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Bridging the Gap: How Cota's Boarding Home Program Fosters Community Support and Mental Health
Did you know that Cota’s Boarding Home Program is one of our original programs, starting back in 1981?
This program currently operates in two teams, East and West, which provide support to tenants of the homes in their respective areas of the city. The two teams visit 27 sites per week, where in total, over 600 tenants reside.
Each boarding home is unique, with different sizes and configurations. These congregate living settings typically provide tenants with private bedrooms along with other shared living spaces. The majority of the Boarding Homes that Cota supports are owned and operated by private landlords and are monitored for safety and compliance for funding by an agency such as Habitat Services who ensure housing standards set by the City of Toronto are being met.
The Boarding Homes are staffed 24/7, and meals are provided to tenants as part of their rent and board, along with other amenities such as laundry. For decades, they have provided affordable, permanent housing for marginalized folks and continue to serve a vital role in curbing homelessness.
Cota’s Boarding Home Teams are comprised of Site Support Workers and Case Managers who support the tenant population with community integration, mental health support, reducing social isolation and providing opportunity for recreation. Site Support Workers are available for all tenants in the home through scheduled, consistent visits (typically twice per week), while Case Managers offer more intensive and personalized support to individuals that would benefit from more 1:1 assistance to support more complex needs and goals.
The East and West Boarding Home Teams have many staff members who have been working in these homes for many years, allowing for a unique and organic trust and relationship to develop. After shadowing one Site Support team for a morning, it was apparent how at ease tenants of the boarding home felt with the Cota service providers.
Residents appreciate the visits from Site Support Workers because they break up the routine, get people out of the house and moving, and help folks socialize with each other. One resident, Rene, remarked: “Their visits brighten the day. I’ve done a lot of activities with Cota over the years and have a great time […] I like that this program is available to us and the team has helped me through tough times”. Another resident, Antonio, added:
“We look forward to when June and Xavier come to visit. They’re very good listeners… when we’ve got something to say, they listen. It’s a relief to have someone to talk to outside of the house. We are thankful for you guys!”
Xavier Campbell and June Horton are two of the dedicated service providers who work with Cota’s Boarding Home Program. They share a passion for community building and creating connections for the tenants in their care. In a recent interview, they talked about what the program means to them, what they hope to achieve each day, and the best part of their roles. Their responses highlight the importance of building relationships, facilitating group activities, and creating meaningful experiences for the tenants. Let’s dive into their insights and experiences.
What does the Boarding Home Program mean to you?
Xavier: “It’s community-building. Oftentimes we are going in there with people who don’t have any connections to their family or have lost contact with friends. We provide a bridge that can connect to them to the community around them… be it the new area they are living in, other people in the house etc. We do this through the activities we facilitate and building connections with people over time.”
June: “Connection is really important. We are building community with the tenants and facilitating them building connections with each other and life outside of the boarding home… and we have a lot of fun doing that!”
What do you hope to achieve on any given day working in the homes?
Xavier: “Every day I hope to learn something new and to get someone to try something new! I enjoy trying to connect with people in a meaningful way. Sometimes people surprise me with a story or personal details they have. It’s really meaningful when people open up to me.”
June: “To make a breakthrough, no matter how big or small it is. To see someone smile who doesn’t usually, getting someone to laugh, having someone join in on an activity where normally they wouldn’t. Every day is different and successes like that pop up in unexpected ways.”
What’s the best part about your role?
Xavier: “The best part of my role is the interactions we have with tenants in the homes we visit. They allow us the space to come into their home and their lives and share activities with them. I find it really meaningful that tenants open up and accept me into their lives.”
June: “Building relationships with people; that includes the team I work with, the tenants and the staff in the home. I love learning new things about people. The kinds of conversations we have with people that are less clinical and more conversational. I get to learn what interests them, how they like to spend their time, what they’d like to do in the future and what their history is like. And this helps me support them better! When I started this job I felt I had a lot to learn, and now, 21 years later I feel am STILL learning things and that keeps me really engaged.”
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