The Supportive Addiction and Mental Health Housing program (SAMH) is designed to provide support for people with complex substance use and concurrent mental health needs who are homeless, at risk of becoming homeless, or who are considered inadequately housed. Stonehenge Therapeutic Community, in partnership with The Canadian Mental Health Association – Waterloo Wellington and the County of Wellington, provides the support services and housing units in the Guelph-Wellington region.
Transitional vs Long Term Housing
The SAMH program provides two types of housing. The Transitional program is designed for people who are involved in or have recently completed substance use treatment and who are committed to maintaining abstinence and implementing their recovery skills in a community setting. In the Transitional Program, participants share their living space with up to 3 other people.
They receive weekly counselling/support, attend weekly house meetings, and participate in the ongoing maintenance and upkeep of the house. Clients are expected to attend and participate in other program activities and community recovery supports in addition to these weekly meetings. It is an expectation that participants actively engage in program activities and stay focused on their ongoing recovery goals, including obtaining permanent housing.
Participants are accepted into the Transitional Program for a period of 6 months, and can submit a written request to extend their time in the program for up to a total of 364 days. Extensions will be granted based on the individual’s identified recovery goals and their demonstrated active participation in the program.
In the Long Term program, individual participants live independently and have weekly counselling/support sessions in their units. The program operates from a harm reduction philosophy and clients agree to engage in other activities which support their goals. Long Term program participants are strongly encouraged to stay engaged in the program and to work towards making self-identified positive changes that improve their health and well-being.
Program Criteria
The goal of the SAMH program is to increase the health and social outcomes of people with problematic substance use and concurrent mental health issues by providing stable housing coupled with individualized support. Applicants must meet the following criteria in order to be eligible for the program:
- Are 18 years of age or older
- Have chronic or acute experiences of substance use, mental health and/or concurrent needs
- Have recent experience with homelessness or be at-risk of homelessness (including transitional housing, living on the street, etc)
- Have frequent contact with withdrawal management, police, and/or emergency services
- Are committed to active participation in counselling and support services
- Have attended/completed a substance use treatment program within the last year (Transition Program only)
Referrals to SAMH
All SAMH program referrals for the Waterloo-Wellington region area go through the Here 24/7 service. If you are interested in the SAMH program, please contact Here 24/7 at 1-844-437-3247 (1-844-HERE247) or visit the Here 24/7 website.
If you have a referral for transitional housing from another agency, please complete this form:
