ASK Programs

 

Housing First 

  • Henry Leland House Kamloops – A 28 Unit 24hr supportive housing facility. Housing the most challenging and hard to house. Through onsite supports Program Participants create a wellness plan and work on integrating back into community after two years. Program participants are also able to participate in an employment program for community clean-up through TNRD (funded by BC Housing)
  • Crossroads Inn – A 50 Unit semi-supported housing facility (building owned by ASK Wellness and funded by Government of Canada)
  • Tina Baptiste Suites – A 11 unit building non-supported low income (suites leased to ASK Wellness through the Kelson Group) (market funded)
  • Assisting with Housing Issues - A client who walks through the door of our Northshore Office will have the ability to sit with a social worker to assist with all their housing issues. We provide rental top-ups or damage deposit assistance, transportation to interviews with landlords, arrangements for moving of furniture, emergency repairs, funding for security deposits as well as rent and rent subsidies. We also work with the client to develop life skills such as budgeting, basic cleanliness and communication skills to ensure they have the best chance to succeed in their housing environment. (funded by BC Housing)
  • Property Management Assistance - ASK Wellness Centre has also taken the initiative to work directly with local property owners to develop goals and initiatives when dealing with clients. Our staff and programs help in a variety of ways. We provide mediation to negotiate mutually agreeable solutions between landlords and tenants or provide support to improve buildings be it through repairs, painting and cleaning in or outside of the building. (funded by BC Housing)
  • Crisis Funding for Families - Through a donation made through Boogie the Bridge Society of Kamloops we are able to provide crisis funding to families who are in need of rental/damage deposit, food, and utility payment assistance. (funded by the Boogie the Bridge Society)

 

Health Navigation, Blood Borne Infection Management and Harm Reduction 

  • We have on staff a team of social workers and counselors to help clients improve their health. Whether it be to provide assistance to manage medications, attend doctor’s appointments to help understand your answer, to assist in finding a doctor or drive to Vancouver for a specialist appointment we are able to help and provide hope. Through this service, we create a common purpose of building capacity to have positive impact on the quality of life of individuals living with complex health needs. (funded by Interior Health)
  • We provide needle exchange and harm reduction supplies at all of our agencies locations and supportive housing buildings. (funded by Interior Health)

Adult / Youth STD and Harm Reduction Education 

  • We have a community educator who teaches the ABC’s of HEP C, HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention, sexual health for life. These sessions include: Information related to STD’s and STI’s; Harm reduction tools and different kinds of testing available; Sexual exploitation and human trafficking. (funded by Interior Health)

Creating Social and Health Options (SHOP) 

  • Through our SHOP Program we assist individuals in exiting the Sex Trade and in maintaining their exit, advance education and community awareness regarding issues surrounding the sex trade, promote partnerships between sex workers, residents, community groups, businesses and government, improve the health and safety of individuals and our community through crisis intervention and harm reduction strategies. (Funded by the City of Kamloops and the United Way)

Street Outreach and Third Party Benefit 

  • Our staff collaborates with other agencies, RCMP and City By-law to keep the streets safe. We run a Homeless Count annually and gather 100 volunteers to comb the streets, alleys and beaches. (funded by Interior Health and CLBC)
  • We provide assistance to clients who are unable to attend at the Ministry as a Third Party. (funded through Ministry of Social Development)

 Recovery and Independent Supportive Housing (AASH) 

  • AASH – Adult Addiction Supportive Housing: In partnership with CMHA we provide supports and housing to those individuals who have successfully gone through detox and wish further assistance to become contributing community members. Through 24hour supports, wellness planning and group meetings, many have seen success. This program always has several people on a wait list. (funded by Interior Health)

 Mental Health and Independent Supportive Housing (MASH) 

  •  MASH – Mental Health Adult Supportive Housing: Provides supports and housing to those individuals who are struggling with mental health issues and wish further assistance to become contributing community members. Through 24hour supports, wellness planning and group meetings, many have seen success. (funded by Interior Health)

 Community Integration and Developmental Disabilities Supports 

  • Through a contract with Community Living BC (CLBC), a provincial crown agency, we assist by delivering supports and services to adults with developmental disabilities and those struggling with mental illness to create communities where people have more choices about how they live, work and contribute.(funded by CLBC)

Opportunities Program / Youth Skills Link Program 

  • Through our program, persons with disabilities or those struggling with getting back on their feet after abuse, addiction or life struggles and youth between the ages of 19 – 30 are offered services to instill hope and purpose. Through giving back to their community by providing clean-up, landscaping, small repairs, painting, weeding and odd jobs, they are taught responsibility and how to work as a team. (funded by the Government of Canada)

 Crossroads Adult Supportive Housing (CASH) 

  • CASH – 15 suites in Crossroads are designated to the CASH program. Expectations of being in this program are participation in a group setting and engaging with staff twice a week. Residents are also expected to work with staff on a wellness plan, tailored to the individual. Staff assist individuals with life-skills, communication, respectful relationships, employment opportunities and safety. Through wellness planning and group meetings many have seen success.

Sundergreen 

  • The goals of this program are to foster social inclusion, resident interaction, and positive communication; to improve life skills and to increase housing stability for tenants at Sundergreen Apartments, a BC Housing property. Life Skills Worker provides a broad range of support services and life skills counseling to individuals and families living at Sundergreen. The services provided include: group workshops and events, individual life skills coaching, crisis intervention, mediation and referrals to healthcare providers and other services and agencies in the community. This program is run in partnership with CML Properties and funded by the City of Kamloops under the Homelessness Partnership Strategy.