It’s now even easier to donate to RainCity!

By Bill Briscall | May 8, 2015

We’ve just launched our direct donation page and we really like it. Why? Because it’s not only super easy for you to use, but now each donation goes directly into our accounts on the same day! That means the money can make changes for folks faster than ever before. Plus, you’ll get your tax receipt …

Newsflash! How to learn about Housing First – and quick!

By Bill Briscall | November 3, 2014

It’s all right here! Well, actually right here, where today we’ve officially launched our ‘Housing First: Principles to Practice’ toolkit, a workshop that explains in nuanced ways what the Housing First model is and how it works. On that page you’ll find the five videos, each one explaining one of the five principles of Housing …

To house, or not to house – that is the question!

By Bill Briscall | October 14, 2014

A simple question. With complex and heartfelt answers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Zlr3aXhozA The video clip above and the pictures below are to give you just a taste of the original, honest and at times hilarious production of ‘Much Ado About Something!’ You have not seen anything else like this before and you only have until October 16 – …

It’s time to make some space!

By Bill Briscall | August 13, 2014

We are ready to take our first physical steps to address homelessness in Coquitlam. Over the next few weeks, crews will be clearing the trees at 3030 Gordon in Coquitlam so construction can start in September/October for our newest building. In order to lessen the environmental footprint, trees will be assessed for milling and potential …

Together we can end one of the last acceptable stigmas in Vancouver

By Bill Briscall | May 5, 2014

It’s up and running! And we love it! The Open Your Heart website invites you to be curious, think about how we interact in the world, and start addressing one of the last socially acceptable stigmas — mental illness. Click on ‘support’ or ‘accept’ and watch what happens to the people’s lives on screen. Mental …

How can you protect someone who’s “invisible”?

By Bill Briscall | March 8, 2014

On the eve of International Women’s day and the week before Vancouver’s annual homeless count, the federal government tabled a report entitled \”Invisible Women: A Call to Action\”. It wasn’t received well by aboriginal groups and the opposition parties who wanted a national inquiry in to the murdered and missing women across Canada. In December …

Telling your story is so important.

By Bill Briscall | February 18, 2014

Is it time for a new evolution of wise storytelling? We think it is. Stories that challenge the way we think about mental illness. Stories that give a human perspective on the facts. Facts like: In any given year, 1 in 5 Canadians experiences a mental health problem or illness. Up to 70% of young …

Hello Mount Pleasant!

By Bill Briscall | January 6, 2014

Please join us at one of this week’s Open Houses for the Biltmore Hotel. At these sessions we hope to get valuable input from people on how we can make this housing program an important part of Mount Pleasant and find ways to work together on how it intersects with the community. The two Open …

NEWS — New Evolution of Wise Storytelling!

By Bill Briscall | April 22, 2013

In collaboration with the Community Action Initiative and our community partners, RainCity Housing and Support Society has launched a project called NEWS – New Evolution of Wise Storytelling. The goal of NEWS is to create opportunities for community members and media creators to come together to create inclusive and supportive stories about mental health, as …

LGBTQ2S+ housing for youth!

By Bill Briscall | August 5, 2012

Transgender and gender non-conforming people are much more likely to be experiencing poverty or homeless than the average person, almost twice as many as the general population. Discrimination or harassment from service providers, or rejection from their families and gender segregated shelters can all lead to ending up on the street. This can also impact …