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Access Health Centre Celebrates Grand Opening

Posted December 2, 2009 - 11:25am by Andrea

Video Courtesy of A TV Victoria

Victoria – On World AIDS Day, December 1, 2009, the Victoria Cool Aid Society and AIDS Vancouver Island, along with their partners and funders, will celebrate the official opening of Access Health Centre – a community centre that offers integrated health and support services to people in Victoria’s who struggle with homelessness, problematic substance use, HIV/AIDS, and/or mental health issues and other health challenges.

“We are delighted to take this opportunity to highlight this significant achievement and to thank those who have made this project possible through their generous contributions,” said Kathy Stinson, Executive Director of the Victoria Cool Aid Society. “We are pleased that the Access Health Centre is close to meeting its mortgage free goal - $4.3 million has been raised through government funding and community support towards the $5.3 million project. We still need to raise the last million dollars.”

Major funders for the Access Health Centre include the Capital Regional Hospital District (CRHD), the Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA), Province of British Columbia, Mr. & Mrs. P.A. Woodward's Foundation, the United Way of Greater Victoria, the Victoria Foundation, Coast Capital Savings, TELUS, and the City of Victoria.

“The CRHD is particularly pleased to support this partnership by investing in this much-needed community priority project for our Region,” said Graham Hill, Chair of the CRHD. “Our most vulnerable residents will now receive one-stop health and social services resulting in a high level of care and preventative relief, which reduces pressure on our acute care hospitals and improves the wellness and health of our homeless and HIV/AIDS-affected citizens. The CRHD acknowledges the efforts of all the stakeholders that have come together in making this much needed project a reality.”

“The integrated services offered at Access Health Centre will complement the successful work being done by the VIHA Assertive Community Treatment and Outreach teams in providing healthcare and supports to our most vulnerable population,” said Jac Kreut, Board Chair for VIHA. “VIHA is very proud to have contributed $1 million towards the capital costs of this project, and would like to congratulate Cool Aid and AIDS Vancouver Island on this accomplishment.”
“The Housing Endowment Fund was created to support innovative projects like the Access Heath Centre,” said Ida Chong, Minister of Healthy Living and Sport and MLA for Oak Bay-Gordon Head. “This Centre will provide new hope for individuals struggling with homelessness, HIV/AIDS, and other health barriers with greater access to supports that will help them achieve long-term health and independence.”

Services at the Access Health Centre include counselling, mental health services, dental services, and primary health care for people who are homeless, poor and vulnerable. The Cool Aid Community Health Clinic is located on the first floor; the Cool Aid Dental Clinic, and homelessness and health workers from the Victoria Native Friendship Centre are on second floor, soon to be joined by VIHA’s Victoria Integrated Community Outreach Team (VICOT); and AIDS Vancouver Island’s prevention, support, education and administrative services on the third floor.

For more information please visit AccessHealthCentre.ca.