Iris Court

93 Street and 107A Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta

Supported Independent Living for Persons
with Schizophrenia and Related Disorders

Preliminary Overview
In March of 2008, the Schizophrenia Society of Alberta (SSA) acquired funding through
the Edmonton Housing Trust Fund (now Homeward Trust) to purchase three vacant lots
in the McCauley neighbourhood and design blueprints to construct an affordable,
supportive living facility for persons with schizophrenia and other related disorders.

The SSA is a registered charity with more than 28 years of experience serving this client
group in the Edmonton community. Plans are now underway to raise the balance of
funds needed for construction, with a goal to open the facility in 2010.

Meeting the Need

For persons with schizophrenia and other severe and persistent mental illness, stable,
affordable and supportive housing can have a profound effect on quality of life; including
reduction in symptoms and ultimately in health care utilization. According to the National
Mental Health Strategy (1994), housing is considered the most crucial community
support service necessary to achieve the success of the policy of providing community
based care for people with a mental illness.

The majority of people with schizophrenia and other severe and persistent mental illness
living in Alberta rely on Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) as their
primary source of income. Edmonton’s booming economy and housing market has
resulted in increased difficulty in finding affordable and suitable housing. For individuals
living with schizophrenia, this challenge is compounded by the daily challenges caused
by the illness.

In the 2007 study, Housing for Persons with Mental Illness: Understanding Their
Experiences, funded by the Edmonton Joint Planning Committee on Housing and
conducted by the SSA the following important conclusions were drawn.

Interviewees expressed housing concerns that fell into the following categories:
(1) Income and Financial Stability. Interviewees mostly relied on income support (such
as AISH) or a pension due to a diagnosis of mental illness, and/or part time or temporary
work, and many reported that the amount received was inadequate to provide them with
appropriate housing. Many were forced to live in the inner city, in “shoddy” and “run
down” housing, where they were vulnerable to victimization and where support services
were lacking.
(2) Housing Support Services. Interviewees called for a continuum of support service
levels, individualized according to (sometimes fluctuating) needs. Interviewees thought
that those who work with the mentally ill need to have more appropriate training and
flexible attitudes, and that they should facilitate skill and responsibility building in
mentally ill persons where possible.
(3) Home and Social Environment. A safe and healthy home environment with a
reasonable measure of privacy, positive peer relationships, and suitable options for
recreational, vocational or personal time during the day was seen as ideal. A
harm‐reduction approach to smoking, drinking and drug use was favored over
zero‐tolerance policies. Family involvement in residents’ lives was also seen as a
necessary part of building stability in a housing situation.
(4) Health and Social Services. Interviewees expressed a need for coordinated
management of care services for the “whole person” provided by understanding
professionals continuously from the hospital to the community (and back) based on
need. Interviewees also commented that sufficient legal mechanisms needed to be in
place to help the family intervene to prevent deterioration in their loved ones.
(5) Additional Concerns. Other difficulties related to housing for the mentally ill were the
high demand for this kind of housing (with few options and a long waiting list), caregiver
stress and burnout, difficulties caused by the nature of mental illness and its treatment,
stigma, and the few options available for the especially hard‐to‐house (e.g. those with a
dual diagnosis).

The study concluded that more research is needed, but the findings suggest that a
reassessment of Edmonton’s current housing and support system with an eye to
providing safe, affordable housing with flexible and comprehensive care for the “whole
person” could go a long way towards providing stable, long‐term housing options for the
mentally ill.

Edmonton Community Plan on Homelessness – Priorities Being Addressed

This project addresses the following priorities outlined in the Community Plan –
Edmonton Joint Planning Committee on Housing (January 2005):

Long-term Housing
3. Develop 1,300 Long-term Supportive Housing Units
Singles and childless couples:
Persons w. mental illness/dual diagnosis congregate housing
Persons w. mental illness/dual diagnosis supervised apts.

