In 2002, a group of nine Toronto-based agencies started meeting in order to improve housing stability for racialised and ethnic minority clients with mental health and addictions issues. The group, called the Supportive Housing and Diversity Group (SHAD), started a research study, funded by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

The study is titled “Best Practices in Developing Anti-Oppressive, Culturally Competent Supportive Housing.” It features a Toolkit, which outlines how agencies can think about people’s multiple needs and the principles they should use to develop programs and services. It also gives examples in a variety of areas of the best ways to meet these needs.

SHAD will release the Toolkit and other research reports on June 26 2008, through a community event and on each member’s agency website. SHAD’s current members are: Across Boundaries, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Community Resource Connections of Toronto, COSTI Immigrant Services, Hong Fook Mental Health Association, LOFT Community Services, Mainstay Housing, and Regeneration Housing and Support Services.

For more information, contact Deqa Farah at 416-482-4103 ext. 223 or farah@crct.org.

By Deqa Farah – Community Resource Connections of Toronto