August 23, 2010 | Press Releases, In the News

Streetohome welcomes At Home/Chez Soi participants to their new home

Streetohome Foundation was proud to participate in a community open house of the At Home/Chez Soi project today, in partnership with the Mental Health Commission of Canada and Portland Hotel Society. Neighbours, project stakeholders and guests had an opportunity to visit the property and say ‘welcome’ to the new tenants.

The At Home/Chez Soi project is a Canada-wide initiative, which will recruit a total of 2285 homeless people living with a mental illness. In Vancouver, a total of 500 people will be recruited, 300 people from that group will be given a place to live, and will be offered services to assist them over the course of the initiative. The remaining 200 Vancouver participants will receive the regular services that are currently available to them in Vancouver.

At Home/Chez Soi adopts a Housing First approach, aimed at ending homelessness and helping people get back into community life. By focusing on giving people a stable, safe place to live, they can then concentrate on other issues, such as mental health or addictions.

Streetohome has committed to supporting new, innovative ways to breaking the cycle of homelessness in Vancouver. This research project will not only provide new supported housing for 300 individuals, it will also increase our understanding of effective supported housing programs across Canada.

“It’s important to Streetohome that we contribute to real solutions for homelessness in the short and long term, but that we also participate in projects that will demonstrate real, measurable results and progress,” said Dick Vollet, CEO of Streetohome Foundation.

As part of its commitment to facilitating new housing in Vancouver, Streetohome has committed $1.1 million to the At Home/Chez Soi project over the next three years. This funding has helped pay for renovations to the Bosman Hotel Community which will provide housing and supports to 100 people in Vancouver, and towards lease costs over the lifetime of the project.

“Streetohome was instrumental in the Mental Health Commission being able to secure the Bosman Hotel for the At Home/Chez-Soi Project. Streetohome’s interest in supporting this project really underlines their commitment to learning as they continue to work to address homelessness in our City,” said Catharine Hume, At Home/Chez Soi Vancouver Site Coordinator.

Since 2008, Streetohome has committed more than $22.2 million towards a variety of projects across the housing spectrum in Vancouver, including the London Hotel, HEAT shelters, Aboriginal Mother Centre, and eight City Sites currently in development. A current $26.5 million capital campaign will support a variety of projects focused on individuals who are chronically homeless, youth, and mothers with children.

Streetohome’s 10-Year Plan for Vancouver calls for 2,000 new supported housing units in the city in order to bridge the growing gap. To date, Streetohome has helped fund more than 1,100 new units.

About Streetohome:
Streetohome Foundation is a community organization working to ensure that all citizens of Vancouver have access to safe, decent, affordable, supportive housing. We bring together business, government, service providers and community leaders to build resources and develop lasting solutions to homelessness. Current initiatives include funding and facilitating housing for individuals who are chronically homeless, people who require housing with supports, and for mothers with children.

For more information, please contact:
Nicole Adams
Director, Communications & Community Relations
Streetohome Foundation
604.629.2711 ex 103
[email protected]
www.streetohome.org