Is supported housing experimental?
Supported housing is not at all experimental. As mentioned above there is a 25-year history of successfully delivering supported housing for individuals with a mental illness in Vancouver. There are presently 16 apartment sites outside the Downtown Core providing supported housing for 354 people with a mental illness. An excellent example of local experience with alcohol and drug free housing for people in recovery from addiction is the 44-unit alcohol and drug free McCready Residence, in operation since 1987. The stability of the individuals living at this site has been exceptional with the majority of tenants staying for five years or more. Evidence from other places in Canada, the United States, Britain and Australia tells us that alcohol and drug free supported housing is a well-accepted intervention. In particular, the Central City Concern organization in Portland, Oregon has created a total of 936 units of alcohol and drug free housing in that City. They have found that this hous
