About Coast

Coast Mental Health was created in 1972 in response to the growing need for services in the community for people recovering from a serious mental illness. Since its inception Coast has not only focused on services but has also placed emphasis on participants being members of Coast who have a role in determining priorities and how services are provided. Coast's mission adopts the concept of community as the foundation of what Coast does.

Coast Mental Health's Mission And Purpose

Coast promotes recovery of persons with mental illness.

Coast is a co-operative community which fosters an environment that promotes restoring health, personal growth, and a return into society for consumers of Mental Health Services through advocacy and direct service.

Mutual support and caring for the well-being of every participant is at the heart of Coast. Coast participants take a critical role in program development planning and evaluation. The commitment to caring and participation is reflected in Coast's statement of rights.

Building its Services

In the 70's Coast established the East 11th Clubhouse, acquired its first three apartment properties and acquired and operated five of its community homes. In the 80's Coast used public housing programs to build two more apartment blocks, built and operated the first purpose-built community home (residential care facility) in BC and developed its Clubhouse Program in addition to starting the PACT Employment Services. In the 90's Coast developed the Mental Health Resource Centre. It was able to build three more apartment blocks by developing partnerships that combined public funds for capital development with private sector funding. In the 90's Coast also expanded it ability to provide housing through the Supported Independent Living Program which provided rental subsidies for market housing. Coast was able to purchase its Clubhouse building and was able to replace Hooper Apartments, the original Coast apartment block, with a new building.