Hope House, a short-term residential facility for those with mental health issues that has operated in Thompson since 1995, will be closing on March 31, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Thompson Inc. branch announced recently.
The facility, which is located at 31A McGill Place, has been funded solely by the Burntwood Regional Health Authority since it began operations, but CMHA says that funding levels "no longer meet the needs of the program."
"We are very sad to see Hope House closing," said CMHA president Katie Isaac. "It is of utmost concern that clients in the Burntwood region will not be able to access the services provided at Hope House and that the potential of Hope House staff losing employment with CMHA is high. Despite these realities we felt that we were left with no other decision."
Hope House provides services to adult clients who have mental illnesses or who are experiencing situational mental health problems. It provides time-limited, voluntary, and individualized supports in a safe and comfortable environment for these clients, as a means of taking that burden of care off of the BRHA, while also preparing the clients to return home.
Despite the impending closure, CMHA is already looking at providing similar services from the McGill location. "We are pursuing several options that will allow us to continue delivering a residential service to people living with mental illnesses," says CMHA Thompson Inc. branch executive director Paullette Simkins. "The program will likely be designed for people who have additional barriers to accessing safe and affordable housing. We remain committed to providing community based services that support improved health and wellness for all."
Up to four clients were able to stay at Hope House at a time, each in private bedrooms, for as long as three weeks.
