Westwood Manor
Westwood Manor is a space to find healing, hope and community.
Located north of downtown Edmonton, Westwood Manor is a 20-unit Supportive Housing program operated by The Mustard Seed. Many residents have experienced chronic homelessness with barriers that continue to jeopardize their physical and mental health and their ability to retain market housing.
Supportive Housing, by definition, provides stable housing paired with wraparound support and care for people with multiple complex needs, including mental health, addictions, trauma and disabilities or physical ailments. At Westwood Manor, residents have access to 24/7 on-site staff and clinical supports to help them on their journey.
But it’s not just on-site supports that are key to the success of the program and its participants. Staff at Westwood Manor have made it a priority for residents to have a positive relationship with each other and their neighbours. Building community has proven to be vital component of recovery and key to the success of any Supportive Housing program.
Katie Bosse, Westwood Manor’s Housing and Property Manager, recalls a resident who was in and out of homelessness for a long period of time. She had young children that could not live with her due to the precarious housing situation, which also prevented her from seeing them. Moving into Westwood Manor provided her with a stable home to reconnect with her children. During her 18 months at Westwood Manor, she was provided with the support to address her addictions and mental health and improve her overall well-being, which enabled her to graduate from the housing support program and move into market housing on her own.
“We really try to purposefully and intentionally create opportunities for the community to form between our residents, our staff and the neighbourhood,” says Landon Hildebrand, Director of Housing and Clinical Operations at the Mustard Seed. “We see community as a cure de facto when it comes to working through addictions for the whole spectrum, and as a way to dissociate from previous social lifestyles and connections to addiction.”
Residents participate in several activities together that establish positive relationships, including Sunday brunch, gardening, volunteering, and attending community league events.
The residents and staff at Westwood Manor are committed to demonstrating to their neighbours that they are a positive presence. This has been achieved through transparency and ongoing conversations with neighbours to build rapport.
“We’re known in the community as a building that helps. We’ve had community members come knock on our door when they needed help because they know we are a safe space and a helping place,” says Katie.
For instance, one resident shovels his neighbour’s driveways in winter. He’s been doing it since 2016, and the response has been very positive.
“He’s got some regulars,” Katie adds. “As soon as the snow falls, they call him up. Our neighbours are appreciative for his help.”
