The future looks brighter for at-risk women and single mothers, aged 40 to 55 who face homelessness, as the Victoria Foundation funds a program to help prepare them for an eventual transition from supportive to independent housing.
The program, which has been operating for the past six months, creates an environment that builds strong social connections, increases self-esteem and supports residents as they move toward leaving long-term transitional housing.
The program operates out of Rosalie’s Village, a newly opened 42-unit housing development in Saanich owned and operated by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Vancouver Island.
The residents are typically single mothers, fleeing domestic abuse, homelessness or substance abuse, with their children. Residents, with up to half of them single mothers, are a mix of low-income working women and others on social assistance.
“We offer clients long-term transitional housing — up to five years — which is unique in the market,” said Colin Tessier, director of support services for the society. “While they are here, we try to empower them to determine what they need — to give them the tools they need for long-term housing success.”
The route to get to independent housing is chosen by the clients themselves.
A self-sustaining community-development model encourages residents to offer suggestions on programs and social activities they think might benefit the community, build resilience, develop healthy relationships, improve self-esteem or provide practical learning.
“The residents decided among themselves to create a clothing swap; they asked for a community garden to grow their own food and recently asked for a financial adviser so that they could better manage money,” said Tessier.
Encouraging the residents to identify needs that are important to them has led to a surprising outcome.
“Our programs often see more than 75 per cent of residents participating, which is a high engagement rate,” he said.
Rosalie’s Village includes one- and two-bedroom units and two four-unit townhouses. There are also three emergency units where single mothers can stay for up to 60 days.
Residents have access to a subsidized day care at an on-site licensed facility and onsite support. There is a playground and a community kitchen. The facility is pet-friendly. The $12-million project opened in December.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul celebrates 100 years of helping members of the community in 2017.
For more information, go to svdpvictoria.com.
