Residents who live in an affluent part of an Edmonton neighbourhood are welcoming a group home for people who might otherwise be homeless.

The Schizophrenia Society of Alberta will operate the new facility for people living with severe or persistent mental illness in a former seniors residence. The facility will have 21 living units, a kitchen and a common area.

"The house will be staffed 24/7 with tenant support staff with training in mental health. Also, meals and support with medications will be provided for the tenants," Rubyann Rice, the society's executive director, wrote in an email to CBC News.



"Bonnie Doon is ideal because of excellent transit in close proximity as well as shopping and [community] services," she added.

Gerald Martin, who lives right next door to where the group home will open, is not worried about his new neighbours. (Scott Neufeld/CBC)

City council approved the rezoning to allow the group home on Monday. Councillor Ben Henderson, who represents the area, said it was an easy decision.

"What we call nimby responses, I think, comes from fear and from not knowing. And then we always imagine the worst," he said.

"I think [the Schizophrenia Society of Alberta] did really good work going in early and really recognizing people's fears – not saying they weren't legitimate – but helping them understand what was really going to happen."

Gerald Martin and his wife have lived right next door to the former seniors residence for about two years.

"l'm not worried about it," he said.

"They supervise their people very closely. I think they're well looked after. And I'm not afraid that they're going to be people that are out of hand ... And to me, if it's supervised and looked after properly, it's better than if these people are on their own."

On its website, the Bonnie Doon Community League says it "has been impressed with the openness and professionalism demonstrated by [the society]."