People First Media program archive
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The Salvation Army marks a major milestone

May 16th, 2013 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on The Salvation Army marks a major milestone)

The ‘Sally Ann’ has been serving and working in Nanaimo, and Vancouver Island, for 125 years

picture 476The Salvation Army is the largest provider of social services across Canada, outside of government. But for many ordinary Canadians, the closest they come to recognizing the “Sally Ann” is during the organization’s annual fundraising campaign during the Christmas season. That campaign, with its iconic cash pots and ringing bells, has raised funds for many years to support local Salvation Army programs. (more…)

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Civil Rights Now is working to improve the lives of people with disabilities

May 9th, 2013 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on Civil Rights Now is working to improve the lives of people with disabilities)

Civil Rights Now and its Think Twice campaign is building toward the ultimate goal of a “British Columbians with Disability Act”

picture 474“When your civil rights have been violated you don’t need a good hug—you need a good lawyer.” That’s what Paul Caune has concluded after his experiences in trying to obtain adequate supports and accommodation in the province of British Columbia.

After more than two years of unrelenting self-advocacy, Paul was able to leave—escape is the word he uses—from an extended care facility, into innovative social housing. Now, as the CBC puts it, Paul Caune is leading the charge for the right of people with disabilities to manage their own care. (more…)

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Alone and isolated by language and living space

April 17th, 2013 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on Alone and isolated by language and living space)

Pulling back the curtain on the widely felt, seldom-discussed discrimination that Chinese seniors face every day

picture 469In Vancouver’s Chinatown, seniors who speak only Cantonese or Mandarin face discrimination, marginalization, and a lack of affordable, culturally- and linguistically-appropriate housing. Research suggests the problem will worsen as these vulnerable seniors, already living in poverty and isolation, age. Housing reporter Jackie Wong reveals, in a special Tyee series, the widely felt but seldom-discussed discrimination that Chinese seniors face every day. She also looks at innovative housing solutions found in Toronto and San Francisco.

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Is the shelter ’emergency’, ‘extreme weather’, ‘cold wet weather’ or ‘winter’?

March 28th, 2013 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on Is the shelter ’emergency’, ‘extreme weather’, ‘cold wet weather’ or ‘winter’?)

It seems words can indicate pivotal differences among shelters for homeless people during British Columbia winters

British Columbia’s Extreme Weather Response program enables communities to temporarily increase emergency shelter capacity during extreme weather conditions that threaten the safety and health of individuals and families who are homeless. The program funds time-limited, temporary shelter beds needed during extreme weather conditions from approximately November 1st to March 31st. (more…)

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Nanaimo social housing project going forward

March 21st, 2013 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on Nanaimo social housing project going forward)

An information session on the Boundary Crescent social housing project attracted a hundred interested Nanaimoites last week

housing nanaimoConstruction is expected to begin this summer on a four-storey, 41-unit supportive housing project at 1597 Boundary Cres., to be developed and operated by three local non-profit organizations: Nanaimo Affordable Housing Society, Columbian Centre Society and Haven Society.

Nanaimo Affordable Housing will build, own and maintain the building, Columbian Centre will provide 24-hour housing support workers and Haven will provide an additional layer of services on the floor of the building dedicated to women fleeing violent situations.   Read the rest of this article at Nanaimo News Bulletin.

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At Home/Chez Soi project nears its end

March 21st, 2013 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on At Home/Chez Soi project nears its end)

Housing first makes better use of public dollars—especially for those who are high service users

picture 465In 2008 the federal government invested $110 million for a five year demonstration project aimed at providing evidence about what services and systems best help people experiencing serious mental illness and homelessness. The Mental Health Commission of Canada’s At Home/Chez Soi project was established as a field trial of complex interventions in Vancouver, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal, and Moncton. The rigorous, multi-site, experimental research design of the At Home/Chez Soi project was expected to help identify what works, at what cost, for whom, and in which environments. It compared “Housing First” approaches with existing approaches in each of the five cities. For the first time in a trial, it included a standardized definition of Housing First and used assessments to document the quality of the implementation of the program over its first two years. (more…)

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