Our roots in the housing sector date back almost 90 years now, and it’s part of our organization that we continue to be incredibly proud of and inspired by.

One of our longest standing programs is Hobden House, a community-based residential facility in Surrey, which opened its doors in 1984. It was our very first halfway house and signified a milestone for our team as one of our first residential programs.

Since our early days at Hobden House, we’ve continued to build on our housing continuum to support more people experiencing complex barriers in more communities across BC and the Yukon. Our interest in leading non-profit housing efforts is guided by the foundational principle that housing is a human right, and that when every person is both housed and supported, it benefits our entire community.

Join us as we explore the evolution of our housing programs over the years, and just a few of the ones that lead us to where we are today:

1996: Guy Richmond Place opened, though at the time as a provincial electronic monitoring halfway house located in Surrey and contracted by the provincial government. It was moved to Vancouver just one year later and became the Community Residential Facility (CRF) we know it to be today in 1999, when its contract transferred from the provincial government to CSC.

1997: Three new housing programs were established, including South Surrey Residence (SSR), Stephen Kruger House (SKH), and an Electronic Monitoring Program in Burnaby. SSR was a licensed care facility for persons on conditional discharge from the forensic psychiatric hospital, and those with acquired brain injuries. SKH was delivered in association with Simon Fraser University to assist persons with Dual-Diagnosis.

1998: We began working with the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) to provide outreach and live-in support services to persons with Developmental Disabilities. This was back when MCFD provided supports to adults with developmental disabilities. In 2005, support for adults with disabilities transferred from MCFD to Community Living BC (CLBC), with these first contracts forming the basis of what today is our Community Living Services programming.

2001: Vancouver Apartments was puchased! VA is our longest standing Community Living Residential program, providing 24/7 residential support to women and men with developmental disabilities.

2003: Miller Block welcomed its first tenants in December 2005, providing safe, affordable housing with added outreach supports. Miller Block continues to operate as a low-barrier affordable housing option with 16-18 hours of support per day.

2005: We took on our first Home Share contract, known at the time as the Independent Care Network (ICN).

2007: Tims Manor opened, providing affordable housing in the community of Abbotsford. Over the years our Tims Manor program has evolved to meet the needs of the community, today supporting up to 18 residents as a community-based residential facility.

2008: The Homelessness Partnership Initiative was introduced to provide a social safety net for people transitioning from provincial prisons to the community.

2012: East 3rd was developed in response to the needs of a neurodiverse individual that was on a supervision order and required 24hr on-site staffing. A year later, the program expanded to serve another individual living with a developmental disability that also required around-the-clock personalized support.

2013: Elliot House opened December 2013 in Abbotsford, now our largest community-based residential facility supporting up to 30 residents as they transition to the community from provincial or federal incarceration.

2015: We assumed operations of Willow Place, a harm-reduction, trauma-informed housing program for women with FASD experiencing addiction and other complex challenges. We also began delivering Bridge to Housing, a homelessness prevention program supporting people transitioning from provincial incarceration in need of safe, secure housing.

2019: Miyáqˈelhá:wetawt opened, providing Indigenous culturally-focused community-based residential support delivered out of Tims Manor in partnership with Elders in the community. Charland Residential first opened in January 2019, providing safe and secure housing within the community to individuals with criminal justice involvement and mental health needs, who are under the care of CLBC.

2020: Several housing and homelessness prevention programs began:

•  We began operating our first housing program in the Yukon, the Supervised Housing and Reintegration Program (SHARP).
• Community Support Initiatives (initially referred to as the “Bail Project”) provides housing subsidies and personalized support services to folks transitioning from prison to the community who may be at risk of homelessness.
• We opened Kensington House, which provides temporary housing to refugee claimants and foreign nationals with precarious status in Canada.
• Dogwood, a Community Living Services Residential program supporting individuals transitioning from hospital settings, opened in December.
• Pop Up Housing Programs are delivered to provide structured residential supervision and support to isolating individuals reintegrating into the community from federal correctional institutions at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

2021: This year was another big one for housing:

• Charland Residential welcomed a second staffed residential program in the downstairs part of the home, starting January 1st
• In April we assumed operations of the Housing First Residence in Whitehorse, Yukon in partnership with the Council of Yukon First Nations.
• We began delivering a suite of personalized housing programs through the Samara Program, and our first resident moved in on July 14th.
• In September we launched Frey Place: our first home-share hybrid to support an individual with criminal justice system involvement and mental health needs to live independently outside of the Forensic Psychiatric Hospital, after receiving an absolute discharge.

