Squamish Helping Hands Society Presents: 

Under One Roof: Frequently Asked Questions 

1. What is ‘Under One Roof’? 

‘Under One Roof’ is a community centre which includes supportive housing, food programs,
connectivity and compassion. It is also a centre for social services partners. It is intended for
people in Squamish who are a) experiencing homelessness or are at risk in any way; b) are in
need of supports, a helping hand, c) want to get involved, volunteer, work d) have a service or
program to offer e) want access to affordable food options and f) want to be part of a community
where everyone contributes in some way, where everyone has a job to do, where all are cared
for…

2. Where will ‘Under One Roof” be located:

Located downtown at Third & Main the new building is steps away from Squamish’s current
shelter.

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3. What is the vision or concept for ‘Under One Roof’?

The vision for Under One Roof is to be a diverse community hub where integration and
connectivity are at the core; where healing, recovery, growth and change are not only
encouraged but are possible. It will be a space for all community members to experience a
sense of belonging and purpose, leading to healthier individuals and a healthier community.
Programs and services will be enhanced in our new facility. We will sleep, feed, connect and
engage more people for the good of our whole community.

4. Why does Squamish need ‘Under One Roof’? 

Squamish is experiencing a housing crisis. Our community has become very unaffordable. With
vacancy rates at 1% or below and the average monthly rent for a single room at $700-$800, or a
bachelor suite at $950, the demand for affordable housing has never been greater. The current
shelter at 37930 Third Avenue has experienced maximum occupancy over the past year but
more significantly acts as a permanent residence for many. That is mats on the concrete floor
365 days a year!

5. What does Supportive Housing actually mean?

Supportive housing means that it’s not only housing. With it comes 24 hour staffing, outreach
workers, meals and other food programs, laundry, coordinated Mental Health (MHSU) programs
and clinicians, individualized independence planning (IIP) where the participant (everyone living
at Under One Roof) set goals for independence accompanied by a plan of action. An example
would be an education goal for which the person is signed up in our Supported Education and
Employment Program. Another example would be a substance use goal for which they are
connected to the Integrated Case Management team (ICM) from Vancouver Coastal Health
(VCH) and Helping Hands Outreach and connection to detox or treatment etc.

6. What services will be offered at ‘Under One Roof’? 

‘Under One Roof’ will expand on the services currently offered by Squamish Helping Hands
Society:

Housing Services: In partnership with BC Housing we will be able to offer up to 69 sleeping

spaces in the winter months and 59 sleeping spaces the rest of the year. Some are temporary,
some double occupancy. There will be varying levels of supports depending on the participants
needs but all units are program based.

Food Services: Together with the Squamish Food Bank, U1R Food Hub comes to life where
food will be distributed through our onsite Market including perishable and non-perishable foods
for anyone who wishes to participate through membership. Our aim is to eradicate stigma
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around food needs and to provide: accessible heathy food; a local food systems change, a low
to zero waste program using a ‘food to its best and highest purpose’ approach. At Under One
Roof food will be 1) healthier (think grocery store perimeter), 2) more accessible and de-
stigmatized 3) repurposed (when it cannot go on the shelves) into hot meals, retail items -
soups, smoothies, sauces, canning, jams, pies etc. 4) a collaborative operation - Helping Hands
and Food Bank become the Food Hub.

Supported Education & Employment Services (Contribution and Purpose): Having a

sense of purpose, routine and responsibilities, a job to do, a place to be is the foundation being
laid out at Under One Roof. In partnership with others Under One Roof will provide participants
with opportunity to train, learn, work, volunteer, and give back in meaningful ways. In a flexible
and diverse environment participant will gain experience and knowledge, discover a sense of
value and build capacity - leading to independence and becoming vibrant members of our
community.

Addiction/Harm Reduction Services: Two main concepts for understanding addiction and
harm reduction: 1) The opposite of addiction is connection. 2) Harm reduction is preventive
health care.

Everything from mixed housing to no barrier drop-in and on-site services highlights an
acceptance of all people where they are - without judgement. This is what harm reduction is all
about. It makes room for as much progress towards sobriety as possible and manageable.

Harm reduction services at Under One Roof - on site clinicians, supplies, overdose prevention,
housing first living etc. are intended to address immediate health and safety needs (keeping
illness and overdose at bay).

Ultimately people deserve to be safe regardless of their addiction or disease. We work with
each participant just as they are, where they are, in an attempt to keep them safe from harm
while we build the relationship so that when a person is ready they have the foundation of trust
and care to go to next steps.

Mental Health & Wellness Services: Mental health and wellness are built into the fabric of the
Under One Roof vision. Everything we do and will do takes into account the wellness of our
participants and each other. Housing, food security, community inclusion and purpose are the
four essentials for positive mental health and wellness. When a person has a stable home,
access to healthy food, a sense of belonging and a sense of purpose they are on the path to
wellness and independence. This is the bottom line and the ultimate hope for everyone at Under
One Roof. Some of the add on programs are: Therapeutic gardening, wellness classes,

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individualized programs and planning, a welcoming drop-In entre, outreach services, beauty
days, foot clinics, cooking classes, income tax services etc.

Community Services: At Under One Roof we will be able to offer more services to more
people as we increase opportunity and flexibility. At the heart we are building a community that
bridges the Us & Them divide and we do that by:

Inviting community in…where we will offer:

 Laundromat – coin-op, wash & fold, big items.

