enVision satellite office to increase visibility, access

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This article was published 03/08/2021 (1610 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The folks at enVision Community Living are hoping the location of their new satellite office will drum up curiosity about the organization while providing more accessibility to clients who use their services.

The new office, located at 390 Main Street in Steinbach, will increase visibility and the availability of services, according to enVision’s executive director, Jeannette DeLong.

“We were looking for something that was central as people we support primarily don’t have vehicles, so a lot of people walk everywhere they need to go,” she said. “So for people to access our services, being easily accessible for people is really important.”

DeLong said the old satellite location at the Pat Porter Active Living Centre wasn’t centrally located and a small sign didn’t do much to advertise their services.

“Main Street is busy; I think we’ll be more noticed in this location and people will wonder what we’re doing here.”

The mandate of enVision is to provide those living with intellectual disabilities and their family with support services both in-home and remotely. The non-profit works with the community to assist with residential services, day programming, and employment and vocational opportunities, as well as working with employers to match clients with job opportunities.

Katelyn Dykstra, director of operations, said the Main Street location will not only provide information and available services, but it will also be home to their Supported Living Services and Home Share Services which offer programming to those wanting to live independently as well as those looking for support families.

With the new location, the organization anticipates an increase in inquiries about what the organization offers, as well as more clients accessing services in the office rather than remotely.

“[Clients] don’t always want us coming into their home to help support them, so some of that will happen here,” Dykstra said.

“But I think more so it’s possible for people we support to just walk in and say, ‘Hey, I’m having a difficult time, can I get more staff members, can we talk a little bit about the support that I’m getting and what is meeting my needs.’ That’s difficult to do when you’re working remotely at home.”

While they’ve had to make do with offering services remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic, nothing is akin to being able to be in person and talk through problems and work on goals with clients, Dykstra said.

“That already allows us to be more adaptive to the community we live in, and to be more flexible to the needs of the people who live here who need us and who want our support.”

With the satellite office expansion in addition to their main office on Brandt Street, enVision hopes to increase their reach from the near-500 people they serve annually to provide more services to those with intellectual disabilities.