SHIMI Partners
New Dawn Enterprises (NDE)
As owner-operator of the SHIMI units, NDE provides a full range of professional property development and management services. Its property development services are provided “pro bono”. Its management services ensure not only that the apartments, equipment and buildings are well maintained but also that sufficient funding is retained for future needs and are recovered at cost.
NDE works closely with the Community Rehabilitation Team in dealing with all landlord/tenant issues. A security-of-tenure fund has been established to assist residents who may from time to time experience a temporary loss of income.
Mental Health Services
Two programs of the Mental Health Services Division of the Cape Breton Regional Health Authority are represented in the SHIMI coalition.
Community Rehabilitation Services (CRT)
The CRT offers a recovery model of support to those with serious mental illness. Its goals are to increase clients’ independent decision making and to decrease clients’ hospital days. The provided support increases the likelihood that individuals will attain and maintain an optimal level of mental health, and consistent with the individuals abilities, improve the quality of their lives in an integrated community setting. The CRT initiative is based on an individualized client program.
Crossroads Cape Breton
For the past 16 years Crossroads Cape Breton has provided community support for individuals who are recovering from mental illness. Members attend the Clubhouse to work together to build more meaningful and satisfying lives. Emphasis is on achieving health, providing peer support, building confidence, strengthening skills, returning to work and/or school, living more independently and developing healthy relationships. Support is available from both staff and members and may include home/hospital visits, housing support and telephone and web-based outreach. Members are involved in all aspects of our community and participation in the work-ordered day is critical to the success members experience at Crossroads.
The Missing Lint Co-operative Ltd.
The Missing Lint is a not-for-profit business whose mandate is to employ individuals who have had difficulty obtaining or maintaining employment due to mental illness.
Incorporated in 2003, the Missing Lint has employed more than 90 individuals living with mental illness for an average wage of more than $12.00/hr. Along with printing and photocopying services, the Co-operative also employs individuals for light demolition and cleaning, lawn care and painting. In addition to creating employment by supplying these services to SHIMI housing, a priority is creating opportunities to expand the provision of these services in the broader community. It has also published a quarterly publication called men-tal’-i-ty. This magazine provided a forum for individuals living with mental illness to publish their artistic and creative works.
The Missing Lint is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors with broad representation from the community, business, and mental health.
Other
Also contributing to the SHIMI deliberations are
- A representative of Cape Breton Regional Health Authority’s Mental Health Services
- A representative of the Cape Breton Branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association
- A representative of the broader community
- 2 Shimi residents