Since 1994, the Campbell River Head Injury Support Society (CRHISS) has been a vital lifeline for individuals living with brain injuries and their families, offering advocacy, education, and support. Over the years, the organization has evolved significantly, adapting to the growing need for services and, most notably, addressing a critical gap in housing for survivors. What started as a small grassroots initiative has become a driving force for change in Campbell River, culminating in the development of Linda’s Place, a 27-unit housing complex that provides stable, long-term housing for brain injury survivors while integrating market renters to create a balanced, inclusive community. For Executive Director Shelley Howard, this journey has been deeply personal. Her involvement with CRHISS began in 2004 when she stepped in to cover a colleague’s medical leave for what was supposed to be a short-term position. “I came in to cover someone’s medical leave for a couple of months, and I never left,” she says. But it wasn’t just the job that kept her there—it was the people. “It was the clients—their stories, their resilience, the way we could help them rebuild their lives. I just knew this was where I wanted to be.” When Shelley joined, CRHISS was operating out of a tiny 750-square-foot rented office, a space that quickly proved inadequate as more and more people sought support. Recognizing the need for a larger facility, the organization moved into an 1,800-square-foot office, and by 2011, they had managed to purchase a 4,000-squarefoot building, a significant milestone that allowed them to expand their programming. “That was a huge step for us,” Shelley recalls. “We finally had a place to call our own, where we could grow and develop services that directly addressed the APRIL 2025
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