Group to buy a home for women, thanks to city of Coquitlam

The B.C. Catholic
COQUITLAM



A non-profit dedicated to freeing women from addiction is expanding, thanks to a new partnership with the City of Coquitlam.

The city has pulled $600,000 out of its Affordable Housing Reserve Fund to help the Talitha Koum Society buy a new home.

“I am pleased that the two, the Housing Reserve Fund and Talitha Koum, have found each other,” said Coquitlam mayor Richard Stewart.

It’s the first time money has come out of the new fund. According to Stewart, Talitha Koum was a deserving applicant. “We do know that there is a need for this kind of service.”

There are existing programs for women fleeing domestic abuse or with economic needs, but Talitha Koum fills a special niche. It’s the only program in Coquitlam he knows of that allows women to live in a transition house with their children while they work themselves free of drug or alcohol addictions.

“This is a group that provides enormous service to the community, but has traditionally done it on a shoe string and without municipal partnership,” he said.

“I think that, where we can, we should partner with groups like this to make sure they are more stable in the services they can offer.”

Talitha Koum has committed to matching the $600,000 and using the funds to buy a home in Coquitlam to run its program. Executive director Sharon DeLalla finds that stability crucial and exciting.

“After 16 years, we now will have permanent housing,” she said. “No more renting. It basically means stability, which as a small non-profit is so important.”

Since Talitha Koum was founded, the society has been at the mercy of landlords. Then, about two years ago, a generous donor gave a house in Vancouver.

Because the cost of living was so high in Vancouver, they sold it and were able to use the funds to seek partnerships, such as the one with Coquitlam.

“These are exciting times for us,” said DeLalla, who will begin shopping for a new home once partnership details are ironed out. She plans to find and renovate a home with a capacity of 10: one staff member and nine women and children.

“We think it’s really important to keep families together,” she said. “Quite a few women don’t seek treatment because they are afraid they are going to lose their kids.”

Women at Talitha take the 12-step program and learn life skills in a safe environment. “It helps the women in their recovery. It’s hugely motivating to have their children with them.”

The non-profit is currently operating one house, which is full and has a waiting list, and pursuing other partnerships to keep on growing.