Client Care & Support

 

At the Nicola Valley Shelter and Support Society (NVSSS), our core philosophy is client-centered, inclusive care that meets individuals where they are.

We believe that every person deserves dignity, respect, and support tailored to their unique circumstances.

This philosophy is embedded in every aspect of our shelter operations. Through trauma-informed practices, our staff work directly with residents to assess immediate needs, provide emotional support, and develop personalized plans. Each client receives support aligned with their specific goals, challenges, and our staff are sensitive to their cultural backgrounds.

Our programs

  • Prioritize effective case management

  • Connect residents with community services

  • This includes mental health and addictions supports

  • Including medical care, housing navigation, and income assistance.

  • We also help clients build the skills and confidence needed to take the next step toward stability.

Every interaction, from intake to follow-up, is grounded in compassion, consistency, and empowerment—key values that reflect our commitment to helping individuals transition out of crisis and into long-term wellness.

Our shelter operates within the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of (over 5) local First Nations bands in Merritt and the surrounding region. With deep respect for the cultural, and social realities of Indigenous community members, we do our best to ensure that programs and services  offered at NVSSS are through a trauma-informed and culturally safe lens.

At NVSSS we recognize that Indigenous peoples are disproportionately represented among the unhoused population, due to historic and ongoing systemic inequities.

This means as a shelter we have designed and built our supports around Indigenous wellness models.

This includes:

  • Consulting with our board, many who are Indigenous, as well as the hiring and input of Indigenous staff, and looking to our Elders to guide service delivery models and create trusting, culturally respectful relationships with our clients.

  • Incorporating traditional knowledge and practices, such as smudging, healing circles, and opportunities to connect with land and ceremony.

  • Acknowledging the impact of intergenerational trauma and addressing mental health, substance use, poverty and displacement with compassion and cultural humility.

  • Creating welcoming, inclusive spaces that display Indigenous artwork, language, and representation.

  • Partnering with local First Nations leadership and service organizations,to ensure we follow best practices.