Vancouver Coastal Health is working on a plan to address services for people with mental health and addictions issues on the Sunshine Coast, including housing.
Sunshine Coast director Lauren Tindall told the Dec. 1 Regional Hospital District (RHD) meeting that the health authority has concerns with the location of its facilities for mental health and addictions, as well as homelessness and a lack of affordable and accessible housing.
“We are seeing more and more infrequent availability to low-cost housing, and shelter beds are very over-subscribed and our hostel beds not [being] available either, due to the volume of people who need access to these beds,” said Tindall. “These are some significant concerns that we’re seeing, and that other groups are seeing.”
Tindall said VCH has brought in a consultant to help with a clinical services plan that could address those concerns.
“The other body of work that we have moving forward is a proposal with BC Housing … around low-barrier addictions housing, complex mental health housing, and permanent shelter beds,” she added.
