Mission raising funds after costs of detox-bed project rise

A downtown Winnipeg soup kitchen is trying to raise funds to continue building space for 10 detox beds after the project went over budget.

The cost to renovate and combine 667 and 669 Main St., owned by Lighthouse Mission, has climbed to $4.4M from $3.4M, the charity’s president, Daniel Emond, said.

The project is 75 per cent completed and at least $500,000 will need to be raised by the end of July for work to continue.

“Now is the time we need the help,” Emond said. “It’s either these detox beds will get stalled, or we get it going.”

The project, first approved in December 2022, received $3.4 million in funding from all three levels of government and donors, including the mission’s capital project savings.

Once construction started, the rising price of materials, as well as learning parts of the building — such as the roof — would have to be replaced, put the project over budget, he said.

Both buildings are designated as heritage sites, and extensive work is required to protect the storefronts and retrofit the buildings, Emond said.

The construction was four months in when the charity realized its current funds wouldn’t be enough.

“It was a blow and it’s hard for us to fathom that,” said Emond.

The project would bring 10 detox beds to Lighthouse Mission — five for men and five for women — split between two floors.

Lighthouse Mission director Peter McMullen said the beds are essential to help people struggling with addiction. He said the wait time to begin detox in Winnipeg is up to eight weeks.

“By the time we call people and say a bed has opened up, they say, ‘No I’m OK,’” said McMullen. “They’ve either found money, their drug of choice, or they’re no longer interested. So, we’ve lost that opportunity.”

Supervised medical detox beds are offered at the Health Sciences Centre and Main Street Project has several designated non-medical detox beds.

McMullen said the new space would also offer programming to help with long-term recovery and transitioning into housing. He hopes to have 300 participants go through the program annually. If the necessary funding is secured, the facility would open by January 2026.

“It’s about educating those who are struggling, but more importantly, it’s about loving and helping those who are struggling to heal,” said McMullen.

If the funding doesn’t come through, the charity will explore financing options to finish the project, he said, noting going into debt would be a big stretch.

He said discussions with the province for additional grant funding are ongoing.

“Long-term recovery is a journey if it’s going to be sustained and requires lots of supports, and detox is the doorway into recovery.”– St. Boniface Street Links executive director Marion Willis

Lighthouse Mission serves 700 meals daily, including breakfast and afternoon meals. It also distributes emergency food hampers and used clothing.

St. Boniface Street Links executive director Marion Willis said there’s a “desperate need” for more mental health and addictions services. She welcomes the mission adding more beds to the detox and recovery pool and said more long-term recovery resources can help the addictions crisis in Winnipeg.

“Long-term recovery is a journey if it’s going to be sustained and requires lots of supports, and detox is the doorway into recovery,” said Willis.

Housing Minister Bernadette Smith said in a statement she’s aware of Lighthouse Mission’s financial challenges. She said the province wants to see more addiction recovery beds and treatment spots.

Liberal MP Ben Carr and Mayor Scott Gillingham didn’t respond to requests for an interview.

matthew.frank@freepress.mb.ca