What is the AHRI Program

							What is the AHRI Program?

The Aboriginal Housing Responsive Initiative (AHRI) assists persons who are homeless or
at-risk of becoming homeless. Our goal is to assist AHRI participants gain and maintain
safe, independent, and affordable housing. The Housing Coordinator manages a
weekly housing registry of local vacancies.

What does the AHRI Program provide?

AHRI provides temporary shelter at the Port Alberni Shelter, advocacy, emergency
transportation, and follow-up to assist individuals and/or families.

AHRI staff provides advocacy to program participants.
Advocacy help is available for personalized care-plan
development, eviction prevention, housing needs,
landlord/tenant issues, rental education, and applying for
social assistance. The workers will also accompany their
clients to appointments to offer additional support.

AHRI staff is happy to assist participants with referrals for
gaining employment, counseling, or resolution of trauma issues. The goals of the
program is to establish independent, sustainability and as such, will assist in this process
where needed. This takes into account each participant’s individuality, issues, and
needs.

How does one become a part of the AHRI program?

The service is available to individuals who are homeless or at-risk of becoming homeless
free of charge by calling the 24-hour crisis line. Phone operators will problem solve with
callers and offer short-term shelter to those in need. The individual is then linked with the
advocate worker to help that individual attain income security, services to help build a
capacity for employment search, and other supports to help them get back on their
feet.

Useful Websites for Landlords and Tenants

 o   Tenant Resource & Advisory Centre: http://www.tenants.bc.ca/main/
 o   M’akola Housing: http://www.makola.bc.ca/
 o   BC Housing: http://www.bchousing.org/
 o   Residential Tenancy Branch: http://www.rto.gov.bc.ca/
 o   Ministry of Housing and Social Development:
     http://www.hsd.gov.bc.ca/bcea.htm
 o   Landlord Guide: http://apartmentguide.ca/Landlords/Guide/landlords-guide.asp

            To access this service please call: 250-723-4050
           We Are Here For You 24 Hours a Day 7 Days a Week
                                                                    This program is funded by:
                                                                 Lu’ma Native Housing Society