Foundation 61’s new House of Hope women’s rehab opens in Geelong

The founder of a new women’s rehabilitation facility in Mount Duneed says while the centre faced objections relating to wildlife, people were dying on the waitlist.

Chloe is Foundation 61 House of Hope's first participants at its new female facility. Picture: Alison Wynd

Chloe has overdosed many times. But a brush with death that put her on life support was the turning point. She knew she had to find help. And a new facility in Geelong is where she turned.

Last week, Chloe became one of the first women to check in to House of Hope, Foundation 61’s long-awaited women’s addiction treatment centre in Mount Duneed.

The 28-year-old grew up with her four siblings and parents in Koroit, a small town near Warrnambool, where she went to school and TAFE and worked in hospitality.

Eight years ago her life was derailed when she became addicted to ice, which quickly led to using GHB.

“I’ve overdosed multiple times, and was even flown to The Alfred hospital and put on life support for 18 hours,” Chloe, who did not want her surname published, said.

It was that near-death experience, just months ago, and the thought of her supportive family that inspired Chloe’s fight to get free of addiction.

“I’ve come in here to do the work, so I can go back out and live life,” she said.

“When you go to the garden and prune a tree, you clip it back so that it flowers.

“That’s my vision for the next six months.

“And I’ve got little nieces and nephews now, so it’ll be good to get better for them.”

Chloe is one of the first women at Foundation 61’s House of Hope facility. Picture: Alison Wynd

House of Hope is an eight-bed residential facility that takes women through a six-month rehabilitation program that includes classes twice a day, gardening, therapy, activities and job training.

Two of the facility’s rooms have ensuites and an attached children’s bedroom for women with children under five.

Residents like Chloe are referred to the program and often undergo a detox at a withdrawal facility beforehand.

Last Tuesday the centre opened it doors.

For chief executive and founder Rob Lytzki, who has been dreaming of the facility for decades, it was “beautiful” day.

“I’m getting emotional now,” Mr Lytzki said.

“(My wife) Caroline and I, we’ve been running training days for nearly two years waiting for this moment.”

They bought the land for House of Hope about five years ago and have worked through the long process of planning permits, approvals and building.

The site also faced opposition from some in the community who said they were concerned about the impact on wildlife.

For the past year there had been more than 100 women on the waitlist, and two people have died while waiting to come to rehab, Mr Lytzki said.

“They’re dying on the waiting list, literally, and I’ve got people worrying about gang-gang cockatoos.”

Mr Lytzki said even 20 years ago while they were building the men’s facility, Restoration House, he had dreamt of starting a women’s facility.

“It’s been part of the dream since the very beginning.”

“Come last Tuesday, and the whole machine started running.”

Foundation 61 House of Hope founder Rob Lytzki at the newly opened female facility. Picture: Alison Wynd

Mr Lytzki said he was inspired to start the rehabilitation centres after his own recovery from 30 years of drug addiction.

Foundation 61 has been nominated in the 2024 Victorian Community Achievement Awards for its contribution to the community.

Mr Lytzki said he hoped the women who came to House of Hope would walk away with their lives restored.

“It’s about security, dignity, restoration, the emotional healing journey and identity,” he said.

Originally published as Foundation 61’s new House of Hope women’s rehab opens in Geelong