Sustainable Mental Health Housing
Life skills training, community development and scheduling support allow these tenants to enjoy the benefits of community in a semi-independent living environment.
More Than A Roof Foundation in partnership with More Than A Roof Housing Society’s 18th Street Community Care Division made it possible to purchase Williams House, a group home for adults suffering with mental illness, helping ensure the future sustainability of mental health based supportive housing in Metro Vancouver.
Situated in North Vancouver, Williams House is home to five individuals with chronic or severe mental illness. With the aid of full time support staff each tenant is able to lead an active and meaningful life. Life skills training, community development and scheduling support allow these tenants to enjoy the benefits of community in a semi-independent living environment.
A recent report by Vancouver Coastal Health states that for those living in supported housing, emergency room visits go down by almost one third and days spent in hospital go down by over half during the first year living in a supported housing environment. It also gives the individuals living in supported housing the assistance they need to maintain their housing and reduce or eliminate their risk of homelessness. Tenants enjoy increased residential stability and independence, empowerment and reduction of mental health symptoms.