2022: We’ve had an exciting start to the year, with announcements of a few new projects:

•  First Avenue Supportive Housing: In January we announced a new 50-bed residence in Prince George that will provide housing for those who are at-risk of or experiencing homelessness
• Teak House: A new (and our first in many years) youth-based program that will offer specialized residential support for two youth who are under the age of 19, in the care of MCFD, and living with developmental disabilities.
• Hawthorn: Opened in February, this assisted living program will provide support to two clients living with acquired brain injuries. This project is our first housing contract with Fraser Health.
• Diversity Flats: In partnership between Connective, BC Housing, and the city of Kamloops, this 60-unit affordable housing project opened its doors to residents this spring, and is working toward full occupancy.

As we look ahead, we know that more housing-focused services are to join this long list. While we do not deliver some of the programs listed here anymore – whether that be due to changes in funding, government priorities, best practices, or the needs of the people and communities being served – we are proud of the dynamic nature of our ever-evolving housing continuum. We are honoured to support people and communities through our housing and other programs, and look forward to continually enhancing the ways in which we can show up for, be part of, and stand with our community.

At Samara, staff work to be a bridge from institution to independence, supporting residents in developing healthy lifestyle habits and promoting life skills through collaborative learning and shared activities.

The name Samara comes from the winged fruit of the elm, ash, or maple tree – trees known for their strength, resilience, and flexibility. These attributes resonated with staff and service users alike, perfectly capturing both the aims of the program, and the strengths of those within it.

This past February, we sat down with Travis, the Program Manager for Samara, and James, a resident there, to get a better understanding of the program, its goals, and what an average day in the life might look like. Watch the video below to hear from Travis and James directly.

As you can see, the program gives staff and residents plenty of opportunities to connect with one another on a personal level, as they collaborate on progress toward short and long-term goals.

For Travis, it’s this person-centered care that is at the core of Samara.

“All our clients, I feel like we build connections with them as service workers. We have day to day interactions with them, we really enjoy spending time with them…I know that I’ve had a lot of fun working with the clients and I really, really enjoy it. Person centered is the best value we’ve got because, really, it’s all about them, and making sure that they’re happy, and content…yeah, they’re the focus of why we’re here.”

This care and interaction – whether it is directly related to skill building or goals, or just in hanging out – has a huge impact on the daily lives of those in the Samara program. ‘’With the companionship between the residents and our workers, I see a lot of impact in just their happiness, mood…everything.’’

James echoes this sentiment, as well, ‘’I like this place, I like the staff too, they’re really nice…Not everybody works here all the time, right, so sometimes they have people filling in and I get to see someone that I haven’t seen in a couple weeks or a couple months. Yeah, it’s pretty good.’’

We recognize that communities across Canada are in a housing crisis. While most Canadians have experienced or heard about the issue, it disproportionately affects individuals and families impacted by complex social issues, such as people who:

• Are unemployed or underemployed
• Experience substance abuse challenges and/or mental illness
• Are Indigenous or racialized
• Have developmental disabilities or criminal justice experience
• Are fleeing violence or domestic abuse, particularly women and gender diverse persons
• Grew up in the foster care system
• Have precarious status in Canada, such as refugee claimants and foreign nationals

Here are just some statistics that help illustrate this:

• According to the Homeless Count conducted in Whitehorse this summer, at least 151 people did not have stable housing as of this spring
• According to the 2020 Homeless Count in Metro Vancouver, 2,095 residents identified as homeless
• Approximately 136,000 adults in BC have a severe addiction and/or mental illness, and between 8,000 and 15,500 of these people are homeless
• 82% of individuals experiencing homelessness in Whitehorse self-identify as being Indigenous, and this number may be rising.
• In BC, 38% of all respondents in the 2018 Homeless Count identified as Indigenous, yet only account for 6% of BC’s total population
• People living with disabilities are twice as likely to live below the poverty line, and it’s estimated that 45% of all people experiencing homelessness in Canada are disabled or diagnosed with a mental illness

As homelessness is often hidden and hard to gather data on, these statistics don’t paint the whole picture, but they demonstrate various factors that increase the risk of homelessness.

