Mennonite housing group tackles homelessness

When the B.C. government decided to create more than 2,200 supportive housing units to fight homelessness, it entrusted the running of its first project to an MCC-affiliated organization.

Kindred Place, the first of three new buildings funded by several government agencies, is an 87-unit, $17.7 million structure on Richards Street in Vancouver. It’s the eighth project of More Than A Roof Mennonite Housing Society, which has been managing social housing complexes for over 20 years.

More Than a Roof already operates Candela Place, a 62-unit supportive housing complex. Resident Wayne Doersam describes what living there has meant to him. Having spent many years as a heroin user and more than 20 years in prison, he finally got his life together. But he was still lonely and alienated from his family.

At Candela Place, he says, he can go into the hall and talk to people. “I thank God for Mennonite Housing Society,” he says. “It’s given me a bigger family than I ever thought possible.”

It costs about $450,000 a year to run Candela Place, but most of that money is covered by the housing component of the residents’ social service payments. Since people with a place to live have fewer health and other problems than people who are homeless, a supportive housing complex can actually save the government millions of dollars a year.

Christian community

Executive director Lorne Epp says More Than A Roof is very open about being a Christian faith organization. “Our beliefs have to make a practical difference.”

Even though various governments provide the vital funding, Epp explains that it’s the extra things, the “More” that often makes the difference, such as staff “with a vibrant outreaching faith and a heart for people.”

More Than A Roof also models volunteerism. When the residents wanted a store that would offer 7-Eleven goods at Costco prices, the agency told residents to develop a business plan and run it themselves. The store, by the front door in a space originally intended for a security kiosk, also safeguards community.

Once residents catch the volunteering spirit and realize they have something to contribute, says Epp, they develop a sense of purpose.

—Jim Coggins for More Than A Roof. For more information, see morethanaroof.org.