The Portage Rotary Club heard from the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) during Tuesday’s meeting, where they learned much about local programming offered in Portage la Prairie.

Leisa Miness, executive director of the Central Region office, explained that the organization exists to promote mental health of all people, with both national and provincial organizations.

CMHA runs a wide range of programming out of its office at 236 Saskatchewan Ave. E including the Friday breakfast program, the life enrichment program, its offers mental health first aid training, and a supported housing program.

Community members may also make use of the Community Wellness Initiative, which is one of many CMHA programs offered which focus on the need for housing. The Community Wellness Initiative was developed in 2009 to help those living in Manitoba Housing who are at risk of being evicted.

“Typically, when you’re evicted from a Manitoba Housing complex there really is no place else to go – the general rental market will probably not rent to you, and even if they did you probably couldn’t afford the rent,” said Miness. “What they did was they developed a program so that we have a worker that actually goes in and works with people that are at risk of eviction.”

This process can take anywhere from a couple of weeks to a number of years depending on the issue that needs to be resolved. In a hording situation that process takes a minimum of two years.

“What they do is they go in, meet with the person that is at risk of eviction, and we develop a working plan together,” said Miness. “Basically, what they’re doing is they’re hoping to keep that resident there because it is and can be a last stop.”

For the full story see Wednesday's edition of the Portage Daily Graphic.