Administered by a board of directors, MDH has a staff of clinical counsellors. The facility is a large three-story house with two outer buildings serving as a program centre. The house can accomodate up to fourteen residents. It is located in the Hintonburg district of central Ottawa with easy access to public transportation.

MDH operates with a general treatment philosophy based on the social learning model. The social learning model views addiction as a learned behaviour that can be "unlearned" through the development of new patterned thinking and coping skills. The treatment program provides addiction intervention to clients who are experiencing alcohol and/or drug abuse problems. The program is tailored to the individual to reflect their specific treatment goals. The Supervised Apartment is available to residents on full parole or statutory release for a period of two months or 90 days as a bridge for reintegration into the community.