Windsor addiction treatment centre has lost 19 beds in recent months. Here's why

Amid an ongoing drug crisis that continues to kill an increasing number of people in Windsor-Essex, one of the area's well-known residential recovery centres has had to close 19 beds in recent months because of the expense.

Growing calls for help, mixed with a toxic drug supply and complex client needs have already been straining the services at Brentwood Recovery Home. And in recent months, the facility's executive director says on top of that, they've had to cut the number of beds available due to inflation.

That means they'll be accepting fewer people in need of help — at least for now.

"[There's] lots of demand, and demand's outstripping funding and so difficult decisions had to be made by the board," said Elizabeth Dulmage. 

And what this also means, says Dulmage with a heavy sigh, is that "wait times will increase." 

Right now, she says that Brentwood has a six-to-eight week wait list with more than 200 people hoping to get in. 

According to Dulmage, the beds that were lost are ones that the organization has paid for through fundraising efforts. She says it's not that donations are down, but that the growing cost of food and utilities is making it hard to keep more beds open.

Last May, Brentwood had 68 beds, but it's now operating 49 — 43 of which are provincially funded. 

And this loss of beds isn't the only hit to Windsor-Essex resources dedicated to supporting those with addiction issues. At the start of this year, the region's first drug consumption and treatment site was forced to close due to a lack of provincial funding and its status still remains in limbo. Some advocates say these setbacks shouldn't be happening and have them concerned for those who are struggling. 

Former Brentwood client Joshua Burg — who completed a 90-day program last year for substance abuse issues — says it's "unfortunate" that there will be fewer beds. 

"They would benefit from opening up more beds," he said, adding that having a place to stay and food made for him helped him get through the program. 

"Stay strong out there, everyone whose struggling." 

Executive director of harm reduction organization Pozitive Pathways, Michael Brennan, told CBC News that "capacity, policy, stigma, bureaucracy and funding" often get in the way of the work that's being done. 

"It feels like one step forward, two steps back for our community and that can be frustrating," he said.