Community-based care​

Connections to the community are important to individuals' recovery from mental health or addiction problems. Clients' striving toward their housing, income, employment and education goals is central to their recovery and integration in the community.

The programs listed here provide support in the areas of housing, income, work and education. As a service provider, you can coordinate these services for your clients or you can refer them to access many of the programs directly.

Note: We invite your contribution to this section by submitting resources and supports from across Canada (at the provincial or national-level). We have developed this section starting with resources from Ontario and aim to make it national.

General Outreach/Case Management

• Ontarians needing assistance with daily living can contact Community Care Access Centres for home-based support.

Housing General Outreach/Case Management

• The Homeless Hub is a web-based information centre containing research, policy and best practices information on homelessness and housing instability. It is oriented for multiple audiences including service providers, researchers, government representatives and the general public. It includes arts-based community engagement strategies, stories from marginalized groups and lesson plans for teachers.
• The Housing Stability Validity Study (PDF) reports on "tools and processes for understanding and improving housing stability for people with serious mental illness". The report also tests the applicability of the study's own model. It is intended for administrators and staff of mental health housing and support services although community and advocacy groups and residents and their families may also benefit from this information. This 2004 report was prepared by CAMH's Community Support and Research Unit.
• The Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association (ONPHA) has information and resources for service providers and the pubic on non-profit housing and supportive housing.
• Individuals looking for housing access and stabilization can access theHousing Help website for these Ontario services.
• The Housing Help Centre lists contact information for housing help centres in Ontario.

 

Income

• The Canada Pension Plan Disability Benefits program provides monthly benefits to contributors.
• Employment Insurance provides temporary income support for Canadians.
• The Ontario Disability Support Program provides financial and employment support to eligible people with disabilities.

Education

• People with mental health concerns may find the guide Your Education, Your Future useful for information on colleges and universities. The guide runs through topics related to being a student – such as finances, disclosing mental illness and accessing academic accommodations. The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) also offers high school and other study resources. 
• Federal grants are offered for students with permanent disabilities through Human Resources and Skills Development Canada.
• Pharmaceutical companies offer financial assistance for education/training. The Lilly Reintegration Scholarships for example, are eligible to survivors of particular mental health problems.

Employment

• The Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities provides funds for individuals, employers or projects via calls for proposals. These funds assist people with disabilities in preparing for, getting and maintaining employment.
• Federal grants, employer incentives and resources are available for trades and apprentices.
• The CMHA offers a range of employment resources for individuals who have had mental health problems and for their potential employers. It includes:
  • Routes to Work: Information from the CMHA's past national employment project
  • Making it Work: A Resource Guide to Supporting Consumer Participation in the Workforce
  • Steps to Employment: A workbook for people who have experienced mental health problems
  • Diversity Works: Accommodations in the Workplace for People with Mental Illness
  • Strategies for Success: A Consumer's Guide to the Workplace
  • Mental Health Works: A national program working to build capacity in workplaces to address mental health issues
  • Hangin' In There: Strategies for job retention by persons with a psychiatric disability
  • Consumers Speak About Getting a Job: An article with feedback from consumers about how they handled resume gaps and other issues
  • Action Steps to Real Work: Strategies for consumers, employers and service providers regarding employment
  • Working Well: An Employer's Guide to Hiring and Retaining People with Mental Illnesses
  • Information for employers and managers
  • Mental Health Works enhances workplace mental health through "skills enhancement training, awareness education, and stigma reduction efforts". It features employer solutions and employee supports.
• An Ontario provincial program, Second Career, assists unemployed workers to transition to new careers.
• Ontario Works offers financial assistance and employment assistance in preparing for and getting a job.

General Labour Market Information

• Refer to information on employment standards, as set out by federal regulations.
• Job information is available through the federal website, Working in Canada.
• Labour market, job search and employment planning information for Ontarians is available through the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.

For Employers

• The Mental Health Commission of Canada's Leadership Framework for Advancing Workplace Mental Health provides tools and information for employers and business leaders on how to create mentally healthy workplaces.
• Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace provides free "public resources including strategies, tools and support for research and initiatives aimed at improving workplace mental health for all Canadians."