NON-DEDICATED AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS

Prior to 2001, BC Housing’s focus was on developing and building social housing with most units targeted to families and low-income seniors – as of 2000/01, BC Housing had 50,098 social housing units, shelters and rental assistance units with an annual housing budget of $98.8 million. Since that time, BC Housing’s mandate has significantly expanded and as of 2008/09, BC Housing’s budget was $626.6 million (including $434.4 million of provincial funding) to fund or operate approximately 90,000 units. Government-assisted housing accounts for almost 6% of the province’s total housing stock.

Typically, housing that is funded and/or directly managed by BC Housing is ‘non-dedicated’ to people living with mental illness, but there are targets for people with various needs, particularly within BC Housing’s directly administered stock.

While there is no data that directly tracks how many people with mental illness are living in BC Housing stock, BC Housing does place a priority on housing vulnerable clients within their directly managed units, and there are targets for housing people with mild, moderate and high needs. BC Housing works to ensure there is an appropriate mix of needs in their buildings, and that these needs align with what supports are available in the community and via the Health Authority. The current target for “priority clients” in directly managed housing is 82% - this would include people with mental health issues.

There has been a growing trend of people with mental illness being placed in seniors’ public housing models – in some cases, particularly in smaller communities, partnerships exist with mental health staff to provide supports. Some seniors’

non-profit housing operators have built up a significant expertise in working with people with co-occurring mental health issues, others to a lesser extent.

Application and eligibility for subsidized housing in BC takes several forms:

 Public housing is owned and managed by BC Housing. BC Housing is responsible for tenant selection and is the landlord. Priority is given to people with the greatest need including: women and children fleeing abuse; people who are homeless or who are at risk of homelessness; people with chronic health issues (including people with mental illnesses, physical disabilities or substance-misuse issues), frail seniors; families and youth.

 Non-profit housing is owned and managed by local non-profit housing societies. The ability of non-profit housing providers’ to determine eligibility policies and select tenants is dependent on the nature of their operating agreement with BC Housing (roughly 80% of societies have active operating agreements with BC Housing). There are more than 50,000 units of long-term non-profit housing in BC – this does not include co-op housing temporary housing, emergency shelters or transition houses, rent supplements administered by non-profits and used on the private market, or housing stock directly managed by BC Housing. Some non-profits may dedicate these units to people with mental health issues, while others may serve this population but the units are not dedicated per se.

 Housing co-operatives are managed by the members who live there. Members are responsible for new member selection. Most housing co-ops in BC are federally funded (12,650 in BC) and are administered by CMHC (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation) not by BC Housing.

Many non profit housing providers and their subsidized housing developments are members of the BC Housing Registry which is managed by BC Housing. The Housing Registry allows prospective tenants to apply once and express interest in a variety of housing developments listed on the Registry. However, tenants must apply separately to each housing

development not listed on the Housing Registry. In the Downtown Eastside in Vancouver, the Supportive Housing Registry (SHR) is operating now to suitably match applicants with appropriate housing and supports in the SROs, (single room occupancy buildings). Part of the application process for SROs through the Supportive Housing Registry includes more detailed information on health status. Where prospective tenants identify mental illness as part of this health assessment, it must be a “supported diagnosis” i.e. with a letter of confirmation from a mental health professional.

Further information on SROs is contained in the dedicated housing section.

Key programs funded through Housing Matters BC are:

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 Rental Assistance Program - The Rental Assistance Program provides eligible low-income working families with cash assistance to help with their monthly rent payments.

 Homeless Outreach Program - The Homeless Outreach Program connects homeless people to housing, income assistance, community-based, health and social services in 49 communities across the province. Further data captured under “Mental health-related housing supports” section

 Provincial Homelessness Initiative (PHI) - Launched as part of the Premier's Task Force on Homelessness, Mental Illness and Addictions, PHI provides support for non-profit housing developments that integrate subsidized housing with support services for individuals in the greatest need. Further data captured under “Dedicated Housing” section.

 Aboriginal Housing Initiative (AHI) - The Aboriginal Housing Initiative (AHI) provides funding to develop new, affordable housing for Aboriginal people living off-reserve. This initiative helps to ensure that Aboriginal housing needs are being addressed.

 Aboriginal Homeless Outreach Program (AHOP) - The Aboriginal Homeless Outreach Program (AHOP) directly engages homeless Aboriginal people living on the streets and provides access to housing, income assistance, and community-based support services to help break the cycle of homelessness. Further data captured under “Mental health-related housing supports” section

 Emergency Shelter Program - This program offers temporary shelter, food and other services to meet the basic nutritional and hygiene needs of people who are homeless as well as providing a gateway to support services that help individuals to re-stabilize their lives. There are over 60 homeless shelters and drop-in agencies funded by the government throughout British Columbia. Further data captured under “Additional Facilities” section

 Seniors' Rental Housing initiative - The initiative is to build up to 1,000 new housing units for seniors and people with disabilities, in most cases using modular, manufactured housing construction that promotes wood product use.

