Recovery house grows

In the more than 20 years since Freedom’s Door opened in Kelowna they’ve helped hundreds of people achieve a sober life and plans are in the works to help more.

“We were a group of businessmen who what was going on in downtown with drugs and homelessness, and there was little or no help for men with long-term recovery available,” Tom Smithwick, one of the founding members said.

“We started in September of 2002 with 10 people in a rented premises and over the last 22 years we now have 10 homes and house 100 people.”

They also run a program that has helped 2,000 men in their sobriety journey, he said.

The organization is faith-based, like Alcoholics Anonymous, and a dry facility.

Smithwick said he’s thankful for the community support its received over the years.

"We’re pleased with how the community accepted this, adopted us and helped us achieved this,” Smithwick said.

He said the organization has succeeded in its endeavours, though the number of people on the streets in Kelowna has increased.

He’s not, however, discouraged.

"I am saddened. Saddened by what is going on that’s not hitting the mark for people on the street,” he said.

"Saddened by lack of addiction recovery available.”

Freedom’s door always has a waiting list of 20 to 50 people, he said, and he doesn’t see that ending.

Thus the ever increasing capacity, which is funded entirely by donations.

An occupancy permit for its latest building was granted Oct. 21.

“We had been in need of housing for those people who have severe mobility issues,” Smithwick said. “Our current homes all have stairwells to bedrooms and wheelchair access is impossible.

The issue was resolved through its accessory building in the rear yard of one of their homes on Centennial Crescent.

The new building has two bedrooms at ground level, as well as an accessible bathroom. It also has a large social room with pool table, hockey table, and big screen TV. It’s open to all residents of the four Freedom’s Door houses on the street.

Now fundraising will begin for another.