Canada's first recovery caf up and running in Vancouver

A community networkfor people in recovery is making its first foray into Canada, with Vancouver's Recovery Cafopening its doors on the Downtown Eastside on Sept. 12.

The Recovery Caf Network was launched in Seattle in 2016 and, according to its website, offers warm, welcoming and healing community spaces with the support ofother like-minded organizations.

Damian Murphy is the manager of the new Vancouver location at 620 Clark Drive. Hesays the local effort is sponsored by the Kettle Society a non-profit that aims to empowerthe city's most vulnerable.

"What we're doing here is building a community of support," said Murphy in an interview.

"Our focus is addiction recovery, but we also recognize that people can be in recovery from other things as well: trauma, mental illness, homelessness, grief and loss."

The caf is drug and alcohol-free, and Murphy says a membership doesn't cost anythingbut comes with the expectation of attending a weekly recovery circle.

Participants meet with the same small group of people on the same day every week, setting short-term goals that the group holds them accountable to.

"It's like a healing circle or a talking circle," said Murphy. "We invite folks to share some of the struggles or challenges that they may be having, butwe also want folks to share some of the successes or some of the gratitude."

Community connection

Guy Felicella works with Vancouver Coastal Health as the peer clinical adviserfor the British Columbia Centre on Substance Use (BCCSU). He's been in recovery for almost 10 years.

After living on the streets of the DTES and surviving six overdoses, he's now married, has three children and works as an advocate for mental health supportand harm reduction.

"I knew that I was either going to die in my addiction or get out," Felicella told CBC.

Felicella saysthe outpatient facility that helped him beat his substance use issues connected him with people who were willing to help andoffered some of the same supports and social activities asthe Recovery Caf.

"It's a physical location where people can access services and go to seek support instead of making a phone call and just going to detox andgoing to treatment.

"Sometimes the best results happen from a coffee and a sandwich and a conversation."

Felicella says these types of spacescreate a comfortable environmentthat might convince people to seek out additional resources which previously seemed too daunting.

"You start to see the same people coming over and over again. You start to trust.You start to build relationships.I think the most powerful thing about these recovery cafs is what it provides: the human connection."

Positive reception

Murphy says the community response since the caf opened in mid-September has been positive.There are four recovery circles running right now, and over 50 people have signed up.

Hehopes more members will continue to join and would like to seethe caf hosta couple of recovery circles every day.

Thespace is open to the public Monday to Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and there's an orientation session for new members every Wednesday afternoon.

As long as they're participating in the weekly meetings, members arealso welcome to sign up for other activities organized by the caf such as life skills workshops, social outings and recreational programs.

On top of coffee, the caf gives out one free meal a day.

Through its connection with the Kettle Society and partnerships withaffordable housing group StreetohomeFoundation and advocacy organizationthe 625 Powell Street Foundation, visitors have access to a whole host of resources.

Murphy says he and his two other staff members have "many years experience" working with people in recovery, andall took part in anintensive training course when they joined the Recovery CafNetwork.

"It's not counselling per se. We're not here to fix people's problems," Murphysaid.

"We believe that every person has within themselves the ability to determine what's going to work best for them in their recovery."

He says surveys of people who joined Seattle's recovery caf showed the vast majority of members had an increased desire to be in recovery and reduced their instances of relapse.

"If you or anyone you know is struggling with their recovery ... you're welcome to come down," he said.

"You'll find a warm, caring community of support here for you."