Photo: Darren Handschuh

Steve McVarnock, Kelly Fehr and Randene Wejr with the Turning Points Collaborative Society.

The John Howard Society is no more.

At least in name anyway.

The organization that has served the North Okanagan for decades is now known as the Turning Points Collaborative Society.

Officials said the name change better reflects the expanding mandate of the society. For years, the JHS served only men, but the society is now offering the same services to women including housing, shelter accommodation and addiction recovery.

Steve McVarnock, board chairperson, said the society will continue to operate numerous programs designed to help those living on the edges of society.

“We worked very closely with Interior Health to ensure addictions recovery and support options were available to women and men,” said McVarnock.

Kelly Fehr, co-executive director, said the focus on women's services is the biggest change for the society.

“Historically in Vernon there have been major gaps in supportive housing and addiction recovery options for women and that is something out board of directors really recognized and has been focussed on for a number of years,” said Fehr, adding the board has implemented a game plan to make it a top priority.

“We opened up all of our addictions recovery programs to women; we also opened up our transitional housing programs and moving forward we will ensure there is equal opportunity for all genders in the programs we provide,” said Fehr.

McVarnock said the name change reflects how the society is moving a new direction. He said when most people think of John Howard Society they think of correlation between corrections and halfway houses “but we haven't been involved in that in over 15 years in this community.”