5. Develop 700 Affordable Housing Units

Singles and childless couples:
New construction studio, bachelor and one bdr. units

Site Location
The SSA has acquired three vacant lots located at 9336, 9338, 9342 – 107A Avenue
NW, Edmonton. The combined lots are 12,200 square feet (0.11 ha) in size.
Zoning
The site is zoned as RA7 (Low Rise Apartment Zone). The site is located adjacent to
lands zoned commercial to the north and west, business industrial uses to the east and
residential uses (zoned RA7 and RF6) to the south of the site.

Primary Client Groups Served

This housing project is aimed at serving low income individuals with mild to moderate
schizophrenia and/or individuals with mild to moderate chronic and persistent mental
illness. The SSA is currently developing a supportive living model which will provide
ongoing care and necessary supports to the residents. The objective of the model will be
to allow clients meaningful independence, while providing necessary day-to-day support.
Activities and Timelines

Activity Deliverable Timeline for Completion

Land Acquisition 3 lots are purchased March 2008
Environmental Assessment, Land is ready for August 2008
demolition and land construction to begin
preparation
Community Consultation Liaison with relevant September 2008
stakeholders
Design & Blueprints Finalized February 2009
Supported Independent Development and February 2009
Living Program finalization
Client recruitment Awareness and referrals – October 2009
health care professionals,
related agencies
Construction Completion May 2010
Facility Opening Clients move in June 2010
Operations Ongoing evaluations and Ongoing
monitoring
About Schizophrenia & Other Severe and Persistent Mental Illnesses…
• Schizophrenia is one of several severe and persistent mental
illnesses;
• Schizophrenia affects 1% of the Alberta population (more than
33,000 individuals);
• Schizophrenia indirectly affects hundreds of thousands of
Albertans through illness in a family member, friend or colleague;
• Schizophrenia is the second most frequent diagnosis assigned by
psychiatrists;
• Schizophrenia can be treated effectively with a combination of
medication, education, primary care services, hospital-based
services and community supports, including housing and
employment;
• Schizophrenia has a profound effect on an individual's ability to
function effectively in all aspects of life - self-care, family
relationships, income, school, employment, housing, community
and social life.

Our Mission
Our mission is to improve the quality of life for those affected by schizophrenia
and psychosis through education, support programs, public policy and research.

Who We Are
The Schizophrenia Society of Alberta (SSA), established in 1980, is a registered
charity incorporated under the Societies Act. In our efforts to improve the lives of
those affected by severe and persistent mental illness, we focus on advocacy,
education, self-help and support of research. We have Branches and Chapters
established in seven areas throughout the province; including Edmonton,
Camrose, Red Deer, Calgary, Canmore, Lethbridge and Medicine Hat. The SSA
is affiliated with nine other provincial societies and the Schizophrenia Society of
Canada.

Over the last 28 years, the SSA has had a significant impact on awareness,
advocacy, and research through the creation of four very successful core
programs for individuals with schizophrenia, their families, friends, and the
general public. These four programs are:
Unsung Heroes Program
The SSA’s Unsung Heroes program provides mutual peer support and
recreational opportunities for people who experience schizophrenia and related
disorders. Program components include:
• Monthly group meetings;
• Monthly outings;
• Annual camp retreat;
• Participatory research;
• Participation in arts programming;
• One-on-one support.

Family Support Program

The SSA’s Family Support program provides support for families who have a
member diagnosed with, or showing symptoms of schizophrenia or a related
disorder. Support minimizes stress for the family and ultimately reduces the
overall cost of care. Quality of life is improved for the person with schizophrenia
and his/her loved ones.

Partnership Program
The SSA’s Partnership Program provides public education on the impact that
schizophrenia has on the lives of those affected. The program aims to reduce
social stigma of severe and persistent mental illness. The Partnership Program
also provides an employment opportunity for people with schizophrenia and
related disorders.

Peer Support Outreach Program

Available in the Calgary Health Region, the Peer Support Outreach program
provides peer support to people with schizophrenia and related disorders who
are in difficulty due to the disorder. The program also offers employment
opportunities for people with schizophrenia living successfully in the community.

Contact Us!

Provincial Office:
#309, 8989 MacLeod Trail South, Calgary, AB T2H 0M2
Phone: (403) 264-5161 Fax: 1-866-273-1780

www.schizophrenia.ab.ca

Registered Charity # 13048-5816RR0001