Bear Clan Outreach
Bear Clan Family Outreach Team
The Helping Spirit Lodge Society (HSLS), Bear Clan Family Outreach Team(OT) serves chronically and episodically homeless individuals in the Greater Vancouver area. The program connects clients to affordable housing and provides wrap around services to ensure clients stay housed. The program complements the continuum of services provided by HSLS. Since the beginning of the program in October 2021, around 20 homeless individuals have been housed. The outreach team has built a network of 24 organizations who have access to affordable housing.
Bear Clan Family Outreach Team reach out to people who are sleeping outdoors and experiencing homelessness. The focus on establishing supportive relationships as a first step in addressing an individual’s immediate health and safety needs. They also provide supports to move into long term affordable housing.
The following services are available to people who are 16 years or older and are sleeping outside:
- Water and referrals to food programs
- Identification documents (ID) and income supports
- Supports to develop a housing plan, for those who are not already working with other housing workers or agencies
- Wellness checks
- Clothing and supplies
- Harm reduction supplies and harm reduction services
- Mental health supports through Vancouver Coastal Health and FNHA
- Blankets and sleeping bags in the winter
- Referrals to the shelter system through onsiteIntake
- Additional wellness checks and referrals to warming/cooling centres during extreme weather alerts
- Conduct full Moon Ceremonies monthly (Bus Tickets are made available)
- Assist and help our brothers and sisters who reside in tent city in the downtown east side
