Pubdate: Sun, 11 Jun 2006
Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC)
Copyright: 2006 Times Colonist
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481
Author: Jeff Bell
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)

VIHA TO OPEN LOW-COST HOMES FOR DRUG ADDICTS

The Vancouver Island Health Authority plans to open 184 units of 
affordable housing in 2006 and 2007 for people with mental-health and 
addiction issues.

The units, including 30 in Greater Victoria, will be in communities 
throughout the Island, and will include support systems to help 
clients in their recovery.

"We know that providing intensive supported-living services to people 
with serious mental illnesses and addictions can improve our clients' 
quality of life, improve their health status and result in 
less-frequent use of other health-care services," VIHA board chairman 
Jac Kreut said in a statement.

VIHA will put as much as $3.3 million a year into the program, which 
calls for entering into long-term leases with developers or property 
owners for the use of suitable apartment complexes. VIHA will in turn 
provide 24-hour-a-day clinical supports for residents.

Alan Campbell, VIHA's director of mental health and addiction 
services, said full-time, on-site support is a key for enabling many 
clients to live in a supportive-housing environment. At present, 
Vancouver Island has 300 supportive-living units with a more general 
focus, Campbell said.

VIHA's five-year strategic plan calls for a move toward a net gain of 
313 units for mental-health and addiction clients.

Among the 184 units coming in the next few years, 25 are planned for 
Nanaimo, 24 for Parksville/Qualicum, and 20 each for the Cowichan 
Valley, the Comox Valley, Campbell River and Port Hardy/Port McNeill. 
Port Alberni receives 15 units and Tofino/Ucluelet 10.

Requests for proposal for supplying the units are being accepted 
until July 4. Go to www.bcbid.ca

The VIHA program follows from a 2002 provincial government move to 
replace outdated institutional care at Coquitlam's Riverview Hospital 
with community-oriented services. That meant local health authorities 
were required to provide a range of mental-health options.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom