Bissell Centre cut the ribbon on its new supportive recovery housing site, Den of Willows, which features 24/7 wraparound supports for individuals with FASD looking to continue their journeys out of addiction. The four individuals calling Den of Willows home officially moved in back in January 2026 and say they are already experiencing the positive benefits of having access to trauma-informed and specifically catered supports.
“Having a culturally safe space allows me to interact with my spiritual path and become a better version of myself,” says Chance Goddard, a Den of Willows resident. “I have found the thing that all us residents say more than anything else is how wonderful it is to have a home that is ours for as long as we want and a small community to belong to.”
How Den of Willows Supports Recovery
Den of Willows has four main goals in supporting its residents:
- Supporting them as they come out of recovery.
- Focusing on their unique needs based on their FASD.
- Supporting sobriety in a stable living environment.
- Helping people towards long-term housing retention.
People living at Den of Willows either have or may have FASD, are in recovery from addiction, and have histories of chronic homelessness. Staff at the supportive recovery housing site support the residents with life-skills development, employment readiness, cultural connection, and referrals to health and community services.
“Den of Willows fills an important gap for people coming out of treatment who may experience homelessness because they don’t have any options for housing that supports their sobriety,” says Candace Noble, Bissell Centre’s Executive Services Officer. “Den of Willows ensures people with FASD who were experiencing addiction are supported in their recovery and can integrate into community.”
Bissell Centre’s Housing Goals
Den of Willows is part of Bissell Centre’s larger housing strategy, a three-year plan to increase housing options through collaborative partnerships with government, funders and other services providers. Building on experience and expertise from operating Hope Terrace, Bissell Centre is focused on providing sustainable, human-centered housing options that nurture healthy communities by improving people’s overall wellbeing and creating additional independent housing opportunities.
“At Bissell Centre, we believe that access to safe and affordable housing is a vital aspect for ending poverty. Our Housing Development Strategy charts a course for Bissell’s contribution to expanding sustainable housing in Edmonton,” says Johanna Knettig, Co-CEO with Bissell Centre. “Tackling the housing crisis in a sustainable, human-centered way is our shared responsibility. Implementation will require collaboration with all orders of government, community partners, Indigenous Nations, and the private sector. We are grateful to work with partners who share the goal of ensuring healthy communities and are excited to continue this work together.”
Rick Wilson, Minister of Mental Health and Addiction, says, “Recovery housing is a key part of Alberta’s Recovery Model, helping people transition from treatment into long-term stability. Our government is proud to support initiatives like Den of Willows supportive recovery house, improving outcomes for individuals and strengthening communities across the province.”
