$300K for housing with on-site mental health, addictions support in Waterloo region - Action News
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Kitchener-Waterloo

$300K for housing with on-site mental health, addictions support in Waterloo region

A pilot project providing housing with integrated mental health and addictions support received and additional $306,240 to expand its program to support 20 more people in Waterloo region.

Additional 20 people will get supportive housing between Kitchener and Cambridge program sites

John Neufeld, executive director of House of Friendship, left, and Holt Sivak, executive director of Thresholds, speak at the funding announcement at the Kitchener program location this week. (Flora Pan/CBC)

A program to help people with mental health and addictions challenges who are risk of becoming homeless will double its capacity thanks to some new funding.

This week, theWaterloo Wellington Local Health Integration Network (LHIN)and Region of Waterloo pledged$306,240 to go to the supportive housing project.

"We're a firm believer that if you bring the services to people's homes, they're more likely to use them and succeed while using them," saidMina-FayezBahgat, manager of Waterloo Region Housing.

In Kitchener, the project is in an affordable housing apartment building.House of Friendship and Thresholds provide the on-site services.

Those living in the complex will receive addictions and mental health services and work on building life skills. Staff will alsohostcommunity events with other residents living in the housing complex that are not in the program to make "meaningful connections" and "have a sense of belonging," Bahgat said.

There are rooms in the apartment building that will be converted for community agency's use to provide services for people. (Flora Pan/CBC)

Program offered in Kitchener, Cambridge

The project was first launched last year by Waterloo Region Housing and the Waterloo WellingtonLHINto support people at risk for eviction or homelessness.

Currently there are 16 people who use this program in two locations, one in Kitchener and the other in Cambridge.

To identify people who can use this program, there are a number of lists at several local organizations of people who have high needs for supportive housing.

Holt Sivak, the executive director at Thresholds, saidpeople can express their interest through the local agencies.

And once they have moved in, they can arrange to meet with staff from either House of Friendship or Thresholds when they are ready to address their challenges.

There is a virtual concierge system in the lobby where people are assessed by the security officer before they are allowed into the building. (Flora Pan/CBC)

24/7 secured entrance

To get inside the building, there is a lobby with a virtual concierge. The resident or a visitor can press a buttonand a security officer isconnected to the person via a monitor.

The officer will ask a number of questions prior to opening the door.

"That way, everybody can feel comfortable that the people they invite hereare the people they want here," Bahgat said.

It also reduces needs for staffing a front lobby with a person at all times. Cameras located in the lobby entrance also allows for officers to call for emergency services if they notice a person in distress.

Community safety

There are ongoing conversations in communities with regards to where support for people with drug use challenges should be located.

Supervised injection sites have been a hot topic, especially in Cambridge where there have been problems with discarded needles found in public spaces such as parks.

Neufeld and Sivaksaidthe supportive housing program isgood for the whole community.

"By having staff engaged with them, it reduces any risk to the community because we have staff, who are connecting with these people who are asking for help in addressing their illness," Sivak said.

"These are folks who want to address their issues. They've come forward and said I want to get my life on track."