Emergency

Mental health and substance use supported housing

Related topics: Depression, mood and anxiety Mental health and substance use Psychosis and thought disorders Richmond mental health and substance use services Substance use Supported housing Vancouver mental health and substance use services

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Need help immediately?

If there is a life-threatening safety concern, please call 9-1-1 or go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital.

Suicide prevention hotline: 1-800-784-2433

BC Crisis Line: 604-310-6789

Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868

Indigenous Crisis and Support Line - KUU-US Crisis Support Line: 1-800-588-8717

Harm reduction: Toward the Heart 

Supported housing enables care for adults aged 19+ with significant and ongoing mental health and/or substance use challenges. VCH’s Mental Health and Substance Use Programs have a housing component as part of the services provided. Contracted providers operate supported housing for the health authority.

Resources

Please note Vancouver Coastal Health does not provide market housing. If you are looking for housing, we have provided a list of common housing resources below. 

Eligibility

Each type of program may have specific eligibility criteria. Clients are matched to the programs/sites based on their individual care needs. Our teams can also assist a client’s transitions inside the program and support them in mitigating evictions. 

General eligibility criteria for clients to access services: 

  • Ages 19 and up
  • Resident of the community for a year or more
  • Current client of a Vancouver Coastal Health case management team (eg, Adult Mental Health Team, Assertive Community Team, Adult Community Support Services, etc.)
     

Who can refer: If you or your family member are currently a client with a VCH Case Manager for mental health and substance use, please contact your case manager. 

Example programs

The types of programs may be different, depending on the community you stay in. 

  • Step-down unit
  • Medical respite in the shelter
  • 24-hour licensed care facility
  • Group homes
  • Enhanced supported apartment blocks
  • Staff-supported apartment blocks
  • Supported independent living program
  • Enhanced supported independent living
  • Complex care housing 
  • Enhanced low-barrier housing
  • Low barrier housing

Who we work with

VCH works with multiple groups to provide this client care support. These groups include but aren’t limited to:

  • VCH Mental Health & Substance Use Teams/Adult Community Support Services
  • Community Mental Health Service Providers 
  • Acute and Tertiary Services 
  • Clients and Family
  • B.C. Housing 
  • Forensics