Federal government funds housing for Drug Treatment Court clients

Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Rob Nicholson and Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Monte Solberg announced federal funding Thursday for supportive housing and services for clients of the Toronto Drug Treatment Court.

At a press conference held at CAMH’s Russell Street site, representatives of the John Howard Society, Toronto Drug Treatment Court program, CAMH and the media gathered to learn details of the federal pilot project between Human Resources and Social Development’s Homelessness Partnering Strategy and Justice Canada. Ottawa is contributing $200,000 over two years in funding to CAMH’s Toronto Drug Treatment Court program.

CAMH will receive the funds and work with the John Howard Society to provide short-term supportive housing for Drug Treatment Court clients.

Shannon Coote, Manager of CAMH’s Toronto Drug Treatment Court, answers reporters’ questions at a press conference announcing $200,000 in federal money for community housing to support clients of the program. Federal Minister of Justice Rob Nicholson (r) and Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Monte Solberg look on.

Drug Treatment Courts are special courts that aim to reduce crime associated with drug dependency by providing court-monitored treatment and community service support for offenders with drug addictions. They take a comprehensive approach that includes judicial supervision, substance abuse treatment, random and frequent drug testing and social services support.

Clients already in custody for non-violent offences come to the Drug Treatment Court program after applying and receiving approval from the Crown. They are people whose criminal behaviour is directly linked to their need to support an addiction to cocaine, crack or opiates.

“We know from experience that supportive housing is a vital factor in successful recovery and in decreasing the likelihood of recidivism. This partnership with the John Howard Society to provide much needed transitional housing will make this increasingly possible for the clients of the Toronto Drug Treatment Court,” explained Judith Tompkins, CAMH EVP Programs and Chief of Nursing Practice and Professional Services.

Shannon Coote, CAMH’s Manager of the Toronto Drug Treatment Court Program, says that the program exemplifies the harm reduction approach to treatment in addressing the underlying causes of a client’s addiction - treatment they wouldn’t get if they were sent to jail.

“This housing pilot will help address one of the identified gaps for our clients," Shannon says

Brian (who goes by the street name Amigo), is a DTC client who’s addicted to crack cocaine and has been clean for five months. At the press conference, he thanked the two federal ministers and said it was great to see government proactively involved in supporting housing and partnering with people well-versed in addictions.

Without supportive housing, Brian says, there’s no way people challenged by addiction can “get back on their feet again.”

"Our alumni often tell us how beneficial it would be for clients to have a safe place to go when they are released from custody. This project sees their vision of a DTC house become a reality."

Shannon Coote, Manager Toronto Drug Treatment Court Program

“(It’s) important for government to take a really serious look at incarcerating people addicted to drugs,” Brian said.

“Our Government’s philosophy is to try to prevent homelessness and poverty whenever possible,” said Minister Solberg. “But if a person does become homeless, our goal is to immediately house them so they can receive the guidance, treatment and support they need to escape the streets.”

“Supportive housing is a key determinant of health that provides the foundation for recovery, and we are happy to be able to work with the John Howard Society on this new initiative to help people with addictions get back on their feet,” said CAMH President and CEO Dr. Paul Garfinkel.

“Through care, treatment and job training, Drug Treatment Court aims to reduce the negative consequences of substance use, reduce recidivism and help clients integrate back into the community - these things are all more likely to happen if clients have a stable place to live,” he said.