Coming Together 2018:
My Home, My Community!

My Home, My Community explored housing models beyond the group home and ideas for innovative and supportive housing. Participants met with key community stakeholders who are helping people with disabilities find a home that will best suit their needs.

If you were unable to attend the conference, or would like to access information again, we have added resources and pictures from the conference on this page.

Keynote

Empowering Information, Inspiring Innovation… Together-Creating Change!
Speaker: Mark Snedden, Director, Continuous Quality Improvement at Ottawa-Carleton Lifeskills

Mark Snedden kicked off the day by encouraging the participants to take a leap of faith and consider the importance of innovation and partnerships when looking at housing alternatives beyond the group home, the main purpose of the conference.

Recipient of the 2017 OASIS President’s Award recognizing his contributions of leadership and innovation in the developmental social services sector, Mark has a passion for cross-sector collaboration, building strategic alliances, continuous change, and education. He lives his belief that people, organizations and community become better, one relationship at a time.

Seminar 1: The Provincial Vision

Ontario Developmental Services Housing Task Force (HTF)

Housing Task Force
Presented by Marge McCabe and Karen Belyea, Members of the Ontario Developmental Services Housing Task Force (HTF)

The Developmental Services Housing Task Force was appointed by Minister Helena Jaczek, in the fall of 2014 with a 2 years mandate, extended to the fall of 2018. This is the first ever cross-sector Task Force to tackle housing issues specifically for adults with developmental disabilities; composed of 18 members – service providers, families, self-advocates, municipalities.

Just Enough Support
Presented by Grace Hudson, LiveWorkPlay

“Just Enough Support”, LiveWorkPlay’s Partnership with Multifaith Housing Initiative for the inclusion of individuals with intellectual disabilities in a newly established non-profit housing community, utilizing a “Just Enough Support” approach with families, people with intellectual disabilities, and neighbours.

Moving to a Place of My Own
Presented by Serge Lavoie, Coalition des familles francophones d’Ottawa (CFFO)

The project “Moving to a Place of My Own”, by Coalition des familles francophones d’Ottawa (CFFO), aimed to create a guide, self-evaluation and lessons learned tools to help parents, guardians, and stakeholders to reduce administrative work, and find individualized housing solutions and practical support requirements for at least five people. The purpose of the presentation is to share project results.

Developmental Service Worker (DSWorker) Cooperative Project
Presented by Laura Rogal-Black, Algonquin College

The DSWorker Cooperative Development Project offered support to Developmental Services Workers to create a new, worker-owned cooperative business that will provide individualized, community-based supports to people
with disabilities and their families.

Seminar 2: Live and Learn Together

Presented by Horace Roxborough, Journey House

Sharing a home allows for organic opportunities to live more inclusively and independently. Through programming efforts, Destiny’s Way Support Services created Journey House, a supported living model with a live-in mentor. Journey House encourages connection to community and independence skill development, through supported daily activities. As a result of these efforts, Journey House has become a Canadian registered charitable organization, that works closely with Destiny’s Way to deliver these services.

Seminar 3: Coach Homes

Part 1: Presented by Emily Davies, City of Ottawa

Part 2: Presented by Joe Milroy, Coach Homes of Ottawa

The City of Ottawa has released new permissions to allow coach houses to be built in residential areas. Coach houses are an alternative accessory housing form that can be built in the backyard of properties, for example a garden home or laneway house. Coach houses allow for additional small housing units to be built for a variety of housing needs. Come and learn all about the rules and regulations so you can plan your dream coach house.

Seminar 4: Smart Support Technology Enabled Services

Presented by Shelbey Pillon, Community Living Essex County

Learn how technology is becoming a tool to expand the array of support options and open doors to greater independence, more inclusive communities, strengthened support networks and more possibilities than ever before!

Seminar 5: Housing Partnerships

Presented by Chris Grayson, Community Living Upper Ottawa Valley

Community Living Upper Ottawa Valley (CLUOV) actively facilitates and supports relationships between people in all possible roles and is seen as a leader through its philosophy of developing healthy, inclusive communities. In 2016, CLUOV was awarded the “Four-year Person-Centered Excellence Accreditation, With Distinction.” They are only 1 of 6 in the world to have achieved this standard of excellence. CLUOV was also recently presented with the Council of Quality and Leadership (CQL)’s International Award of Excellence, which acknowledges the organization’s significant accomplishments involving community engagement, inclusive initiatives and more independent residential settings, the elimination of group day programs and inclusion-building initiatives.

Seminar 6: Lessons Learned Family Panel

Disability Advocacy Network of Eastern Ontario (DANEO)

This panel looked at the creative solutions developed by families and their loved ones in alternative housing models and in-home support:

Seminar 7: Purpose Build Communities

Presented By William Kerr, Innovative Housing Alternatives (IHA Canada Inc.)

Expanding beyond health care, Innovative Housing Alternatives (IHA Canada Inc.) partners with service providers to create safe and supported neighbourhoods through a campus of care model that enhances capacity for choice and independence, creates a more accessible community experience, and delivers unique opportunities for quality of life and skill building for community living. William (Bill) Kerr, on behalf of the IHA Canada Inc.’s team of companies, will speak to the role of families and communities in making these purpose built projects successful and affordable.

A special thanks to everyone who helped and contributed to making this conference a fabulous success!