About Community Support Initiatives
Community Support Initiatives (CSI) works to support people with complex needs and criminal justice involvement as they transition from incarceration back into the community. The program helps people either on remand or sentenced at a BC provincial institution, who have a bail hearing scheduled in the next three to eight weeks.
Working in collaboration with BC Corrections and BC Housing, our CSI team provides personalized support to individuals and sets them up for a safe and successful transition by:
- Supporting individuals to find and maintain safe and secure housing
- Assisting with employment, education, filing taxes, applying for identification, navigating social systems such as provincial income assistance, and life skills
- Connecting individuals to key community support services including referrals for substance abuse treatment and mental health supports
- Supporting individuals to locate available doctors, dentists, mental health services, and other health services
- Assisting in arranging transportation from prison to accommodations upon release
- Reducing experiences of isolation
- Providing information on individual rights and responsibilities in the community
