Daniel Harrison, Executive Director - The Drumheller Society for Recovery - Grace House.
A dozen dedicated people saw a need in the area, and building from the ground up, Drumheller’s Grace House was formed 25 years ago.
“It was a grass roots group of people who decided that addiction care was something that was needed, particularly for men, and they went to work,” said Daniel Harrison, Executive Director for The Drumheller Society for Recovery - Grace House.
“I think they tried two or three options before they settled on this location, and this mode of operating.”
Grace House aided its first clients with addiction problem at its current location near the Old Central School, and has evolved from a more casual program to a thirteen-week structured program for the participants, who are assisted by professional staff.
“I think we’re delivering a better program, and I think the men are benefitting from it more,” said Harrison.
He noted if there was an overall theme, that would be the move of the program into helping men become more emotionally literate, meaning they are able to feel, express and name their emotions, and to deal with them effectively.
A maximum eleven participants can reside at Grace House for 90 days to take part in the program.
Participants also work on the Grace House odd job squad, which also started almost 25 years ago.
The men on the squad work in the community on snow removal in the winter and yard care in the summer, and also provide a light moving service for small moves and furniture deliveries within the community.
Harrison said they also have a contract with the Town, to assist seniors with yard care and snow removal to make it easier for the seniors to stay in their own homes.
“Overall, for a lot of our men, it’s kind of a restoration of dignity.”
Harrison notes that men who attend treatment do much better than trying to beat their addiction issues on their own.
Future plans Harrison said Grace House is considering include possible expansion of housing, and the possible addition of second stage housing for program graduates that would like to stay in the community.
