Program Spotlight: Housing

Jan 30, 2024

Canadian Mental Health Association, Vancouver-Fraser Branch offers Housing Programs i.e., Transitional Housing, Community Living Support (CLS) , Supported Independent Living (SIL), and Youth SIL, to help individuals find independent living while building skills as they work on their recovery from mental illness.

These housing programs embrace a psychosocial rehabilitation model to build skills so that participants achieve maximum independence and reach their full potential as members of the community while overcoming mental illness and addictions.

Transitional Housing

Residents in our Transitional Housing program work with staff to acquire the skills they need for everyday independent living. In addition, they work to regain their sense of belonging to a community through activities at community centres, clubhouses, and local libraries. As they gain the skills and confidence to live more independently, residents can transfer to our Community Living Support program to live independently in the community.

We operate four transitional houses and one apartment.  Three of the houses and the apartment are in New Westminster; the remaining house is in Maple Ridge. Three of the houses and the apartment are for adults.  The fourth house serves youth and young adults. All together these 25 program participants are living at these locations.

Community Living Support and Supported Independent Living 

Community Living (CLS) and Supported Independent Living (SIL) programs serve adults who are living with a mental illness and are participants of the New Westminster Mental Health Substance Use Access Team.  These individuals are supported as they develop independent living and coping skills, such as learning to navigate the formal support systems (income assistance, old age pensions, primary health care), navigating conflicts with other tenants, and obtaining employment.

Youth Supported Independent Living

Youth Supported Independent Living (YSIL) serves youth diagnosed with a mental illness, aged 16 to 21 years, living in the Fraser North region (Burnaby, New Westminster, Tri-Cities and Maple Ridge).  These youth receive safe and affordable housing and, with the help of our staff, are supported through their recovery from mental illness and addictions. Youth integrate back into their community as they access resources, learn skills such as budgeting and grocery shopping, and pursue both work and educational opportunities.