Transitional & Supportive Housing

 

Transitional & Supportive Housing

Northern Pines

Project Summary

Northern Pines is a 60-unit transitional and supportive housing campus located in North Bay. The campus was developed in three phases that focus on life skills development:
  • Phase 1 – consists of 16 transitional housing units. This phase is designed for individuals that require moderate-level support. Phase 1 officially opened in November 2021.
  • Phase 2 – consists of 20 self-contained supportive housing units. These units are for individuals that require low-level support. Phase 2 officially opened in November 2023.
  • Phase 3 – consists of 24 transitional housing units. Phase 3 is designed for individuals requiring a high level of support. Phase 3 is anticipated to open in the Spring of 2025.
Northern Pines aims to prevent and reduce homelessness and provides relief and support for tenants with addictions and mental health concerns.
The service delivery model uses the best leading practices in this field such as Health Quality Standards with supportive housing and trauma-informed care.
The program is designed to lessen situations of higher risk or harm.  It is consistent with the North Bay Community Safety and Well-Being Plan. Key benefits include reductions in hospital stays, emergency room visits, visits to community-based health providers, incarceration and police contact. The program at Northern Pines is also consistent with the findings of the Mental Health Commission of Canada’s At Home / Chez Soi Report, which examined Housing First as a means of ending homelessness for people living with mental illness in Canada.
The Northern Pines Program is operated by the Crisis Centre North Bay.
Partially completed exterior of Phase 3 (1st floor) and Phase 2 (2nd floor).
Interior of a Phase 2 bachelor apartment at Northern Pines.

The Creation of Northern Pines

The urgent need for this project was first identified by the City of North Bay Mayor’s Roundtable on Mental Health and Addictions' Action Team in 2020, which brung forward a community-wide call to action for mental health, addictions, and homelessness.  The report entitled Integrating Social Services and Mental Health and Addiction Services for Vulnerable Populations.
Nipissing has a higher homeless population than the five largest municipalities in Ontario on a per capita basis, similar to other districts in Northern Ontario. Opioid-related emergency department visits increased by 616% in the North Bay Parry Sound Health Unit District, between 2016 and 2020. The most recent Nipissing point-in-time homeless persons count (Oct. 2021) identified 300 individuals who were homeless, 39% of which are experiencing chronic homelessness.

 Supportive Housing - Community Organizations

Canadian Mental Health Association - North Bay and District

CMHA North Bay and District (CMHA NBD) - an affordable housing program providing mental health support services combined with healthy, safe, appropriate, and affordable housing. If you are currently housed with another not-for-profit housing provider, you may still apply with CMHA NBD.

To learn more about CMHA's Housing Programs
Click here

Suswin Village

Suswin Village offers 30 private units and will be a home for those who are striving to improve their lives by taking advantage of the holistic services that the North Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre offers. Check out their services at www.nbifc.org. 




To learn more about Suswin Village
Click here

FAQs

Northern Pines is a transitional housing program for the chronically homeless in the Nipissing District.  Through 60 transitional units individuals are provided with varying levels of supports based on need. 

There are three phases making up the program and it is expected to be fully operational by Spring of 2023. Crisis Centre North Bay operates the program on behalf of DNSSAB.

 

Until now, individuals experiencing homelessness have had access to emergency shelters (and warming centres in the winter); however, health and social service supports are critical for mitigating chronic homelessness.  

Growing, evidence-backed data – even before the COVID-19 pandemic – pointed toward the urgent need for supports to housing.  DNSSAB research reports (available below) that were referenced in creating Northern Pines were the 10 Year Housing and Homelessness Plan, the Mayor’s Roundtable Report and the Homelessness Action Plan.  The Northern Pines program is being developed by a subcommittee of the Nipissing Wellness Ontario Health Team, Health and Housing working Group. DNSSAB has been designated through legislation to provide homelessness mitigation services.

Northern Pines, at $5,600/unit/month, is a more cost effective solution than other interventions: 

  • Hospital bed - $10,900/month
  • Incarceration - $9,600/month
  • Shelter bed -$9,500/month

Individuals at Northern Pines are provided with the supports they require.

The Chippewa site was selected for transitional housing based on zoning and availability.   The Low Barrier Shelter was relocated to the Chippewa site during the pandemic out of urgent necessity.

Yes, the building is under lease for 20 years.