CMHA-Simon Fraser Branch serves 130 housing clients, & 120+ outreach clients annually, plus a variable number of clients for other services.
We have about 30 full time and casual staff, dozens of volunteers, and an annual budget of $2,000,000.
Housing Programs
- Supported Independent Living and Community Living Support
Both the Supported Independent Living (SIL) and the Community Living Support (CLS) programs provide practical support to clients living in their own apartments and transitioning to independent living. SIL programs also provide rent subsidies. - Transitional Housing
Simon Fraser Branch operates 4 transition houses and 1 apartment which support clients to acquire the necessary skills to live independently in the community. These residences have staff attached to them. - Youth Semi Independent Living
The mandate of this program is to provide housing and support to youth who are 16-21 years old, who have a mental illness and are unable to live with family.
Outreach Program
Our outreach workers work with homeless people to help register for benefits, find housing, and attend recovery or other programs. The workers also provide access to other services, as needed.
Bounce Back
This program is for adults with chronic disease such as diabetes, heart problems, arthritis, etc. and who also experience mild to moderate depression and/or anxiety. It is offered at no charge to the participants.
A trained coach helps the person learn to manage their physical and emotional condition so that they can return to a more satisfying and enjoyable life style. Most of the contact between the coach and the client is via phone. To be involved in this program, ask your family doctor to refer you at 604-516-8080.
Education programs
- Smoking Cessation
This program helps clients stop or reduce smoking. CMHA-SF developed this innovative 12 week smoking cessation support program, with a grant from Health Canada and continued support from Fraser Health. - Thrift store
This social enterprise helps the community get to know us, provides work experience and training for thrift store staff, recycles unwanted goods, and earns money for our society. - MHFA
We offer Mental Health First Aid courses as a fee for service program to organizations interested in helping their employees recognize and cope with mental health challenges both with their own friends, family members and/or their co-workers. - Newsletter
We publish a bi annual newsletter with mental health articles, client authored articles, and news of CMHA-SF events. - Website
Offers resource information and descriptions of Simon Fraser branch’s activities. - Training
We offer training for reception, thrift store and office assistants. We have a Healthy Body, Healthy Mind program in some transition houses to help clients understand and learn nutritional, psychological, and behavioral skills to cope with symptoms of mental illness.
Financial Services
We administer and issue cheques
- for clients through the Therapeutic Volunteer Program.
- for the Fraser Health Consumer Rehabilitation and Participation Program.
- for the Residential Support Program through BC Housing.