Homeless Outreach Program

Every month Seniors Services Society, responds to over 200 requests for information about seniors housing in the Lower Mainland. These inquires include calls from citizens and professionals concerned about their neighbour's or client's housing situation. Our experienced team of intake and outreach workers are involved in supporting older adults with housing issues throughout the Greater Vancouver region, except in the Downtown Eastside.

Often the calls are urgent as out of the group of 200, more than 10% are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Finding appropriate housing takes time and there are no emergency shelters for older adults. Each older adult's situation is assessed on an individual basis. An outreach worker meets with the older adult either at the Seniors Services office or, if the adult is unable to come to the office, in their current home. In each instance the outreach worker works one on one with the older adult to ensure the older adult has access to safe housing. This one on one approach also allows the outreach workers to find out if the adult has any health, income, or other concerns.

Seniors Services provides outreach services to seniors who are homeless or at risk of homelessness by: Ensuring that the senior has access to immediate safe accommodation, assessing their short and long term housing and services needs, assisting them in locating long term stable housing and working with landlords to prevent eviction.

How do older adults end up homeless? A minor stroke can go unnoticed, but result in an older adult forgetting to pay their rent or file their taxes. This can lead to eviction or the loss of income tax related benefits. The outreach workers make referrals to solve these problems. If caught in time, homelessness can sometimes be prevented. Outreach services include a comprehensive assessment of an individuals housing situation. This includes looking at the individuals current housing situation, health issues, income issues.

For more information contact our office at 604-520-6621 or .