Advocates have been saying housing is key to many of Vancouver's social issues for years and now that theory will finally be tested on a large scale.
The Mental Health Commission of Canada officially launched their "At Home" program yesterday, which will take a "housing first" approach with 2,285 homeless people nationwide suffering from mental illness.
In Vancouver, some 500 people will be involved in the program - which is slated to become the largest "housing first" pilot project in the world.
"It's a great program that's going to put a good chunk of Vancouver's homeless population off the streets," said Vancouver Coun. Kerry Jang, who is also part of the MHCC.
Jang said the true value of the program will be to compare the cost of housing people - and then encouraging them to access the treatment they need - to simply dealing with homelessness at face value.
If treating people in stable housing is indeed cheaper and more effective than treating people without a home, the results of the program could usher in sweeping changes to the country's social net.
Jang said service providers, the homeless population and community groups have all been consulted in the lead-up to the program.
Permanent funding streams to keep the 500 participants housed after the project are also being actively sought.
"It's a great program that's going to put a good chunk of Vancouver's homeless population off the streets."
