Community Supportive Housing
Community Supportive Housing offers people who have experienced homelessness support to achieve housing and personal stability in a place-based site. This type of program can end the experience of chronic homelessness for people who face barriers due to mental/physical health problems or addiction. This type of housing does not replace shelters. It can be permanent housing for some individuals or a stepping-stone to other housing options that better meet their needs. An application and screening process ensure the supports are available to meet the needs of individuals.
What supports are available?
- Onsite support staff 24/hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Individual Case Plans to meet physical, social, emotional and spiritual needs.
- Assistance navigating local services including health, treatment programs, counselling, income and employment.
Why do we need Community Supportive Housing?
The Grande Prairie Five Year Plan to End Homelessness (2015-2019) identified supportive housing as critical infrastructure to achieve success.
The right housing for the right individual is key to successfully ending homelessness in Grande Prairie. Supportive Housing is one option on a continuum of supports available in our community.
The Parkside pilot project resulted in individuals who had a history of chronic homelessness retaining housing, showing health improvements and connecting to treatment and harm reduction programs. More Supportive Housing units are needed to support existing programs and services so there is a seamless flow from homelessness to appropriate housing options.
Along with the social/human argument for focusing efforts on ending chronic homelessness, there is an economic argument for investment of resources in moving people experiencing chronic homelessness into housing with supports.
Benefits of Community Supportive Housing:
- Enhances other programs that address homelessness
- Reduced number of people experiencing chronic homelessness
- Improved physical and mental wellbeing for residents
- Increased social inclusion and independence for residents
- Reduced costs to public systems related to chronic homelessness, including shelter use, hospital visits, involvement with police, corrections, and courts