MCSS announces $2.13 million for six innovative housing projects

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• published: 27 May 2016
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The Ministry of Community and Social Services will be funding six additional pilot projects across the province that were recommended by Ontario’s Developmental Services Housing Task Force. Minister Helena Jaczek made the announcement on May 26th at York Support Services Network in Aurora, one of the many organizations involved in the six initiatives that will share $2.13 million over two years to provide creative, inclusive and cost-effective housing solutions for adults who have an intellectual disability. The half dozen projects that were chosen are in addition to the 12 projects already underway. Those initiatives received $3.47 million in funding over two years. The six recommended projects are as follows: LiveWorkPlay will receive more than $230,000 for their project, Just Enough Support: Living in the Haven in Barrhaven and Deschatelets Old Ottawa East. Partnering with The Mills Community Support, Multifaith Housing Initiative and Centretown Citizens Ottawa Corporation, the initiative will assist 12 people in moving into their own one-bedroom apartments. The project also encompasses training for people, their families and support networks in creating and applying community-based support plans. Supportive neighbours and advocates will also play a part in building an inclusive community. Smart Support-Technology Enabled Services is a project that will spearheaded by Community Living Essex County and is based on a successful pilot in Boulder, Colorado. The initiative will equip a person’s living space with innovative, technology-enabled services, based on his or her lifestyle, needs and available resources. The project, which will receive over $278,000, is also a collaboration with Onsite Services, Imagine! Smart Home and the University of Windsor. Coalition des familles francophones d’Ottawa is receiving more than $450,000 for Passage vers mon propre toit (Moving To A Place of My Own). In partnership with Association pour l’intégration sociale d’Ottawa and Coalition des familles francophones d’Ottawa, the initiative will look to create a self-evaluation and lessons learned tool to help parents, guardians and stakeholders reduce administrative work and define individualized housing solutions and practical support requirements for five people. Lambton County Developmental Services will receive more than $94,000 for A Devine Life. The project is in partnership Habitat for Humanity and Circles – County of Lambton Social Planning and Program Support/Lambton College. It focuses on person-directed planning and promotes independence by giving two people a home in the community of their choice. The project also aims to promote community inclusion and awareness by providing community supports through the combined partnerships between the participants, their families and partner organizations. Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology will receive more than $95,000 for their initiative. Partnering with LiveWorkPlay and the United Families of Eastern Ontario, the college’s Developmental Services Worker Co-operative Development Project will look to address the need for support services for people who want to live independently, as well as increase the number of professionally-trained Developmental Service Workers in the community that families could hire directly. York Region Lifetime Independent Facilitation will receive nearly half of the allotted funding – over $977,000 – for Why Wait? In partnership with Montage Support Services and York Support Services Network, the project will support eight individuals in four unique housing models. The initiative will include a learning and collaborative series that will be conducted by an independent facilitator and a number of support organizations to assist families with planning.