People with mental health issues find home in North Vancouver

Residents are starting to move into a Chesterfield Avenue apartment building dedicated to housing people struggling with mental health issues.
 
The building was purchased through a unique and badly needed joint venture agreement between the City of North Vancouver, the provincial government and a North Shore-based housing society nearly a year ago.
 
The collaboration was a response to a growing need to assist individuals who are coping with mental health issues such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The project will help those who can function and contribute to the community but still need financial and medical assistance.

Mayor Darrell Mussatto called the need for such housing in the city "severe," and said "there's still people out there that need support that don't have a place to live" and need this assistance to help them in the recovery process.
 
He said that city hall has been looking for years for this kind of solution and that "every unit helps."