Given the drastic ways homelessness affects those experiencing it, as well as on our entire community, housing is essential element of our work. Whether it is in our continuum of housing, or as a wraparound support in any of our other programs, housing is at the center of what we do.

We operate more than 165 housing units across BC & Yukon in 20+ unique housing programs.

When somebody is experiencing homelessness, or is precariously housed (such as living on a friend’s couch), we connect them to housing resources, options in the community, or to housing programs such as our homelessness prevention program.

We do this with housing first principles in mind. This involves moving people experiencing homelessness rapidly from the streets or shelters into stable, long-term housing with supports. Focusing first on housing, with a commitment to addressing other challenges the individual is facing, sets people up for achieving greater independence and reduces the likelihood that they will fall back into homelessness in the future.

Our homelessness prevention program, which applies a proven approach to tackling homelessness, is made possible by donors and government funding

Regardless of whether somebody uses substances or is experiencing mental illness, we believe housing is a human right. We listen, develop relationships, and ask questions to design strategies that support people’s needs and goals. We work alongside service users as they navigate complex systems, with the goal of increasing their independence. In turn, folks can uplift themselves out of the potential cycle of homelessness or poverty.

One example of Housing First in action is our Housing First Residence. Co-delivered by the Council for Yukon First Nations in Whitehorse, Housing First provides low barrier housing for people experiencing homelessness and concurrent barriers such as mental health challenges or addictions. There are no conditions placed on residents, recognizing the complex barriers they face and the need to be person-centered in our approach.

Our staff are on-site 24/7 to provide support such as assistance to access medical care, employment services, or to serve as a source of connection. Residents also have access to cultural supports led by CYFN.

Another example of Housing First in action is in our wraparound services in Prince George. Formally, our ACES Employment program provides employability and life-skills workshops, training, certifications, and supported work experience. Recognizing the importance of stable housing on employment sustainability and success, our ACES teams support participants in their housing needs, providing outreach support, referrals, landlord mediations, and other supports to help find and maintain appropriate housing.

Cultural safety and supports are also an important part of the wraparound supports provided through the ACES program. In Prince George, over 50% of our ACES employment program participants identify as Indigenous. Our team has worked to integrate culturally relevant practices and approaches into the programming, and asked service users how programming can better meet their needs. At the beginning of each cohort, an Elder provides an opening and closing prayer, in addition to offering a smudge for those who want to participate. Standard curricula in our First Aid CPR/AED class also includes information about traditional medicines and plants around the Prince George region.

By incorporating Housing First principles and wraparound supports, our teams ensure our programs are grounded in the local community and needs of participants, and foster confidence, independence, and success.

In addition to addressing homelessness at the individual level, we work with governments, funders, ministries, Indigenous leadership, social service organizations, and others to bring about systems change. We do this through our daily interactions with these stakeholders, as well as through structured forums, such as our Leadership Gathering.

Our Leadership Gathering brings together non-profits, social sector Ministries, health authorities, Indigenous and other community organizations, and voices of lived experience to engage in critical discussions around how the coordination of services to vulnerable populations can be improved to create better outcomes. Together, we dive into key policy issues directly impacting operational services to vulnerable populations and work towards practical solutions.

Our work leading personal and systemic change cannot be complete in a day. It requires time, a willingness to try even when we don’t have the answers,  and a commitment to listening to people and providing them with the support they identify needing rather than in ways we think we ought to support them. It requires collective effort. This is why our donors are so vital in our work towards safe, healthy, and inclusive communities for all. They create unrestricted opportunities for us to be creative, person-centered, and adaptive.

Donors allow us to do our work in the best ways possible.