The Healing Place breaks ground in New Hanover County
By Russell Clark | January 29, 2021 at 12:36 PM EST – Updated January 29 at 7:54 PM
WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – It’s been the center of controversy for years but after lawsuits and a surprise change in management, The Healing Place of New Hanover County treatment facility is finally coming together.
On Friday, New Hanover County officials gathered at a site just off Medical Center Drive to hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the new facility.
The Healing Place will be a peer-led residential drug and alcohol recovery facility that will offer services to anyone who needs them for free. The facility will have 200 beds total—100 for men and 100 for women.
New Hanover County is funding the $24 million dollar project and county leaders say this is a step in the right direction to help with the drug problem right here in our backyard.
“I’m sorry we have this problem here in southeastern North Carolina and we are dealing with the drug use but I’m very happy with the courage of the commissioners to step up and take all the public criticisms, especially from the neighbors around here. We’re just trying to help people,” said Julia Olson-Boseman the chair of the New Hanover County board of commissioners
It’s based on a recovery model at a similar location in Kentucky. Construction is set to begin in the next two weeks. The plan is to have the facility up and running by May 2022.
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