Hannah House will almost double its capacity in the next few weeks.

The women's rehab centre run by Innervisions Recovery House at Laity Street and Dewdney Trunk Road will open a second building on its site, with 17 rehab beds to add to the 20 already at the facility.

Billy Weselowski, co-founder of Innervisions, said the beds for women's rehab in the province are few and far between.

He estimated there are about 10 beds for men for every one for women.

Weselowski said it's been amazing how Maple Ridge has come forward in helping finance the construction of the new building, what he said will be a "legacy for women."

"There are some good people doing some good things for the right reasons," he said.

The new building, built by Gord Knuttlia and Silver Valley Homes, a Maple Ridge company, cost $1.2 million. It has been built on time and on budget.

In addition, Innervisions got a grant from the ministry of social development for $150,000, and was able to hire six workers to help build the new house.

Last year, as Innervisions was planning the new building, a grant for $500,000 fell through, and that's when Weselowski stepped up his fundraising efforts, putting in $10,000 himself and challenging board members and other community members to match him.

"I'm really grateful my God gives me the courage to not give up," Weselowski said.

Hannah House has received help from two local Rotary clubs, Meadowridge and Haney, both sponsoring a room in the new building.

The Rotary clubs in Coquitlam and Port Moody also provide ongoing support to Innervisions, Weselowski said.

But he said there are also many "silent" supporters in the community.

The second house will have 17 beds, a laundry, two common areas, and an entry-level wheelchair-accessible bedroom.

The people working at Innervisions facilities have all struggled with addictions, and Weselowski said that experience coupled with proper training makes the program successful.

Weselowski himself had to recover from addictions, and he continues to attend support meetings, though he's been sober for 20 years.

"There's nothing we're asking you to do that we haven't done," Weselowski said.

Addiction is an illness, and "if I'm ill, I'll take the path of least resistance," Weselowski said.

That is why he doesn't believe in a harm reduction strategy, but rather, Innervisions maintains an abstinence-based program.

Addicts will say two things, "I'm sorry and it's not my fault," Weselowski explained.

When they are still using or drinking, a counsellor can't deal with them, because they still have to deal with the effects of the addiction, Weselowski said.

Weselowski calls Innervisions' program "real deal recovery." Addicts come to them to sober up, learn skills to deal with addictions, and do some work to deal with the issues underlying their addictions.

"This is not where you come and hide," Weselowski said, rather it's a place to get a "jump start on your life."

When women come to Hannah House for rehab, they need to work on their recovery.

If they don't buy into the program, nothing will change.

But the barriers for women to enter rehab are much higher than for men, as they often feel guilty about how they've treated their children.

"The mommy-guilt thing is something we work with on a daily basis," said Hannah House director Joanna Schofield.

mrantanen@mrtimes.com