While calls for supportive housing echo into silence, a hole-in-the-wall charity is pushing its 15th year providing the service on a shoestring budget.

Stepping Stones Recovery House For Women is an eight-bed program in a home on Burgess Road. The charity was launched in 2007 after a few meetings between volunteers, and now is led by a woman who recovered through the program. It operates on a budget of roughly $168,000 each year, according to the most recent 2021 financial info on Charity Data.

Stepping Stones today has women commit to a three-month program to fight substance use and addiction issues. Living together on Burgess Road, the groups participate in 12-step study, therapy, fitness, life coaching and 12-step meetings, and are supported by 24-hour staff.

The charity has had over 350 women go through the house since opening in 2008. It was started by five volunteers.

In an interview with the Record, executive director of Stepping Stones Tammy Gough shared that she signed up with the recovery house twice in her life, the most recent being early in 2018. Gough entered the transition program, which focused on integrating women back into the community through employment, volunteering and education.

Gough completed the program, later returned to school for a diploma in business administration and bookkeeping, and now, last Sunday reached six years sober while working her first year as executive director at the recovery house.

鈥淭his is kind of where it all started for me,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 be where I am today without the love and support.鈥�

Small size both a blessing and a curse

While Stepping Stones鈥� intimacy and grassroots approach might be its appeal, the DIY (do it yourself) approach can double as a weakness. Gough said the eight-bed recovery house has a long history of just getting by when it comes to money.

鈥淚t is a miracle鈥� when I looked at budgets and financials over the years, you know, somehow the universe has provided an opportunity to keep the doors open. I don鈥檛 know how else to look at that.鈥�

Stepping Stones was birthed by a team of passionate volunteers, helping it operate at very low costs. Even 10 years in, the charity鈥檚 budget was just roughly $19,000, according to Charity Data. That was the year when Gough completed the transitional program.

Over 15 years, Stepping Stones鈥� founders stepped back, leaving the charity seeking grants to keep staff and the program running.

Government support has increased to roughly $125,000 in recent years, according to records on Charity Data. But it鈥檚 not enough to support the team of five staff and three volunteers, said Gough. The team is far below historical highs, which saw 22 staff and volunteers combined.

Charity looking for community help

This year, Stepping Stones put on its first fundraiser golf tournament, raising roughly $8,000 for the charity. Gough said the fundraiser success makes it a priority for next year, but, as has been the driving force all along with the 15-year project, she hopes the people of Courtenay and Comox will power the local program.

Gough asked that anyone interested in supporting the charity send an email to ask about volunteering or donating at steppingstoneshouse@telus.net or to visit steppingstonesrecoveryhouse.ca.

Connor McDowell is a reporter at the Comox Valley Record