 Independent Living BC (ILBC) - This housing-for-health program serves seniors and people with disabilities who require some support, but do not need 24-hour institutional care. ILBC offers a middle option to bridge the gap between home care and residential care. Further data captured under “Additional Facilities and Models” section As well some of the Health Authorities and non-profit organizations provide housing programs, some of which are in partnership with BC Housing, or provide rent supplements independently of BC Housing. Further details on the range and funding arrangement of these are provided under the Dedicated Housing section.

Table 4 provides an overview of non-dedicated housing in British Columbia, recognizing that some of the target populations with a certain type of housing may include people with disabilities.

Table 4. Non-Dedicated Housing Options in British Columbia.

Program Description Capacity

Public housing

Directly managed by BC Housing. Includes 7800 public housing units and 300+ group homes. Rent is based on 30%

rent geared to income. Note that some units are provided with health and mental health supports via a partnership with health authorities (BC Housing Health partnership – discussed under dedicated housing section).

7,800 units 300+ group homes

Non-profit housing

Managed by more than 600 non-profit housing providers in BC that manage 1,500 buildings and more than 50,000 units. The majority of units are funded through operating agreements with BC Housing, but not all. Roughly 80%

are funded (either in whole or in part) through operating agreements. The vast majority of these agreements will expire in the next 20 years, which has major implications for the sustainability of the sector and for affordable housing more broadly in the province. BC Housing provides financial, administrative and technical support to these groups as well as administering long-term operating agreements and managing the flow of subsidies.

57,000 units

There are roughly 14,575 co-operative housing units managed by more than 250 housing co-operatives across BC.

non-profit societies and housing co-operatives in 200 communities with funding from BC Housing. BC Housing provides financial, administrative and technical support to these groups as well as administering long-term operating agreements and managing the flow of subsidies. Between 1973 and 1991, CMHC participated actively in the

development of co-operatives under three main types of programs described in the National Housing Act (Section 61, Section 95, and the Federal Co-operating Housing Program) – the underlying theme, however, is that all of these co-operatives provide some type of financial support. Housing co-ops are member-owned and controlled

organizations. The monthly housing charges are set by the members to cover the costs of running the co-op. There are some co-op options for people with special needs. The federal government ceased funding new development at the end of 1991, but continues to honour its operating agreements with existing co-operatives, which house over 92,000 members across Canada under these legacy programs. The Agency for Cooperative Housing is the not-for-profit administrator of federal co-operative housing programs in PEI, Ontario, Alberta and B.C., under a contract with CMHC. By region: 1900 units – Burnaby, 1029 – Delta/Surrey, 685 – Fraser Valley, 450 – Interior, 417 – New Westminster, 563 – North Shore, 76 – Northern, 638 – Pitt Meadow/Maple Ridge, 1048 – Port Moodie/Coquitlam, 989 – Richmond, 3600 Vancouver Eastside, 2002 – Vancouver Westside, 1177 – Victoria and Vancouver Island ⁸⁴

14,575 units

Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters (SAFER)

Attached to the person - low-income senior citizens are provided rent assistance in the private market by BC Housing, typically scattered site apartments

15,960 seniors

Rental Assistance Program

Attached to the person - low-income working families are provided rent assistance in the private market by BC Housing, typically scattered site

10,330 families Community

Partnership

BC Housing partners with municipalities, non-profit organizations and other housing partners to implement

innovative strategies and partnership initiatives to create additional housing units for vulnerable groups without the 1,334 units

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Initiatives – Affordable Housing Initiative

need for ongoing operating subsidies. Assistance can include one-time grants, access to consulting services, project development funding and construction and long-term financing.

Aboriginal Housing Initiative

The federal government provided a $50.9 million grant for the Off-Reserve Aboriginal Housing Trust, which was transferred to the Province of B.C. This money helped to fund the Aboriginal Housing Initiative (AHI) which was launched in 2007 to develop over 200 units of off-reserve Aboriginal housing. This housing focuses on safe, secure and culturally-appropriate housing for youth, women, elders, and those who are struggling with addiction.

Aboriginal Housing

BC Housing is supporting the eventual administrative transfer of 2,660 off-reserve units to the Aboriginal Housing Management Association (AHMA). The AHMA is the only Aboriginal social housing management agency in Canada formed in BC in mid-1990s and represents 12 Aboriginal housing associations across the province. In June 2006, the federal government signed the Canada - BC Social Housing Agreement, which included the transfer of the

administration of approximately 2,660 off-reserve Aboriginal housing units. Currently, BC Housing, in co-operation with AHMA, is administering the off-reserve Aboriginal housing units until the process of transferring the files to AHMA is finalized.

2,660 units

Transition House Services

Provide programs and services for women and their children escaping violence and abuse. Part of the BC Housing portfolio

61 houses with 730 beds Seniors’

Supportive Housing Program

Provide specially modified rental apartments for low-income seniors to enable them to continue living in their home

independently. Existing seniors’ housing is converted/upgraded to improve accessibility and safety. 590 units