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A $1 million home, three new vehicles, and cash prizes are up for grabs through an annual lottery that keeps a Windsor recovery centre afloat.
Tickets are now available online for the Brentwood Dream Home Lottery, which aims to net $500,000 for addiction and mental health treatment programs at Brentwood Recovery Home this year.
“Being able to come here saved my life. It changed my life significantly,” said Joe Papa, a Brentwood alumnus who now works for the organization. Papa spoke during the lottery’s kick-off on Thursday.
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“You come here and you’re given love and compassion, you’re given treatment, and then we have a fantastic aftercare program,” Papa said.
“Without this lottery, it would be next to impossible to operate Brentwood.”
Now in its 60th year, Brentwood Recovery Home offers short- and long-term residential recovery programs for those with addictions and mental health challenges. It also has a follow-up program and aftercare for Brentwood alumni.
Although the organization’s Dougall Avenue location has space for 200 beds, it only receives partial government funding for 43. Through the lottery and some private contributions, it covers the outstanding costs for those 43 recovery beds — roughly $100 per day per bed.
“The reality is, this is expensive to run,” said Brentwood board chair Ken Courtenay. “Yes, we get some government support, we get some private, but this is our main fundraiser.”
Without lottery ticket sales, he said, Brentwood would lose 15 beds.
“It would be tragic. It would reduce us to — I don’t even want to contemplate it. I really don’t want to think about what would happen if we didn’t have the lottery.”
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Built by NOR-Built Construction, this year’s two-storey dream home grand prize is located in Amherstburg, with three bedrooms and two-and-a-half bathrooms.
Also available are a 2025 Chevy Equinox RS, a 2025 Jeep Compass Sport, a 2025 Ford Maverick XLT Hybrid, and several cash prizes, including a $60,000 grand prize and early bird cash prizes.
Executive director Elizabeth Dulmage encouraged people to purchase tickets as soon as possible to be eligible for various early bird draws.
“We depend immensely on the support of Windsor and Essex County residents,” Dulmage said.
Brentwood would like to offer same-day treatment for those seeking help with addictions and mental health, she said, but people can currently expect to wait five or six weeks for treatment.
About half of Brentwood clients are homeless, Dulmage said. More than half do not have jobs.
“This is not a disease that waits patiently for treatment,” she said. “We lose them, and they’re back on the street. They’re back to their homeless state. They’re back to being desperate, hurting people. To ask them to wait is a challenge.”
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Tickets for the Brentwood Dream Home Lottery can be purchased online at brentwoodlottery.com. Starting Oct. 10 at 9 a.m., tickets can also be purchased in person at Brentwood’s lottery office (2335 Dougall Ave.).
Tickets will also be sold at select retail locations throughout the region, including Devonshire Mall. More information about those locations will be available at the lottery website.
Tickets for the home lottery cost $50 each, $100 for three, or $250 for 10.
For the 50/50 bonus draw, tickets cost $5 for three, $10 for 10, $20 for 50, or $50 for 200.
Prizes and draws
There will be weekly cash prizes of $2,500 and free tickets starting Oct. 25.
Four early bird draws:
-Oct. 25 for $25,000
-Nov. 22 for $25,000
-Two draws on Dec. 20 for $25,000 each
There will be 20 grand prize draws on Jan. 11 at 1 p.m. at Brentwood. Prizes include:
– $1,000 cash prizes
– $5,000 cash prizes
– $10,000 cash prizes
– A $25,000 cash prize
– A $60,000 cash prize in recognition of Brentwood’s 60th anniversary
– A 2025 Chevy Equinox RS
– A 2025 Jeep Compass Sport
– A 2025 Ford Maverick XLT Hybrid
– The grand prize of a $1-million dream home built by NOR-Built Construction
Also on Jan. 11, the winner of a 50/50 bonus draw will be announced. The jackpot will run over the course of the lottery. Last year’s winner took home more than $140,000.
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