Fresh Start Recovery Centre

About Fresh Start Recovery Centre:

Founded in 1992, Fresh Start Recovery Centre (Fresh Start) treats men with alcohol and drug addictions with the goal of restoring them to productive family and community members. Fresh Start has a 12-week abstinence-based residential treatment centre that uses the AA 12-step recovery model and the Family Systems Method.

A Charity Intelligence 2017 "Top 10 High Impact Charity". 

Fresh Start Recovery's program is highly structured, with progress testing, individual and group counselling, as well as financial and family reintegration. The house’s capacity is 74 beds: 50 beds in phase 1 (primary treatment), 10 beds in phase 2 (second stage housing), and 14 beds in phase 3 (third stage housing). Fresh Start had 132 men enter the program in 2016, down 38% from the year before. Of the 132 men who entered, the majority reported that it was not their first time in recovery.

Through a partnership with Pure North S’Energy Foundation, men in the residential treatment program can also take part in a health and wellness program to improve nutrition and mental health, and reduce the chance of falling ill in the future. The program provides participants with nutrients specific to their addiction recovery plan. After surveying 120 participants in the Pure North program both pre- and post-treatment, on average, respondents reported a 22% decrease in levels of anger, anxiety, confusion, coordination issues, depression, fatigue, headaches, shaky hands, moodiness, muscle weakness, and stomach problems.

Fresh Start also offers a 5-week Family Healing Program to support family members and friends who have been affected by addiction. In 2016, 69 men and women participated in the program, up 19% from the year before.

Results and Impact: Charity Intelligence has reviewed Fresh Start since 2007 and it is consistently a highly-rated charity with high impact. In 2016, 79% of participants completed the program in 2016, roughly unchanged from the year before. Fresh Start reported a 55% recovery rate - meaning, one year after "graduating" from its program, 55% of its clients were still clean and sober. This rose 4% from the year before. Fresh Start's impact is high with excellent proven impact and data quality.

Financial Review:

Fresh Start Recovery Centre is a medium-sized charity with donations of $1.1m in F2016. Administrative costs are 3% of revenues and fundraising costs are 8% of donations. Per dollar donated to the charity, $0.89 goes toward its programs, which falls within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending. Fresh Start’s interest-bearing liabilities exceed liquid assets, largely due to $1.3m in outstanding bank demand loans. Negative funding reserves indicate a funding need.

This charity report is an update that has been sent for review to Fresh Start Recovery Centre. Comments and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated on August 4, 2017 by Katie Khodawandi.