DRUG-RECOVERY CLIENTS VOW TO STAY AT CORNERSTONE MANOR

The paint on the houses of Cornerstone Manor is chipped and flaking,
but the grass is cut and the yards are neatly landscaped.

Residents of the three Cornerstone drug recovery houses in Whalley
have the same rough exterior, but like their homes, there is pride in
what they have.

The men, who are learning to get off drugs and back into society, are
clean-shaven and wear clean clothes. Their teeth are brushed and they
are not wanting for food.

That may change if Cornerstone Manor is forced to close its doors by
city hall, in a move to crack down on unlicensed drug-recovery houses.
While the stop-operation order deadline, Aug. 15, passed without
incident as of Now press time, it may not be the end of headaches for
those enrolled in the twelve-step program.

"There is nowhere for us to go. We will have to go out into the
streets," said Ken Schmold, a current client and a former director of
Cornerstone. "They're going to have to pull me out in handcuffs if the
city shuts us down."

However, Surrey's senior bylaw enforcement officer insists that will
not be how the bylaw department conducts its investigation.

"Are we going to go and throw them out on their ear? No," said John
Hofmann. "It's progressive enforcement. Once we're made aware of the
issue, we go from there."

First, a letter is sent to the property owner or owners asking for
compliance of a bylaw. If there is no response, the city can ask for a
court injunction, charge the owner municipally or impose a fine.

Anytime after a deadline has passed, bylaw officers can inspect a
property in question to determine if allegations of violations are
true.

"We're investing this like any other bylaw issue. Is there a real need
to push them? That's a discretion," Hofmann said.

In the meantime, Cornerstone and other recovery homes are planning a
rally at city hall in the future to garner support for their work.

"There is a need for this," Schmold said. "Houses are starting to
unite and as we unite, we're coming together with one voice."

According to residents of the house, many Cornerstone alumni go on to
help other addicts get clean at other recovery houses, and move on to
get jobs and reconnect with family.

Life-skill classes offered at Cornerstone include budgeting money,
resum, writing, and communications skills. Certified counsellors
come in often to speak with clients.

"The average person (who) makes it needs nine to 12 months of recovery
to be a productive member of society," said Schmold. "We do have
countless success stories."

Living at Cornerstone is not fun and games. Clients sign a contract
stating they will follow rules, including helping with chores, not
fighting and not using drugs. The latter is an image the home is
trying to shake.

"I read in the newspapers that there are supposed to be 30 guys passed
out on the floor. That's not true at all," said Brett Allan, a
resident of Cornerstone who is working and planning to return to college.

Each of the houses has room for two residents per room, or about 11 to
15 people per house. Currently, each house has about half a dozen clients.

As Cornerstone is unlicensed, it has no funding apart from the rent
paid by clients, which comes from their welfare cheques of under $500
a month.

"(Surrey Mayor Dianne) Watts should come down here and look at what we
have," said resident Dana Halifax, back for a second stint at
Cornerstone. "I'm trying to get my feet back on the ground. We need
all the support we can get."