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The city’s largest provider of homeless services is seeking permission to open a recovery center in South Richmond for low-income women struggling with addiction.

Leaders of CARITAS, which currently operates a recovery center for men called the Healing Place and an emergency homeless shelter, said they have seen a growing need for such a dedicated facility as the public health crisis surrounding opioid addiction has grown.

“The Healing Place is at capacity, and for the first time since 2005, is unable to keep up with the ever-growing demand,” CARITAS Chief Executive Karen Stanley said in a statement. “The Healing Place regularly refers women seeking help to out-of-state programs.”

According to CARITAS, only the Richmond Behavioral Health Authority provides similar services for women locally, and due to demand, there is typically a two- to three-month waiting period.

CARITAS has filed paperwork with the city seeking a special-use permit to open the shelter in a warehouse formerly used by Philip Morris at 2220 Stockton St.

The new center would be called the Women’s Healing Place and would comprise “no greater than 200 total beds,” according to the permit application.