Culturally Supportive Housing

Dual Model of Housing Care

Based on the voices of the First Nations, Métis and Inuit Street Family it became clear an approach beyond housing provision was needed — one that could strengthen Indigenous self-identity, build community, support healing, and create pathways to recovery. In response the ACEH developed the Dual Model of Housing Care, which provides Culturally Supportive Housing alongside Decolonized Harm Reduction.

On-site Family Members (program participants) have access to Elder support, medicine keepers, cultural mentors, native medicine gardens, traditional foods and cultural programming. To support wellness, Family Members have access to land-based healing and decolonized harm reduction programs. The Dual Model of Housing Care is foundational to the ACEH.

–

our housing programs.

SpeqƏȠéutxw (SPAKEN) House

SpeqƏȠéutxw (SPAKEN) House opened in August 2020 and offers Culturally Supportive Housing and services to 22 Indigenous women experiencing homelessness, with priority given to those fleeing violence.

Culturally Supportive House

The Culturally Supportive House opened in March 2020 and offered Culturally Supportive Housing and Indigenous Alcohol Harm Reduction services to up to 14 members of the Indigenous Street Family in the downtown core. Culturally Supportive House closed in 2023 and the program moved to House of Courage.

Kwum Kwum Lelum (House of Courage)

The Kwum Kwum Lelum, House of Courage opened in March 2023.  It offers 44-units of Culturally Supportive Housing for Indigenous peoples 19+ with a focus on pathways to healing recovery. On-site is the Indigenous Alcohol Harm Reduction Program (IAHRRP) and a Culturally Supportive Recovery Program. The House of Courage is located in Victoria West neighbourhood. 

Xexe Pahlatsis’lelum (Sacred Cradle House)

Xexe Pahlatsis’lelum is a new Culturally Supportive Housing development for pregnant or and newly parenting women offering 24/7 staff support,  Elder and Aunty mentorship, Land-Based Healing, Family Reunification, native medicine gardens, access to cultural and homemade foods, connection to doula and midwife care, life and parenting skills programs, health services, and essentials. These supports are designed to lovingly support maternal child wellness, centering community, culture, and connection.

Youth House

Culturally Supportive Housing for urban First Nations, Inuit, and Métis youth.

COMING 2028: Wellness House

Wellness House will offer post-treatment Culturally Supportive Housing, with a focus on sustaining healing and recovery. On-site will be educational upgrading, life skills programs, cultural supports, and more.

We acknowledge and offer gratitude to the Lekwungen (Esquimalt, and Songhees), Malahat, Pacheedaht, Scia’new, T’Sou-ke and W̱SÁNEĆ (Pauquachin, Tsartlip, Tsawout, Tseycum)
peoples on whose ancestral, traditional land and unceded territories on which we gather, live, and work.