PHS Community Services Society is a Canadian charitable nonprofit organization dedicated to providing supportive housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and health promotion services primarily to marginalized populations in Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia. Established in 1993, PHS is nationally and internationally recognized for its innovative, low-barrier approaches that aim to assist individuals who face significant barriers due to physical and mental health challenges, substance dependencies, homelessness, and social exclusion.

Mission and Services

PHS Community Services Society focuses on delivering effective supportive housing and health services to vulnerable populations often underserved elsewhere in the community. The organization manages more than 1,900 units of supportive housing and shelter in Vancouver and Victoria, providing stable living environments for people with complex needs, including those with behavioural issues, forensic histories, and substance use challenges.

In addition to housing, PHS offers comprehensive primary care clinics, dental services, mental health and addiction treatment, and harm reduction programs. One of its most notable programs is Insite, North America’s first supervised injection site, which has operated safely for over two decades without a single overdose death. PHS also runs innovative medical-grade alternatives to street drugs through its SAFER and Enhanced Access initiatives.

Other community-based services include a managed alcohol program, food programs delivering thousands of meals daily, a credit union branch in partnership with Vancity, and collaborations with Indigenous organizations such as Culture Saves Lives to better serve inner-city Indigenous people.

Legal Impact and Recognition

PHS Community Services Society played a central role in a landmark Supreme Court of Canada case, Canada (Attorney General) v PHS Community Services Society (2011 SCC 44). The case upheld the organization's operation of Insite under Section 56 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, affirming the importance of harm reduction in public health and the constitutional rights of marginalized individuals. The ruling underscored the federal government's obligation to grant exemptions allowing supervised injection sites to operate for health and safety reasons.

Community Engagement and Social Enterprise

Beyond direct health and housing services, PHS engages the community through its social enterprise, Community Thrift and Vintage. This initiative connects and supports community members while generating revenue to sustain the organization's programs.

PHS is committed to advocacy and service provision for all individuals in need, regardless of background, encouraging inclusivity and equitable access to its programs.

Summary

PHS Community Services Society is a pioneering nonprofit organization dedicated to housing, healthcare, and harm reduction services in British Columbia. With a comprehensive approach to supporting marginalized individuals, innovative programming like Insite, and an influential legal legacy, PHS stands as a leader in community health and social support in Canada.

Business Registration Number: 891413791RR0001

[1] https://www.phs.ca [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada_(AG)_v_PHS_Community_Services_Society [3] https://causes.benevity.org/causes/124-891413791RR0001 [4] https://www.instagram.com/phscss/ [5] https://my.charitableimpact.com/charities/phs-community-services-society