As another huge month is reported for overdose deaths, a rehab centre near Kamloops is concerned about being underfunded.
The abstinence-based VisionQuest Recovery Society has a men’s treatment centre near Logan Lake, which has room for 60 clients and is operated by nine staff members.
It also has two rehab centres in the Lower Mainland: a men’s centre in Abbotsford, where clients go after spending time at the facility near Logan Lake, as well as a women’s treatment centre in Surrey.
Speaking to Kamloops council today, executive director Megan Worley says it wants the provincial government to give funding based on the amount of programming that social services offer.
“The services that we offer are being given at the exact same rate as a smaller facility that maybe only offers three huts and a cot, and a trip to the pharmacy for their methodone. They’re getting the same amount of money as we are. What we’re asking them for is actually a tiered per diem rate, with this amount being the bottom line.”
VisionQuest gets $35.90 per day for each client, which works out to about $1,100 per month.
With which we are expected to provide lodging, food, utilities, cable, internet, transportation, staffing and programming,” says camp manager Eric Fields. “Often staff spend out of their own pockets for items such as socks, toiletries and other things we need on a daily basis.”
Kamloops councillor Denis Walsh says the low amount of funding from the province for a full-circle treatment centre like VisionQuest is embarrassing.
“To me, your biggest challenge is the pittance of the funding you get. It’s almost a farce. If you’re in jail, it’s an average of over $10,000 a month. And you’re getting $1,100.”
Worley told council the best thing it can do is lobby the provincial government for improved funding.
The presentation from VisionQuest staff to Kamloops council comes on the same day the BC Coroners Service reported another 127 fatal overdoses in September, the seventh-straight month of more than 100 deaths from overdoses in this province.
(Photo: VisionQuest Recovery Society)
