Rising Above has officially purchased an apartment building for second stage housing. Rising Above is a non-profit organization in Grande Prairie, Alberta, that is committed to help break cycles of defeat, including addiction. Plans for second stage housing have been in the works for about 3 years now. The small apartment building will have 8 units, and 14 beds available starting in May.

Executive Director Mel Siggelkow says, "Once people are through the 6 month program...they've heard some participants say that they're not ready to go back out into the real world yet, I don't trust myself. And we've seen a number of them that were doing really well in the program, take that step and then relapse". The second stage housing will still give them some support and structure, but will be one more step towards that independence, providing them enough stability to eventually move on very successfully.

Participants will be able to live in second stage housing for up to a year following the initial residential program.

Siggelkow says, the down payment for the building was made possible, once again because of the generosity of the community and the Peace Country.

Earlier this week, there was another victory for the organization as they were given the thumbs up for two new group homes in the community. 

The homes have been operating already since the summer of 2019, however, the city wanted organizations like Rising Above to apply for group home status, which was officially approved by City Council Tuesday morning. The new duplex, and group home status were another step to ensure they can continue moving forward with the residential program.

Siggelkow says, "We are dealing with about 50 applications a month, so the demand is not lessening at all, and it's growing across the province, particularly in the north here".

Currently there are 19 beds at Park Campus with the men’s program, and 14 for the ladies within the community. Starting in May, with the addition of second stage housing, Rising Above will be able to accommodate 47 people.