Adult and Teen Challenge are seeking a faith experience that we offer. They’re not looking to change the faith experience or to be converted by our faith. They’re coming to us saying we want what you have,” said Emond.

Adult and Teen Challenge have raised $4.1 million and hope to raise $10 million more toward the $18 million to start work this spring and finish by 2026, he said.

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca