Steinbach endorses The Bridge on 3rd

Steinbach city council offered their endorsement of The Bridge on 3rd, a 30-unit apartment block under development by Eden Healthcare Services in partnership with Steinbach Community Outreach.

In a letter to council requesting a letter of support, Eden Healthcare Services program director Leighton Knapp explained the purpose of the facility council had first heard about at the April strategic priorities committee meeting.

“It is specifically designed to provide stable, affordable housing and comprehensive onsite mental health supports for adults living with severe and persistent mental illness,” the letter stated. “Fifteen tenants will have access to Tier 3 and Tier 4 specialized clinical programming, including psychiatric care, medication management, life-skills coaching, and 24/7 crisis response.”

Knapp added that the project addresses what is currently a critical gap in the community, saying it will reduce chronic homelessness, frequent hospital admissions and emergency service demands while helping individuals achieve greater stability and quality of life.”

Councillors spoke out in favour of the project while approving the creation of a letter of support but focused largely on the partners involved in the project, treating the project itself as secondary.

Coun. Susan Penner made the motion.

“Both Steinbach Community Outreach and Eden Healthcare Services have a great track record in our community for decades,” she said. “These aren’t just new organizations, but we’ve seen them in action for years and trust them. I know they do good work.”

Penner also spoke in favour of the project itself, pointing out The Bridge, a similar project launched by SCO is a success.

“It’s working,” she said. “People are beginning to graduate, so to speak, from the housing and become more independent.”

Jac Siemens seconded the motion, and he praised the project itself before going on to speak well of the proponents.

“I think this is an important project for Steinbach,” he said. “This certainly does speak well to the supportive housing needs in Steinbach.”

He went on to praise both organizations behind the project, noting that SCO has been around for close to 25 years while Eden Healthcare Services has existed even longer.

“They both have a good track record working together with the province,” he said.

He warned that this project isn’t the only solution needed.

“I think this is very important,” he said. “It doesn’t solve our issues but it’s a step in the right direction.”

Coun. Michael Zwaagstra also supported the project and praised both organizations as well.

“We do trust that they know what they’re doing,” he said.