Urgency
Why This Matters Now
The City of Vanderhoof urgently needs safe, supportive homes for adults with developmental disabilities. Without further investment, they will continue to face displacement, isolation, and unsafe living situations. Charis exists to ensure every person experiences the dignity of a home, access to care, and a community that embraces them long term.
In British Columbia, the "aging-at-home" crisis is uniquely amplified for seniors who remain primary caregivers for their neurodivergent adult children. Many of these parents are now in their 70s or 80s, providing 24/7 care for adults with autism or intellectual disabilities while simultaneously navigating their own age-related health declines and financial precarity. This creates a "double-aging" vulnerability: as parents lose the physical strength or cognitive clarity to manage complex needs, they face the terrifying reality of no "empty nest" and no clear succession plan. Supportive housing—ranging from staffed residential homes to cluster living and CLBC-funded shared living—acts as a critical safety net by transitioning the role of primary caregiver from the parent to a professional system. By providing stable, sensory-friendly environments with onsite assistance, these models relieve parents of the grueling physical and emotional labor of daily care, allowing them to focus on their own health and return to a traditional parental role. Without an expansion of these services in BC, thousands of aging families remain one medical emergency away from a crisis where both the senior and the neurodivergent adult could face sudden displacement or homelessness.
Standing in the Gap: A Mission of Faith and Advocacy
The Charis Supportive Housing Society stands in the gap as a dedicated group of citizens who, motivated by their shared faith in Christ, are committed to advocating for those who cannot speak for themselves. Recognizing the immense burden carried by aging parents, the Society views its work not as a political endeavor, but as a practical expression of "bearing one another's burdens." They act as a unifying voice and a strategic organizer, working to bridge the disconnect between the dire needs of neurodivergent adults and the complex systems of housing and support in BC. By organizing these projects and championing the creation of permanent, stable homes, Charis ensures that these individuals are seen, valued, and cared for within a supportive community. Their advocacy provides a pathway for a "planned transition," offering aging parents the spiritual and emotional peace of knowing their children are secure in a community that reflects the dignity and worth of every person.
Affordability Gap
Residents can afford about $500/month, but local rents are more than double.
Access Gap
Over half of local homes are older and inaccessible for mobility needs.
Caregiver Stress
Aging parents ask, “What happens when I can't do this anymore?”
