Supported Housing

Coast recognizes one of the greatest needs of people with a mental illness is for safe, secure and affordable housing with appropriate support. Coast has pioneered the development of supported housing in the province through the following programs: Coast Apartments Blocks, Supported Independent Living Program, Satellite Apartments and the Transitional Housing Program. Admission requirements vary for each program. 

Everybody believes the lack of proper supports for the mentally ill is a human tragedy, but few realize that it is also extremely expensive. Not providing proper supports for the mentally ill creates or exacerbates health problems, mental health issues and addiction and often leads to homelessness. And when mentally ill people have problems, they use the highest-cost public systems- emergency rooms, hospital psychiatric beds, detox, residential treatment programs, and, in some places, jail cells - putting a huge, unnecessary burden on the health care, mental health, addiction and corrections systems.

Even fewer people realize that there is a solution. It is called supportive housing. It marries decent affordable permanent housing to community mental health supports and employment assistance, which are available to tenants where they live. And Coast provides links to addiction services, health care and clinical mental health care services as well as other community supports.

Coast deals with many consumers facing a multitude of issues in addition to their mental illness. And it works: the hardest-to-reach people - those who cope with mental illness, addiction and HIV/AIDS - stay housed and get the help they need to live independently.

All Supported Housing Programs has a very high standard of accommodation. The key components of the Coast Supported Housing Programs for the mentally ill are:

• Affordability of the apartments, rent is subsidized in all cases.
• Privacy of self contained suites.
• Cooperative, stigma, free environment of block apartments.
• Access to skilled community mental healthsupport workers.
• Development of and readjustment of an individual service plan unique to each resident.
• Strong sense of community and mutual support.
• The security of tenure for the apartments.
• Links to clinical mental health services, health care, addiction services and other community supports.

Eligibility and Application

To be eligible for a Coast Housing Program a person must be:

• 19 years of age or older,
• diagnosed with a serious and persistent mental illness, usually an affective disorder or schizophrenia,
• registered with a Mental Health Care team, a private psychiatrist and/or a General Practitioner who assumes responsibility for the management of the applicants mental illness,
• capable of living independently without live-in staff and constant supervision,
• agreeable to comply with the Rental or Licensing Agreement,
• deemed to be in financial need and requires a rental subsidy.

The tenant's rights are guaranteed by the Residential Tenancy Act.

Mental Health Housing Services now maintains the waitlist for all mental health housing programs in Vancouver.

If you wish to apply for housing with Coast, you can do so by contacting the M.H.H.S. office at 604-675-3898 or by writing to M.H.H.S. at 1970 West 4th. Ave., Vancouver, V6J 1M5.

Supported Apartment Blocks

Coast has eight apartment blocks and 30 units in a building operated by the Affordable Housing Society called Seymour Place. All, except Seymour Place, were designed and built by Coast with financial support from CMHC, BC Housing, or were privately supported (BC Hydro Community Services Fund - Hydrecs House; Van City Credit Union Employees - St. Margaret's). All the apartment blocks offer staff assistance, a cooperative community and self contained bachelor or one-bedroom units. Coast currently operates 226 suites in apartment blocks in Vancouver.

• In all but one of the blocks, support is provided by a Coast mental health worker, who is available to tenants in each building during office hours, most weekdays.
• Tenants are expected to have the basic daily living skills to manage their own suites and other responsibilities with little assistance or direction; a period of stability in the community and an on-going clinical relationship with a psychiatrist, general practitioner, or Mental Health Team.
• Resident manager employed by Coast is responsible for building maintenance.
• Tenants are encouraged to develop community and a common lounge is located in each building.
• Social programs are offered and include a weekly dinner, coffee hours and a variety of opportunities for social interaction. Participation in social programs is voluntary.
• All residents are encouraged to attend the Tenant's Council that meets monthly in each building.

Supported Independent Housing Programs

The Supported Independent Housing Programs are: Supported Independent Living (SILP); Satellite Suites; and Transitional Housing Program.

The Supported Independent Living Program offers suites in market rental accommodation chosen by the tenant. The same support program is offered for Satellite Suites but these Satellite units are owned by Coast.

Supported Independent Living Program (SILP) and Satellite Suite Program

• For people currently living in rental accommodation, residential facilities or with family or friends.
• Person participating must be motivated towards achieving a higher level of independence.
• Tenants are expected to have the basic daily living skills to manage their own suites and other responsibilities with little assistance or direction; a period of stability in the community and an on-going clinical relationship with a psychiatrist, general practitioner, or Mental Health Team.
• For SILP, new program participants are assisted to find and rent a suite in the area of their choice.
• Satellite Suites are available to new program participants when there is a new vacancy.
• Tenants are assigned a Coast community mental health worker who is available during office hours, most weekdays.
• Tenant and the community mental health worker schedule regular meetings and frequency of contact are based on tenant's need.
• Tenant and the worker develop an individual service plan that reflects tenant's goals and the new skills that may be needed to make independent living a success. The plan may include items such as budgeting, cooking, medication and time management and opportunities for recreation and use of leisure time.

Transitional Housing Program

Transitional Housing Programs are available for those who hope to transfer from a residential mental health facility into a Supported Independent Housing Program.
Families and Couples

Coast offers a number of options for families and couples through our partnership with LTD Homes and through SILP. Please indicate on application form the number of people in your family and the age and gender of your child(ren). Coast can accommodate families and/or couples in its one, two or three bedroom units.