A slow medicine approach to recovery

On a busy St. Boniface Street, the staff and residents of Morberg House have built a home and support system centered on long-term recovery. The 12-bed transitional residence provides a safe space for men experiencing addiction, homelessness and mental health challenges. Through shared living space, people passing through Morberg House are able to lean on others with lived experience to help them on their recovery journey. No person is the same, nor is the approach to recovery. The house is staffed 24/7, including a psychiatric nurse, who helps residents to map out what brought them to Morberg House and how to approach challenges going forward.

A “re-parenting” model has been developed at the house, which sees residents participate in regular Re:Act sessions, or Recovery Education for Addiction and Complex Trauma.  In addressing childhood trauma, many people leave the house better able to identify triggers and better equipped to handle emotions like fear, sadness and anger.

There’s no rushing recovery. Residents may stay anywhere from 4 to 18 months, or even longer! Many continue to return, even after they’ve moved out, for Re:Act sessions, or even just to hang out with the family they’ve helped to create. Some residents find stable housing through sober living suites in the community, or employment through different arms of the organization.

In treating the person and providing them with life skills to move forward, Morberg House supports people in their immediate recovery and in finding long-term healing.