A place to heal together: Ranch Ehrlo Society expands supportive housing program for families
After offering supportive housing services in Moose Jaw for more than a decade, Ranch Ehrlo Society is expanding its program and will open its doors to a second property that will offer far more than a roof over one’s head.
It’s a place where healing begins, stability takes root, and families can start building a brighter future together.
“I really love how the program helped my family in the reunification process. We were so disconnected, but we really learned how to be a family again,” shared Violet Sanderson, a mom who graduated the program with her family. “When we first entered the program, we wrote down what we hoped to achieve and, in the end, we ended up getting so much more than what we had wished for.”
Up to sixteen families will each have their own private apartment in a secure building, located at the beloved Chez Nous property. The neighbourhood is surrounded by everything families need – schools, parks, grocery stores, and medical services; a positive community that promotes healthy living, connection, and growth.
As we prepare to open our doors, some neighbours have expressed concerns about operations. Our team is having open conversations with local residents and is taking steps to address reasonable requests that help reduce any potential disruption to the neighbourhood.
“We’re excited to grow our services in Moose Jaw and help even more families work toward stabilization,” said Patti Petrucka, executive director of family treatment programs at Ranch Ehrlo. “We are proud to offer these opportunities so that families can remain together, heal together, and thrive – ultimately reducing risk factors that affect entire communities.”
What sets this program apart is its commitment to keeping families whole. Children stay with their parents, and every family member takes part in the journey toward wellness. While parents engage in structured, daily programming that tackles everything from trauma and addiction recovery to mental health and co-dependency, trained staff are right there in the building, 24/7, offering practical help and responding to individual family needs.
Jade Pavey entered the program as a young mother seeking a better future for herself and her son. She describes the experience as life-changing, one that helped her rediscover her dreams and work toward a healthier, happier life for them both.
Against the odds, Jade built a stable, balanced life, stayed united with her son, and re-enrolled in post-secondary education — all while still in the program. Shortly after graduating, she joined Ranch Ehrlo as a staff member and has since advanced to the role of Family Program Support Supervisor.
“This program keeps families together, and that’s important because when families break apart, unhealthy cycles continue and create larger problems for our society. We’re working to be part of the solution by offering services that help keep families united – providing support wherever it is needed.”
For Ranch Ehrlo Society, this expansion is more than just housing. It’s about building healthier families and stronger communities.
Since program inception, over 120 have completed the program. At discharge since inception:
· 80 per cent of families had one or more children remain or reunify with them.
· A total of 353 children remained or were reunified with families at discharge.
· At six-month follow-up (2024-25):
o 70 per cent of families remained intact.
o 80 per cent of families state their level of family safety is good to excellent.
For more information, please contact:
|
Patti Petrucka |
Ranch Ehrlo Society is a multi-service non-profit that provides group living, clinical, family, community, and educational programs across the province.