The Kelowna branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) is working toward making changes to Heath House to aid in its integration to the community since its opening in January.

Located on Highway 97, Heath House offers 40-units to individuals experiencing, or who may be at risk of homelessness. Although, like any new development, this hasn害羞草研究所檛 come without its challenges.

Neighbouring residents in the Rutland community have complained about increased crime, garbage and exposure to drugs and alcohol consumption in public since the opening of Heath House.

But .

READ MORE: Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 newest supportive housing project opens

READ MORE: Rutland community rallies against McCurdy House

害羞草研究所淧art of the efforts we害羞草研究所檙e taking at Heath House,害羞草研究所� said director of service delivery and program innovation Mike Gawliuk, 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e made some amendments to the tenancy program.害羞草研究所�

All tenants of Heath House and any other Kelowna CMHA housing project are to sign a detailed tenant害羞草研究所檚 agreement that outlines expected behaviour, the rules of the house and the good neighbour policy.

害羞草研究所淭he program is quite expansive,害羞草研究所� Gawliuk said. 害羞草研究所淚t outlines what害羞草研究所檚 expected there, and we modify it based on our experience monitoring the residents.害羞草研究所� He noted the amendments to Heath House害羞草研究所檚 agreement came into place about a month and a half ago.

But, if residents fail to comply with the agreement, other arrangements will be made for that individual. CMHA said since Heath House害羞草研究所檚 opening, 10 residents have been 害羞草研究所渆victed害羞草研究所� from the home.

害羞草研究所淭he reality is, ideally, we want to support people who have successful tenancies,害羞草研究所� he said.

Individuals who do not succeed in one home may be moved into another CMHA-operated project in the community, or the organization works closely with other community partners to find more suitable living options.

READ MORE: New supportive housing in Kelowna to provide the homeless with a home

READ MORE: Drive-thru petition against McCurdy house garners thousands of signatures

In efforts to tackle litter, CMHA has a team working to clean up the streets surrounding Heath House and have extended their work into the neighbouring streets. Extra security has also been added to monitor the house, especially during the evening hours. And soon, security personnel will be hired to patrol the neighbourhood as well.

害羞草研究所淲e recognize we害羞草研究所檙e taking action towards the things we can control,害羞草研究所� communications director Jessica Samuels said. 害羞草研究所淲e recognize the people of Rutland believe the community is not as safe as it used to be.害羞草研究所�

Outreach members of CMHA are joining RCMP on ride alongs to interact with individuals in encampments in the surrounding area to ensure they have access to services, she said.

害羞草研究所淲e want the entire neighbourhood to be safe, not just the surrounding streets around the facility,害羞草研究所� Samuels added.

The CMHA representatives said the transition from the street or shelter to a home is a challenging one for many individuals, but once they are settled, the behaviour tends to change.

害羞草研究所淧eople are making the move from a shelter to housing,害羞草研究所� Gawliuk said. 害羞草研究所淎nd that may be the first time that they lived with a roof over their head for a number of years. We have seen individuals who have been in one setting and we move them to other settings and once they stabilize and get their feet under them, there is a huge improvement.害羞草研究所�

CMHA has been operating housing in Kelowna for two decades and it has more than 200 housing units in the community.

READ MORE: Controversial Kelowna supportive housing going to council Monday

READ MORE: Kelowna mayor害羞草研究所檚 walking tour of Rutland cancelled

害羞草研究所淥ne of the things we try to let people know is with our experience, we害羞草研究所檙e not trying to say things will go 100 per cent perfect,害羞草研究所� Samuels said. 害羞草研究所淏ut we害羞草研究所檒l make it right.害羞草研究所�

CMHA maintains open lines of communication with the public. In regards to the newest housing project slated for McCurdy Road, Samuels said the organization has been in contact with school districts, BC Housing, Knights of Columbus, residents of Rutland, city officials and the public.

Willowbridge Supporting Housing and Rosemead Apartments opened in 2010 and nine years later, Samuels said CMHA still has those direct lines of communication open.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e there to deal with issues as they arise,害羞草研究所� she said.

害羞草研究所淲e want people to have a good understanding of who needs our help,害羞草研究所� she said, noting homelessness is experienced for a variety of reasons. It isn害羞草研究所檛 limited to single issues such as addictions or mental health.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 supportive housing,害羞草研究所� Gawliuk said. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e going to work with people where they害羞草研究所檙e at and help them move forward in life.害羞草研究所�

Caitlin.clow@kelownacapnews.com
Like us on and follow us on .