The Kelowna branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) is working toward making changes to Heath House to aid in its integration to the community since its opening in January.

Located on Highway 97, Heath House offers 40-units to individuals experiencing, or who may be at risk of homelessness. Although, like any new development, this hasnsa国际传媒檛 come without its challenges.

Neighbouring residents in the Rutland community have complained about increased crime, garbage and exposure to drugs and alcohol consumption in public since the opening of Heath House.

But .

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sa国际传媒淧art of the efforts wesa国际传媒檙e taking at Heath House,sa国际传媒� said director of service delivery and program innovation Mike Gawliuk, sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檝e made some amendments to the tenancy program.sa国际传媒�

All tenants of Heath House and any other Kelowna CMHA housing project are to sign a detailed tenantsa国际传媒檚 agreement that outlines expected behaviour, the rules of the house and the good neighbour policy.

sa国际传媒淭he program is quite expansive,sa国际传媒� Gawliuk said. sa国际传媒淚t outlines whatsa国际传媒檚 expected there, and we modify it based on our experience monitoring the residents.sa国际传媒� He noted the amendments to Heath Housesa国际传媒檚 agreement came into place about a month and a half ago.

But, if residents fail to comply with the agreement, other arrangements will be made for that individual. CMHA said since Heath Housesa国际传媒檚 opening, 10 residents have been sa国际传媒渆victedsa国际传媒� from the home.

sa国际传媒淭he reality is, ideally, we want to support people who have successful tenancies,sa国际传媒� he said.

Individuals who do not succeed in one home may be moved into another CMHA-operated project in the community, or the organization works closely with other community partners to find more suitable living options.

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In efforts to tackle litter, CMHA has a team working to clean up the streets surrounding Heath House and have extended their work into the neighbouring streets. Extra security has also been added to monitor the house, especially during the evening hours. And soon, security personnel will be hired to patrol the neighbourhood as well.

sa国际传媒淲e recognize wesa国际传媒檙e taking action towards the things we can control,sa国际传媒� communications director Jessica Samuels said. sa国际传媒淲e recognize the people of Rutland believe the community is not as safe as it used to be.sa国际传媒�

Outreach members of CMHA are joining RCMP on ride alongs to interact with individuals in encampments in the surrounding area to ensure they have access to services, she said.

sa国际传媒淲e want the entire neighbourhood to be safe, not just the surrounding streets around the facility,sa国际传媒� Samuels added.

The CMHA representatives said the transition from the street or shelter to a home is a challenging one for many individuals, but once they are settled, the behaviour tends to change.

sa国际传媒淧eople are making the move from a shelter to housing,sa国际传媒� Gawliuk said. sa国际传媒淎nd that may be the first time that they lived with a roof over their head for a number of years. We have seen individuals who have been in one setting and we move them to other settings and once they stabilize and get their feet under them, there is a huge improvement.sa国际传媒�

CMHA has been operating housing in Kelowna for two decades and it has more than 200 housing units in the community.

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sa国际传媒淥ne of the things we try to let people know is with our experience, wesa国际传媒檙e not trying to say things will go 100 per cent perfect,sa国际传媒� Samuels said. sa国际传媒淏ut wesa国际传媒檒l make it right.sa国际传媒�

CMHA maintains open lines of communication with the public. In regards to the newest housing project slated for McCurdy Road, Samuels said the organization has been in contact with school districts, BC Housing, Knights of Columbus, residents of Rutland, city officials and the public.

Willowbridge Supporting Housing and Rosemead Apartments opened in 2010 and nine years later, Samuels said CMHA still has those direct lines of communication open.

sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檙e there to deal with issues as they arise,sa国际传媒� she said.

sa国际传媒淲e want people to have a good understanding of who needs our help,sa国际传媒� she said, noting homelessness is experienced for a variety of reasons. It isnsa国际传媒檛 limited to single issues such as addictions or mental health.

sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 supportive housing,sa国际传媒� Gawliuk said. sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檙e going to work with people where theysa国际传媒檙e at and help them move forward in life.sa国际传媒�

Caitlin.clow@kelownacapnews.com
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