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• Message from the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Family Services and Housing
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• ALL Aboard News Release
• Housing and Supports for People with Mental Illness (PDF)
• OpeningDOORS: Manitoba's Commitment to Persons with Disabilities (PDF)
• Contacts
• HOMEWorks! Homeless Strategy with a Focus on Mental Health Housing
  • Homeless Shelters
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  • The Salvation Army Project
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  • Homeless Outreach Team
  • Project Breakaway
  • Housing with Services
  • Portable Housing Benefit
  • Community Wellness Initiative
  • Homelessness Prevention Summit
  • Housing First
  • The Mental Health Commission of Canada

Community Wellness Initiative

The Community Wellness Initiative (CWI) began in 2005, in response to an identified need to support Manitoba Housing tenants living with mental health challenges.

CWI is a partnership between the Manitoba Housing and the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA), and is based on “best practice” models which provide supports and resources to assist tenants to live successfully in the community.  

CWI complements meal services, home care assistance and counselling supports already present in many Manitoba Housing facilities, as well as provides appropriate training for property management and building superintendent staff.

CWI currently operates as a group model in 5 Manitoba Housing sites, providing information on such topics as menu planning, the benefits of exercise and a healthy lifestyle, the identification and management of stress, dental and vision wellness, and the roles of the tenant and property managers.

In 2009/10, CWI will expand to a total of 14 sites, including sites outside of Winnipeg.  In addition, services will be expanded to provide individualized support in daily living skills for tenants, such as banking, medication management, personal apartment management, and food preparation.  These supports will help maintain tenancies, and prevent significant life disruptions and homelessness that can result from frequent evictions.

The expansion will include the addition of 11 mental health and housing support staff to deliver the enhanced services.  Approximately 760 Manitoba Housing tenants will benefit from the supports provided under the expansion of the CWI.
               
The need for supports was identified in the 2007 Kirby Commission report, Out of the Shadows at Last, which stated:

“We also support … housing options where assistance with Independent Living Skills (ILS) is available on site. This focus would address the needs to prevent eviction, enhance socialization, and develop skills to cope with mental health issues on an ongoing basis.”