The Provincial Government has announced that a new safe house for at risk children will soon be coming to Red Deer.

7.3 million dollars is earmarked for the 8-bed house that will take in kids with drug and alcohol addictions in Central Alberta.

Dwight Hunks, Executive Director of Addiction and Mental Health with AHS says this new facility will replace the current 5 bed house.

"It was never a purpose built facility, it was a temporary one. So we're very pleased that we're going to be going with an RFP to build the new purpose built facility that will expand the capacity and better treat the needs of children and youth of Central Alberta."

Hunks says the new facility will support about 170 children (some as young as 9-years-old) and their families annually.

Adding he's happy to see more children will be able to access the supports to turn their lives around.

"We serve about 100 children a year on average right now, so we're hoping to increase the capacity to serve over 170 children a year. Which is incredibly important because sometimes they're not able to address the issues of voluntary treatment and the supports available in our community."

That RFP will be issued on Friday, with the winner selected in March to build the facility.

The location of the safe house isn't released to the public to protect the children and their families.