 The Market – daily food access from free to pay what you can.
 Drop-In Centre – tea & coffee, snacks, welcoming meeting ground, referrals, survival
supplies, support workers.
 Volunteer Centre – Centralized volunteer hub with training and placements at UOR and
other community organizations and services.
 Meeting Spaces – Accessible days/evenings for wellness groups (AA, NA,SMART
meetings), team meetings, community conversations, board meetings etc.

And by going out into community…where we will offer:

 Outreach Services: Currently and at Under One Roof our outreach team will be available
7 days a week. They are mobile, in community, where needed. They build relationships
with individuals who are struggling to survive, who are isolated, who are afflicted with
mental illness, addictions disease; provide food, information, relationship, advocacy,
transportation to medical and special services appointments; help to get to detox or
treatment in the city and so on...
 Touchstone & Training Services: Concerned neighbours, citizens and businesses can
call on us for support in community when needed for:
- Referrals & support (i.e. what to do about brother who needs help, lady living in van
on your street, worried about someone camping in the estuary, someone living alone
in ill health etc.);
- Response team training for staff, community groups etc. (i.e. call us when your staff
are having trouble dealing with a particular client, group of clients; your community
group wants to learn about how to stay safe and keep others safe in difficult or
escalating situations; your staff need to learn what to do if someone overdoses; your
volunteer group needs ‘working with vulnerable populations’ training.)
- Facilitation for community conversations – your staff or group wants to talk about
homelessness, mental illness, root causes of addiction and so on.

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 - Education & awareness for schools – your class wants to learn about homelessness,
food security, social responsibility, giving back, inclusion in the classroom, mental
illness etc.

6. Who will be using the services? 

The current shelter at 37930 Third Avenue meets only the most basic needs of a particular
variety of participants but lacks the flexibility and space to serve a wider net of people such as
people who have difficulty with socialization, who are ill, whose mental health and substance
use needs are more severe. It lacks the flexibility to serve children and younger youth.

At Under One roof we will be able to extend that net, open our doors to other folks. This may
mean that many will be able to leave precarious and unsafe living conditions for more stable
and equitable housing. It will mean that food / meal service, will be extended to families
(including children and youth), through a second seating- free or by donation. We hope to make
our space comfortable for seniors, for volunteers, for families, for people who are living sober,
who have great ideas and want to share and teach, who have a service to offer and so on.

7. Will there be an increase in crime? 

We do not anticipate that levels of crime in the downtown core will be affected by the opening of
‘Under One Roof.’ Research that looked at crime rates around similar projects has actually
found that providing shelter, food and flexible employment opportunities leads to an overall
decrease in crime in the affected area. 

8. Will there be an increase in drug use? 

‘Under One Roof’ will provide basic harm reduction services, which have been associated with a
decrease in open drug use.  These services include harm reduction supplies, needle disposal
etc. and supportive collaboration with Mental Health and Substance Use team. The hope also
will be to have a part time harm reduction physician on site in the future. Providing Harm
Reduction services is not associated with higher incidences of drug use. Rather having access
to these services encourages appropriate disposal of harm reduction supplies and has been
associated with an increase in the use of addiction services at the community level. Meeting
people where they are at will ensure that the new facilities are welcoming and inviting to
everyone in the community. 

9. Is there really a need? How many homeless people live in Squamish?

While we never know the exact number because it fluctuates and because many are hidden, we
estimate that around 200 people in Squamish are struggling with homelessness itself or find
themselves precariously housed or are living in unsafe situations beyond their control. In
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December of 2015 we did a homeless count for Squamish and talked to 154 people who fell into
these categories. This does not begin to take into account the increasing numbers of people
living in vehicles and boats throughout the community or the number of people in our community
accessing food services to make ends meet.

10. What causes homelessness?

There is no one cause for homelessness but most people who find themselves homeless are
dealing with a wide range of issues such as poverty, mental illness, addictions, social and
familial isolation – most of it stemming from or steeped in trauma. Added to that are people who
experience injuries that are treated with unchecked opioid prescriptions, brain injury folks who
go through profound personality changes, folks born with developmental disabilities, as well as
the plethora of societal inequities - a lack of affordable housing and food along with a lack of
support and services to meet the growing need or our most vulnerable.

We find ourselves grappling with a very complex problem which requires a complex and caring
response. For the most part TRAUMA and pain are at the epicentre of what has become an
epidemic which is made worse by society’s fear, misunderstanding, misinformation leading to
the Us & Them divide.

What can I do to help support ‘Under One Roof’? 

You can donate to or sponsor the ‘Under One Roof’ project: You can find us at www.shhs.ca, or
at www.underoneroofsquamish.ca. To speak to someone directly call 604-390-3000. All
financial contributions go to support programs and services provided by a variety of partners
including SHHS, the Squamish Food Bank Society, and others ...

You can work with us at Under One Roof: Become a partnering organization or agency on site
and provide unique services for Women, First Nations, Older Youth etc. You can partner to
provide employment opportunities, food and clothing donations and so much more.

You can volunteer with us: Should you have any skills that you feel would be of value to share
(bike repair, food storage, foraging, traditional medicines etc.) please join us in our vision to
create a community space where all are welcome, are encouraged to grow and contribute.
email us at info@underoneroofsquamish or info@shhs.ca and let us know! 

Under One Roof is for all of Us. We all have something to offer. There is no Us and Them.