SENIORS SERVICES SOCIETY OF BC

Seniors Services Society of BC (SSSBC) is a non-profit organization located in New Westminster BC that connects adults age 60 and older living in BC communities to housing navigation services and supports that help them age well and thrive. With over 40 years of experience in the community-based service sector and with an extensive network of partnerships across the province SSSBC is on the leading edge of the response to population aging in British Columbia. A core element of SSSBC is the focus on providing equitable support to the most vulnerable seniors across the province including those who are homeless or at-risk. To address the housing concerns of culturally diverse seniors who may otherwise fall through the cracks SSSBC combines housing navigation and support services in an approach that is one-of-a-kind in BC. In 2023-2024 Fiscal Year SSSBC: Assisted 3021 seniors with support services; Assisted 2890 seniors with housing navigation; Delivered 2698 meals to low-income and isolated seniors; Assisted 2493 seniors with information and referral; and Made 3887 friendly support call to isolated seniors As a leader in the seniors services sector SSSBC has successfully partnered with other housing and social services providers to develop several innovative programs in response to the diverse needs of low-income seniors. SSSBC provides: 1. Housing navigation services to seniors and their families that guide them through the complex seniors housing system; 2. Navigator Training for Seniors Housing and Support which provides education to empower seniors and those working in the sector with knowledge of the seniors housing system and resources for advocacy and navigation support; 3. Housing outreach for homeless or at-risk seniors in the Lower Mainland to help find and secure permanent housing; 4. A one-of-a-kind Temporary Housing Program (THP) located in Burnaby and New Westminster that provides short-term accommodation for seniors facing immediate housing crisis in partnership with BC Housing; 5. Information & referral for seniors housing and services available in the province; 6. The Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP) funded by BC Housing that provides rent subsidies to seniors in the Lower Mainland who meet one of the following criteria: identify as Indigenous are being released from the hospital or a correctional institution and/or identify as a woman and fleeing violence or abuse;

7. The Seniors Housing Directory of BC an online comprehensive searchable province-wide directory of seniors housing buildings; 8. The LinkAges Program connecting youth with seniors to provide practical digital literacy assistance; 9. The Better at Home program in partnership with United Way of British Columbia which supports seniors living in New Westminster to maintain independence by providing light housekeeping grocery shopping medical transportation and support calls; 10. The Meal Delivery program where meals prepared by a local food delivery service are delivered to New Westminster seniors; 11. A 16-seat wheelchair lift-equipped Community Bus to assist with local transportation 12. A Seniors Mental Health and Addictions Service Directory housed on SSSBC’s website; 13. Connection to a Virtual Addiction Recovery Program for senior women in New Westminster delivered by Westminster House Society; 14. A local Community Response Network in partnership with the BC Community Response Network (BCCRN) which works to educate the public on seniors’ issues and reduce elder abuse and neglect; and 15. The SHINE Program (Seniors Housing Information and Navigation Ease) which aims to connect and develop seniors housing and mental health and wellness supports across the province through partnerships.