Ontario is helping people with developmental disabilities find supportive housing through a program that matches them with families in their communities.
LifeShare — or the Host Family program — is an innovative residential program that provides a family setting for people with a developmental disability, where they are supported and can enjoy inclusion, independence and community belonging.
Ontario recently partnered with nine community agencies, including Community Living Algoma in Sault Ste. Marie, to launch an awareness campaign, LifeShare: a place in your heart, a place in your home. The campaign aims to find new potential home providers, as well as raise awareness of the Host Family program.
Supporting adults with developmental disabilities through inclusive, community-based supports is part of the province’s plan to help people in their everyday lives.
“We know there is no one-size-fits-all housing solution for adults with developmental disabilities. The Host Family program provides an opportunity to go beyond traditional residential supports and gives these individuals the opportunity to live in supportive family environments and feel more included in their communities. The LifeShare campaign will make sure that more Ontarians are aware of the great benefit of this program.”
— Dr. Helena Jaczek, Minister of Community and Social Services
“Community Living Algoma believes that family provides the foundation from which we all gain the confidence to meaningfully engage with the world around us. When it is not possible to remain living with their own family, LifeShare (Host Family) provides an incredible opportunity for adults living with a developmental disability to experience the joys of building a life within a supportive and nurturing family setting.”
— John Policicchio, Executive Director, Community Living Algoma
QUICK FACTS
- There are currently more than 70,000 adults in Ontario with developmental disabilities.
- In 2016, approximately 18,000 people with developmental disabilities received government funded residential supports.
- At the end of fiscal year 2015/16 there were 1,715 individuals with development disabilities receiving service under Host Family program in more than 90 communities across the province.
