New housing will help people live better lives
Indwell Christian group: ‘If we intervene early, we know we can turn things around’
A $10.5-million supportive housing program for residents with mental health and addiction issues is expected to partially open this September in Hamilton’s east end.
Indwell’s Parkdale Landing will start with 57 units of affordable housing in the former George & Mary's Tavern and Banquet Centre on the corner of Melvin Avenue and Parkdale Avenue North. The tavern closed several years ago and banquet hall before that.
In 2020, Indwell plans to add a further 50 apartments in a sixstorey building on the north part of the property.
“These homes will provide permanent housing for deeply marginalized folks, many of whom are coming out of institutions, hospitals and shelters,” said Jeffrey Neven, executive director of Indwell.
“Many have experienced homelessness.
“It’s a home and it’s a fresh start. More than that it’s also community and hopefully a sense of belonging.”
Ontario Health Minister Dr. Helena Jaczek gave over $660,000 in yearly operating dollars for staff to provide health care and other supports to the residents of Parkdale Landing.
“Indwell has demonstrated what a home can mean for someone who is really marginalized, struggling with mental health and maybe addictions issues as well,” Jaczek told The Spectator after the announcement Thursday.
“They have demonstrated real success when people have a place of their own with the supports they need ... that kind of security of having a roof over their head is going to mean so much.”
The new units are badly needed considering the Christian charity has a wait list of 650 people needing affordable housing. In the past three months alone it received 150 applications.
“The demand is very high,” said Neven.
“Every time we open up a new apartment we have about 10 people inquire for it.”
Indwell currently houses about 450 people at its existing supportive housing initiatives in Hamilton, Woodstock and Simcoe, including Strathearne Suites, where the announcement took place at 311 Strathearne Ave., just south of Barton Street East.
Up to 350 new units are currently under development including the 107 at Parkdale
“This is a concept that is making huge differences in people’s lives,” said Steven Rolfe, Indwell’s director of mental health services. “Folks who used to have to solve problems by going to the emergency department don’t anymore. They have immediate access to people who care and have skills to actually provide them with help.”
The residents of Parkdale Landing will have access to a team that includes an addictions counsellor and occupational therapist, as well as housing and peer support workers funded by the province. It will work in partnership with St. Joseph’s Healthcare which specializes in mental health and addictions.
The local announcement is part of $2.1 billion going to mental health and addictions provincewide.
“The prevalence of mental health issues is ... one in three,” said Jaczek. “If we intervene early, we know we can turn things around for people and they can live a happy, productive life. If symptoms are ignored and they go from crisis to crisis their life can go in a downward spiral.”
The main $10.5 million to create Parkdale Landing came from the provincial and federal governments through Investment in Affordable Housing program. The project has also received aid from the Hamilton Community Foundation, the city and private donors.
“We’ve had exceptional outcomes and we’re looking forward to expanding that at Parkdale,” said Neven. “To share one story with you, a tenant approached staff and said, ‘I have a goal, I want to make friends.’ It was a person who had never experienced the opportunity of trying to make friends ... mental health is about housing and all the health services but it’s also friends and belonging.”