FAQs

Coordinated care and housing provides both clinical and non-clinical services. Research shows that coordinated care and housing is the most effective way to end chronic homelessness by providing people with safe, clean, and stable homes. The program will focus on a recovery system of care, to identify root causes of addiction and mental health issues. 

Other Supports may include life skills training, assistance with medication, counselling, meal programs and others.  

The Coordinated Care Campus project will be multi-unit facility with 24-hour security and onsite staffing supports.

Community Supportive Housing is not the same as an Emergency Shelter. 

Shelter models provide critical emergency short-term services to those experiencing homelessness. Shelter models are meant to be a last resort, and often offer open admission based on capacity.  Accommodations are often in a group setting. 

Community Supportive Housing provides long term solution to chronic homelessness. Residents must meet eligibility by a team of housing practitioners.  Residents pay rent for their own units.  Residents also have access to 24 hour onsite supports and programming specific to needs, which allows residents to remain successfully housed.  

The proposed Coordinated Care Campus is an important part of the City’s plan to ensure that everyone has a place to call home.  It aims to address the shortage of adequate housing and support options in Grande Prairie for persons experiencing chronic homelessness.

Community Supportive Housing initiatives provide both clinical and non-clinical services. Research shows that Community Supportive Housing is the most effective way to end chronic homelessness 

The Housing First program in Grande Prairie has identified that 210 adults are currently experiencing homeless in Grande Prairie.

Coordinated care and housing provides a stable home for people with no other housing options.

Benefits of Community Supportive Housing include:

• Improved physical and mental wellbeing;
• Increased social inclusion & independence;
• Reduced costs to related services;

Other benefits include:

• 84% reported improved overall well-being;
• 39% reported improvement in addiction issues;
• 54% reported improved access to employment opportunities;

Source: BC Housing, 2019, "Modular Supportive Housing Resident Outcomes Study: Results For First Seven Modular Supportive Housing Developments"

• 39% reported a decrease in emergency medical services;
• 37% reported a decrease in emergency department visits; and
• 34% reported a decrease in law enforcement interaction.

Source: 2019 – 2020 Housing First Programs Grande Prairie

Yes. Supportive housing residents are no longer homeless after they are housed. Once in a supportive housing unit, individuals previously experiencing homelessness report improvements in access to employment, income, education, addiction issues, mental health, and life-skills.

94% Remain Housed.

Community Supportive Housing helps tenants maintain their housing, reducing the volume of homelessness and related issues in the city and creating a safer, vibrant community for all residents.

Source: BC Housing, 2019, "Modular Supportive Housing Resident Outcomes Study: Results For First Seven Modular Supportive Housing Developments"

The City of Grande Prairie considered the following as possible options for Community Supportive Housing:

• New Construction
• Adaption of Existing Building
• Addition to Existing Facility

The City of Grande Prairie became aware that the existing hotel and conference centre was for sale.  An analysis of the property by City administration determined the size of both the building and land presented a unique opportunity to co-locate support services, coordinated care and housing and office space for service providers.

Additional considerations included: 

• Close to health and support services
• Walking distance to amenities
• Access to transit 
• Available, turn key infrastructure
• Commercial kitchen facilities
• Fully furnished & equipped
• Room for social enterprise

Data collected in 2011- 2018 by the City of Edmonton analyzed the impact of non-market housing (which make up only 12% of the total housing) on the safety of 5 core neighborhoods.  It was reported that within 2 years of non-market housing being established in a neighborhood, police interactions decreased by 46%.  

As well, non-market housing situated in neighborhoods accounted for only 4% of the total police events and only 1.3% of bylaw complaints in these areas. 

Source: City of Edmonton, “Supportive Housing FAQ”, <https://www.edmonton.ca/programs_services/housing/permanent-supportive-housing.aspx>

Research completed in 2019 of 13 supportive housing sites in B.C. showed that property values immediately surrounding 10 sites either kept pace or surpassed municipal trends. Property values for the other three sites were not notably different compared to municipal trends.

Source:  Insight Specialty Consulting. 2019. Exploring Impacts of Non-Market Housing on Surrounding Property Values. BC Housing.

Property values immediately surrounding coordinated care and housing sites typically keep pace with trends of the surrounding municipality. In 2020, the City of Edmonton identified that the sales of 9 homes, located near non-market housing, were in line with the City’s assessments and with other sales in the area. 

Source: City of Edmonton, “Supportive Housing FAQ”, <https://www.edmonton.ca/programs_services/housing/permanent-supportive-housing.aspx>

Typically, the facility and staff team would operate on a twenty-four hour a day, seven days a week model. This ensures that essential supports and services are accessible and timely for all residents. 

Typical coordinated care and housing staff team(s) may include:

• Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN);
• Recreational Therapist;
• Nurse Practitioner;
• Addiction Counselor;
• Mental Health Therapist; and
• Housing Support Staff.

Security ensures the safety of both the neighborhood and the tenants. The property will be divided into distinct zones each with their respective staffing and access controls. Restrictions will be in place to control movements.  Access to the building by residents and visitors will be controlled through a secured entrance with staff occupying the reception desk.  Individual resident units will have automatic locking doors and card access.  Exterior doors will be locked, and residents will use key fobs, cards or a similar device to enter through locked doors.  Other security measures include:

• Perimeter fencing will be enhanced around the facility
• Security cameras for common areas, at building entrances and on all sides of the building exterior, including the parking area
• A monitor station will be located at the reception desk, so staff can monitor the images 24/7 
• 24-hour onsite security will be in place