My Place celebrates one-year anniversary

The supportive housing project called My Place on 35th Street in Vernon is celebrating its one year anniversary, with the site manager calling it “a phenomenal success.”

Shelley Kiefiuk says some of the residents were previously homeless, and 81 per cent of the initial occupants remain there.

“That’s due in large to the supports they have available to them 24/7. We have two staff here 24/7, and that affords them the opportunity to work with folks at their speed when they’re ready,” she said.

The facility is operated by the Turning Points Collaborative Society.

Kiefiuk said My Place provides assistance for health issues, including mental health and helps address substance use.

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“A couple of them have had major surgeries that, if you are living in a tent, you can’t be released from hospital after a major procedure into a camp,” she said.

Some residents have got back into the workforce, while others have been advocating and mentoring for those who remain homeless.

“What they do is they are empowering each other and providing hope that good things are coming,” Kiefiuk told Vernon Matters.

Kiefiuk said they are excited about the two new supportive housing projects announced this week by the province, one for a 52-unit development next to My Place, and another with 50 units on the current Howard House shelter site on 43rd Street.

“There are so many people in the community that are still living rough or struggling to maintain housing that they may be losing for various reasons,” she said.

Kiefiuk said it’s important to note the people living at My Place are paying to live there.

“Just like anybody else would pay rent or would pay their mortgage payment. It’s not free. It’s not just affordable housing, The folks here are required through their program agreement to engage in a service plan in creating a goal path,” she said.

The rent is $375 a month and $570 for a couple.

Occupants are also able to participate in peer programs such as Folks on Spokes.

“They go out in the community and do clean-up. They are providing a service to the community. They now have the time and and space because they are not worried about basic survival — they have a roof over their head and a warm meal in their belly — they have the time and space to give back and participate in the community,” the site manager said.

Kiefiuk said there is a “massive” wait list to get into My Place, so the two new developments are much needed.

Vernon’s mayor agrees.

“It’s tremendous news for the city,” Mayor Victor Cumming said on the proposed two new projects. “The more we can provide housing for those in the lowest socioeconomic bracket, the better we are off, and the better they are off. It’s just proven over and over again that when people have housing with wrap around services, which both of these will have, then in general, people progress quite significantly.”

The Turning Points Collaborative Society did a random survey of businesses and residents in the area of My Place in June, and says the response was overwhelmingly supportive, with some saying they had seen less crime and homelessness, and some commenting on how beautiful the building was.

The society added there are some people with negative feelings about people experiencing homelessness but they say people living at My Place are not homeless, they are housed.