Rhiannon Porcellato, taking over as manager of the house, said there's "definitely" pressure to make the facility a success.

The Beacon of Hope House, the Salvation Army's first foray into youth addiction treatment, will treat males 13-18 for three to six months, with a focus on those recovering from an addiction to crystal methamphetamine.

The Salvation Army initially hoped to use the house in Esquimalt as a women's shelter, but was convinced to change the focus by funding opportunities presented by the Vancouver Island Housing Authority. VIHA is contributing $140,000 in annual operating funding for three years, at which point, future funding will be evaluated. But members of the Crystal Meth Victoria Society said there's an even greater need for a young women's facility.

"It had originally been our hope to have a house for girls," said the society's Ruth McLaughlin. "Our feeling was that the girls are much more vulnerable on the street... there's two things they're going to run into -- crime and drugs. And with the girls there's the risk of unwanted pregnancies, disease, predators and pimps."

Twenty-year-old Morgana Glass, a former meth addict, celebrated the Beacon of Hope opening, saying, "it's a start, anyway."

When the former Claremont student started using meth four years ago, more girls than boys were addicted to it, she said.

Despite the need, the Salvation Army decided to hedge its bets and start with young males, who have had higher success rates at similar facilities in Vancouver. The organization is providing $200,000 in annual operating funding.

The province paid $87,000 to convert the 1911 house into a six-bedroom treatment facility.

VIHA hinted that talks are underway to start a similar facility for young women, but remained tight-lipped about when the facility would come into existence.

With the addition of Beacon of Hope House, the Capital Region has a total of 10 youth treatment beds.