Eden and SCO propose new housing model

A new model proposed by Eden Housing and Steinbach Community Outreach (SCO) could see two apartment blocks built on land west of Clearspring Centre.

The estimated $22 million project was presented to city council at their strategic priorities committee meeting, by representatives of Eden Health Care Services and SCO on Tuesday.

It calls for two buildings which will share a 5.3-acre property along Thresher Road in the Langill Farm development.

The property would be subdivided with four acres set aside for Eden’s facility and the remaining for SCO.

Eden’s would be a 45-unit affordable apartment block while SCO would offer 24 affordable units.

For Eden, 16 units would be set aside with clinical assertive care programming which includes social work, occupational therapy, psychiatric nursing, housing support and access to psychiatry. The remaining 29 units will be designated affordable housing with limited support and independent living.

SCO’s 24 suites will be designated to provide affordable housing with access to some group programming at the Eden site and a referral program to Eden Housing.

The housing model would fit into the community as a place where people could potentially be referred from facilities such as the proposed transitional shelter, The INN.

It’s not the first time Eden has built this type of facility.

“We’re basing this project off of something that we’re already doing in Winnipeg,” Brad Unger, Eden CEO said. “We have a model that’s been proven successful and has really been beneficial to support those living with severe and persistent mental illnesses.”

That project is called Concordia Village 4, which provides complex care for 16 participants living in a 45-unit Manitoba Housing apartment block.

Unger told council it has resulted in stable tenancies (seven-year average tenancy), reduced utilization of emergency services, and a high compliance with clinical care plans and achievement of life goals such as work, volunteering, relationships, health and community integration.

Unger said many of the same needs exist in this community.

“We know that there’s needs in Steinbach and in other urban centres throughout the province so bringing this kind of proven model is something we think is going to really help folks in the Steinbach area,” he said.

The numbers back it up.

In 2024, a total of 69 admissions at Eden Mental Health Centre came from the Steinbach area.

In the last five years that annual number has ranged from a high of 92 in 2020 to a low of 55 in 2022.

The apartment design will be about 60,000 sq. ft., four stories, and 45 units along with common laundry, locker storage, offices and a large community room. Apartments will range from one to three-bedroom and will include two-bedroom accessible suites.

Eden’s building is expected to cost $15 million while SCO’s will come with a tab of about $6 million. The land is expected to cost between $1 million and $1.5 million.

For SCO the partnership came as a result of the successful operation of The Bridge, an affordable housing complex in Steinbach.

Their first experience in being landlords, SCO Manager Charlene Kroeker said they were surprised by the extent of the need for mental health supports.

“Accessing mental health resources has been very difficult for the majority of our guests at outreach so a collaboration like this I think only strengthens the fact that we will be able to better help our community,” she said.

Next steps for Eden and SCO are to approach the province to see if they’ll pay for the ongoing costs, estimated to be about $800,000 annually.

They asked city council to support the plan by writing a letter of support, encouraging developers and stakeholders to work with them, advocate to media in support of the project, endorse the project and assist with securing funding, lobby for provincial or federal funding and assist with collaboration with surrounding municipalities.

Council voiced their support.

“We really think this is a great project,” Mayor Earl Funk said. “You have our commitment. We want to put our best foot forward to se if we can get more funding to support this part of our population.”

Other councillors agreed, praising both organizations for their track record in the community and their vision for this proposal.

For Kroeker the partnership and the plan are a good fit.

“The best way to help is to work together,” she said.