NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC – On Tuesday, officials with New Hanover County, Trillium Health Resources and The Healing Place came together with other community partners to hold a dedication and ribbon cutting for The Healing Place of New Hanover County.
Located at 1000 Medical Center Drive, this peer-led residential substance use recovery center will officially open its doors for operation in February and be the only one of its kind in Southeastern North Carolina.
“Today was a big day for our community as we dedicated The Healing Place, which will provide support to our neighbors who are battling substance use disorders,” said Bill Rivenbark, Chair of the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners. “We know there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to treatment and recovery, so having options for those who need help is important. The Healing Place will offer peer-led, residential treatment free of charge to anyone who needs it – something that isn’t available anywhere else in our region. We’re excited about the work that will be done here and look forward to seeing the positive results in the years to come.”
With a capacity to house up to 100 men and 100 women at any time, The Healing Place of New Hanover County will provide individuals, regardless of insurance, with a residential recovery program at no cost to them including food, shelter, clothing and recovery services. The facility will offer an overnight emergency shelter, non-medical detoxification and a long-term, 12-step residential peer-run recovery program based on the model that originated at The Healing Place in Louisville, Kentucky.
As part of Tuesday’s dedication, attendees were able to tour the site’s five buildings including the residential complexes for men and women, detox facility, administration and education building, and the dining and shelter building, as well as learn more about the programs that will be offered at the site once it is officially open.
“Nearly a decade ago, the Board of Commissioners recognized that more needed to be done to help people who are struggling with addiction. That started a conversation with Trillium, who identified the need for this type of facility in our region, and it was clear the county needed to be a partner in this effort," said New Hanover County Manager Chris Coudriet. “What you see here is the result of a collaborative effort between so many in our community to bring this vision to life. The Healing Place will compliment and add to our area’s treatment programs and partners, and be a significant resource for people to turn to for help.”
Trillium identified the need for this type of program and donated the land for the facility, and New Hanover County has managed and funded the construction. The Healing Place of New Hanover County will now oversee all operations of the facility, including operating costs. The county will own the buildings, cover long-term maintenance, and provide funding for 50 beds – 25 for men and 25 for women – each year as part of the county’s annual budget.
“We are grateful to be working with numerous partners in our community with similar goals and a passion to help people struggling with addiction lead meaningful and productive lives,” said Brian Mingia, Executive Director of The Healing Place of New Hanover County. “With our nationally recognized social model recovery program for drug and alcohol addiction, The Healing Place of New Hanover County will fill a need in this region and be a beacon of hope for so many who are struggling. We are eager to begin helping our neighbors on their recovery journey.”
Now that construction is complete, The Healing Place is able to begin the credentialing process to fully open. Shelter and residential clients will be accepted beginning in February and the detox facility will open in the spring.
More information about The Healing Place of New Hanover County is available at thpnc.org.
You can watch the dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony here and in the video below: