We’re launching the Immediate Homelessness Intervention Project to reduce chronic homelessness in five communities as quickly as possible. We’re partnering with community agencies and using existing services (housing, health & financial supports) to help people get off the streets.
We will spend $469 million in 2009/10 on housing programs – four times the spending in 2001 ($112 million) – to create affordable housing and shelters and help more than 85,000 individuals and families. Premier Gordon Campbell and Housing Minister Rich Coleman on affordable housing
More than 4,600 people have obtained housing through our Homeless Outreach Program and approximately 80 per cent remain housed today.
We launched a new $500,000 Aboriginal Homeless Outreach Program in 2007 to provide outreach to off-reserve Aboriginals in Vancouver, Victoria, Surrey, Kamloops, Kelowna, Prince George, Duncan and Dawson Creek.
We introduced the Rental Assistance Program in 2006 to provide low-income, working families with a combined income less than $35,000, assistance with their rent payments – up to $9,180 a year for a family of four in Metro Vancouver.
Through the Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters we’re providing monthly cash assistance to more than 15,700 seniors to help them stay in their rental homes.
We spend more than $1.2 billion annually on Mental Health and Addictions, an increase of more than 42 per cent since 2001.
We’ve increased the number of adult community mental health beds 57 per cent since 2001.
We provided a $5-million grant to the Vancouver Foundation to help people with disabilities jump start their Registered Disability Savings Plan, allowing them to turn a $25 contribution into $1,700 in just one year.
We invested $5 million to develop and open Vancouver’s Downtown Community Court (opened September 2008) – the first of its kind in Canada - bringing together justice, health and social services under one roof.
Our strong economy has created 370,000 new jobs since 2001.
We’ve provided 120 tax cuts (120) since 2001, and 250,000 low-income British Columbians now pay no provincial income tax at all.
We’ve placed over 59,000 employment assistance clients in jobs since 2001.
We have the 3rd highest income assistance rate for people with disabilities, and increased the earnings exemption to $500 for those who are able and choose to work.
We responded to the community and created Community Living BC to provide community inclusive programs and services for adults with developmental disabilities.
In Budget 2006 we provided a $30 million grant to establish the Family Independence Fund, so far it’s helped 325 families keep their developmentally disabled loved ones in their own homes and communities.
Community Living BC We believe in supporting adults with developmental disabilities and their families so that they can live meaningful lives.
We created Community Living BC (CLBC) in response to the community living sector to support adults with developmental disabilities to live as fully and independently as possible in the community.
CLBC provides a range of support services for more than 11,877 adults, of those:
2,442 adults are in staffed residential services
2,823 are home sharing or semi-independent arrangements
And 6,612 are using planning assistance, family support or community inclusion services
We’re providing an additional $52.4 million this year to help address the increased need for CLBC’s services.
All CLBC residential clients receive the maximum disability assistance rate, $190/month for personal expenses.
We’ve allocated $550,000 annually, matched by CLBC, for a specialized employment program for adults with developmental disabilities.
In Budget 2006 we provided a $30 million grant to establish the Family Independence Fund; 325 families have been helped in covering the costs of specialized equipment or home renovations needed to keep their loved ones in their own homes.
Over 93 per cent of CLBC’s $679 million in expenditures go directly to programs and services for their clients.
In 2007/08, the number of adults served by CLBC grew 9.2% compared to 4.6% growth experienced in 2006/07.
Downtown Community Court Project We created the Community Court to bring together justice, health and social welfare systems to work as an integrated team and address the underlying causes of crime.
We are piloting a new problem-solving approach to deal with street crime and repeat offenders.
We spent $5 million developing the Downtown Community Court - the FIRST of its kind in Canada – it opened in September 2008. Premier Gordon Campbell talks about the Downtown Community Court on its September 6, 2008 opening
Community Court deals with cases fairly and quickly (a case here may take 15 minutes compared to 4 hours in regular court) and connects offenders to programs and resources they need to change their behaviour.
Initial results are very promising; in the first 5 months 804 individuals were seen, 492 of whom resolved their cases. The remainder are scheduled to appear again or have elected to proceed to trial.
The results show the power of collaboration in giving the court timely information for making sentencing and treatment decisions.
The court was recommended in a 2005 report to our Justice Review Task Force by the Street Crime Working Group.
The court is a partnership between the province, justice, social and health agencies, and community and business organizations, all working together to treat the whole person, rather than just the crime.
Typical cases include theft from auto, mischief, assault, and drug possession. It is estimated that the community courthouse will see 1,500 offenders annually.
Downtown Eastside of Vancouver We believe in cleaning up the Downtown Eastside by investing in new housing, drug treatment, and mental health units so that this area can be restored to be a vibrant, safe part of Vancouver.
We provide more than $31 million annually to subsidize 6,878 units of social and supportive housing in the Downtown Eastside - QUADRUPLE the funding in 2001 and nearly TRIPLE the number of supportive housing units.
23 of the 45 single residency occupancy hotels we’ve purchased since 2005 are in the Downtown Eastside – these will provide 1270 units of affordable housing.
We’re investing in 471 long-term supportive housing units on 5 sites owned by the City of Vancouver in the Downtown Eastside.
We provide nearly $17M for emergency shelters in Vancouver, including more than $10M for the DTES and immediate vicinity to support 441 emergency shelter beds.
In March 2009 we provided funding to extend the operation of low-barrier HEAT shelters until the end of June. Previously the costs were covered via a funding arrangement between us, Vancouver and Streetohome Foundation.
We spent $5 million to develop and open Vancouver’s Downtown Community Court - the FIRST of its kind in Canada - bringing together justice, health and social services under one roof. The Court opened in September 2008, and in the first 100 days the court dealt with 804 individuals, 492 of whom resolved their cases. View a photo of Premier Gordon Campbell at the launch of the Downtown Community Court.
We spend more than $1.2 billion annually to support mental health and addiction services.
We have homeless outreach workers based in the Downtown Eastside who have helped house 1,200 people.
We’re investing $10M over 3 years to help recapture the vibrancy of historic neighbourhoods like the Downtown Eastside, including window repairs, graffiti and garbage removal, etc.
We recently launched the Immediate Homelessness Intervention Project to reduce chronic homelessness in 5 communities as quickly as possible. We’re partnering with community agencies and using existing services (housing, health & financial supports) to help people get off the streets.
We increased community addictions beds 150 per cent from 2003 when there were 874 beds in BC to 2,186 today (2008).
In January 2009, we opened BC’s FIRST EVER long term youth residential treatment facility in Keremeos, providing 42 beds.
We fulfilled our 2008 Throne Speech promise that communities be required to include provisions for mental health and addiction service facilities in their official community plans, by passing a new Public Health Act during the 2008 spring session.
Homelessness and Affordable Housing We believe in providing record investment in housing and rental subsidies to ensure that low income British Columbians have access to affordable housing.
We are committed to Housing Matters BC, our comprehensive strategy to address short and long term housing needs (introduced in 2006).
We will spend $469 million in 2009/10 on housing programs – FOUR TIMES the spending in 2001 ($112 million) - to create affordable housing and shelters and help more than 85,000 individuals and families. Premier Gordon Campbell and Housing Minister Rich Coleman on affordable housing
We’ve built and have plans for over 16,000 new units of subsidized housing with a wide range of new and expanded housing programs.
Our Homeless Outreach Program provides services in 48 communities, connecting visibly homeless people to housing, income assistance, employment counselling, and medical services.
More than 4600 people have obtained housing through our Homeless Outreach Program and approximately 80% remain housed today.
We’re launching the Immediate Homelessness Intervention Project to reduce chronic homelessness in 5 communities as quickly as possible. We’re partnering with community agencies and using existing services (housing, health & financial supports) to help people get off the streets.
IHIP outreach teams will connect homeless people with mental illness or addictions with the supports they need to become healthier.
We’re keeping emergency shelters open 24/7, providing a place to stay throughout the day and linking people to community services and housing.
There are more than 1500 shelter beds across BC - significantly more than the 850 that existed in 2001.
We introduced the Rental Assistance Program in 2006 to provide low-income, working families with a combined income less than $35,000, assistance with their rent payments – up to $9,180 a year for a family of four in Metro Vancouver.
Under RAP, we’re helping more than 7,700 households with maximum monthly assistance of up to $765 for a family of four in Metro Vancouver ($9,180 a year) and $621 outside Metro Vancouver ($7,452).
We launched a “211” phone service providing new access to information on a range of social services offered in people’s communities.
Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters helps seniors over 60 remain independent in their own rental homes through direct cash assistance. More than 15,700 seniors receive a monthly maximum payment up to $679 in Metro Vancouver and $598 in the rest of BC, that’s 3700 more seniors receiving assistance than in 2001.
We’ve spent $130M to purchase 45 single room occupancy and affordable housing buildings, protecting more than 1400 units as affordable housing. We’re spending an additional $90M to upgrade and renovate those units.
Income Assistance (Welfare) Access We believe in an income assistance program that supports people with disabilities and those who are unable to work. We also believe in providing skills training, because a job is always better than welfare.
Our economy has generated about 370,000 new jobs since 2001.
BC’s 4.6 per cent unemployment rate for 2008 was one of the lowest on record, and the monthly rate remains below the national average during this global economic crisis.
All British Columbians, regardless if they have a fixed address, can apply for income assistance .
We raised income assistance rates across the board in 2007 creating some of the highest rates in Canada:
Compared to June 2001, the average monthly income assistance payment climbed 20 per cent to almost $850 in December 2007.
88 per cent of people leaving income assistance do so because they find employment, pursue education, or their financial position improves.
The average stay on income assistance for those expected to work is down 33 per cent to 4 months - during the 1990s it was over six months.
We invest $70 million annually on employment programs to help those on income assistance gain stable employment, and we’ve placed over 59,000 people in jobs since 2001.
We have the third highest income assistance rate in Canada for people with disabilities, and increased the earnings exemption to $500 for those who are able and choose to work.
As of January 2009, 56.5 per cent more people are receiving Disability Assistance (82,557) than in June 2001 (52,740) – a result of expansion to eligibility rules resulting in more eligible conditions.
The average starting wage for clients who found work through our Employment Program is more than $13/hour, which equates to an after-tax monthly income of almost $1,750 - $1,100 more than welfare provides.
Legal Aid We believe in funding legal services for low income people because everyone has the right to fair representation regardless of income.
We fund the Legal Services Society $65.3 million to provide civil and criminal legal aid (2008/09) – an increase of 19 per cent over the past five years.
The Society provides lawyers for people facing serious criminal, family or immigration problems who qualify for legal aid – and offers free legal advice and assistance, publications, videos, telephone and website services.
We’ve provided nearly $68 million to support family justice programs, such as providing mediation services to people of modest means who have family issues arising from separation and divorce.
We spent $29.9 million in 2008/09 on access to justice services beyond the funding we provide to the legal aid program, including services in addition to mediation and dispute resolution.
We also ensure that legal representation for family disputes is available to eligible clients in emergency situations, including clients in financial need where the Province is seeking custody of a child.
We assist 42,000 families every year with recovering family support payments through the Family Maintenance Enforcement Program (FMEP). FMEP recovers $168 million a year in support payments for children and partners.
We spend more than $1.2 billion annually on Mental Health and Addictions, an increase of more than 42 per cent since 2001.
We opened the 100-bed Burnaby Centre for Mental Health and Addictions, to provide a safe facility for persons with concurrent disorders who cannot manage in community-based mental health facilities. Premier Campbell talks about why the Burnaby Centre for Mental Health and Addictions is important to the province.
We’ve opened more than 396 beds in 15 communities as part of the Riverview Redevelopment Project which replaces centralized services with smaller, more home-like settings closer to people’s home communities.
We’ve increased the number of adult community mental health beds 57 per cent, that’s 2,836 new beds since 2001 for a total of 7,776 beds (2008).
We fully-funded the $125 million Mental Health Plan and committed $138 million in capital for mental health facilities that are now open or under construction in a number of communities around the province.
We’re currently in the process of developing the next 10-year Mental Health Plan.
We expanded eligibility for disability income assistance to include people with mental health illnesses.
