Living with Dignity - A Fantastic Social Housing Development

Written by Julie Taylor

At last, here is a wonderful idea!  It's something I've thought about in the past - and wondered how on earth such a thing might be made a reality...

Assisted living housing exists for older people (hardly 'elderly' people because I find that 50 or 55 years of age often counts as 'senior') but there is little assisted living for the hundreds and thousands of younger people affected by disability, whether as a result of an accident, illness or congenital.  

My mom lives in one such 'mature living' development (for seniors) which includes hundreds of fully self-contained units and quite a few assisted living homes.  There is a fabulous indoor pool, exercise room, library, meeting room for social events and a games room with table tennis and snooker tables. There is also a restaurant/dining room and homecare assistance available for personal care (ie bathing, dressing and taking medications) and housekeeping. I love visiting there - it's like a great holiday resort - and I was in the pool recently with a disabled young woman friend of mine talking about how wonderful if would be if such a place existed for the disabled.  And now here it is!

We need more housing - and jobs - for the disabled.  To be disabled often means to be sentenced to poverty and hardship for the rest of your life. As if disability alone isn't difficult enough, society seems to want to punish us with poverty and make us into non-real extensions of 'medical' looking aids. Disability needs to be accepted along with other minority groups.  Life, whether you're disabled or not, is meaningful and can be fun and I would love to see more jobs and better - and less 'institutional looking' wheelchairs and aids.  Here is an excellent value wheelchair - albeit still 'medical looking' - it's the Viper Plus from Healiohealth.

ReBuildingYou depends on your support to grow - please BUY HERE - the prices are exactly the same and you'll be supporting RBY at the same time.  Orders are handled by Amazon who have a cast-iron reputation for good honest customer service and safety.

Here's something else 'normal looking' that I found - a plate guard by a company called the Wright Stuff, which is a simple example of an unobtrusive looking strategy for adapting a regular item for special needs.  I couldn't find a good book? about the equipment available for the disabled?  If anyone knows of one, please let me know CLICK HERE.

You'll also find a photo of Aimee Mullins fabulous legs - prosthetics that don't look in the slightest bit medical! (click on the picture to read more about them)

And now more about this great story...

The Canadian government has opened just such a place in SURREY for adults with disabilities.  Wow!  I would love to see something like this in every province, state and country...  This is exactly what ReBuildingYou is all about: sharing and pooling our strengths, resources and information so that we can live full lives.

Young adults with physical disabilities now have more access to supportive housing with the opening of Freedom Place, a new $7.3-million development providing 20 assisted living units, announced Dave S. Hayer, MLA for  Surrey-Tynehead.

"Our government wants to provide affordable housing with support services that  meet the needs of individual British Columbians - whether we're helping young adults with disabilities or people who are in need of supportive housing," said
Hayer. "Freedom Place will do both, allowing residents with disabilities to live independently and creating a positive impact on our Surrey community."

The Province provided land equity of $1 million, mortgage financing of $5.4 million and a $500,000 grant through Independent Living BC (ILBC), an innovative housing-for-health program for seniors and people with disabilities. ILBC offers
a middle option between home care and residential care for those who need some assistance, but do not need 24-hour professional nursing care. In addition, the Province is providing subsidies to ensure the assisted living units remain
affordable for residents. Fraser Health is providing personal care and hospitality services for the 20 assisted living residents.

"Developments like Freedom Place encourage people with disabilities to live independently by providing residents with a strong sense of belonging and community," said Heather Cook, executive director, residential and assisted
living services, Fraser Health. "Residents will be able to build friendships, go on outings and participate in activities with their peers."

Freedom Place is operated and managed by the Howe Sound Rehabilitation Services Society, a non-profit organization committed to empowering people with disabilities to live with dignity through self-  determination and freedom of
choice within a safe and secure environment. The society also operates a 20-unit assisted living development for young adults in Burnaby called Liberty Place.

"We have a proud history of providing care to persons with disabilities," said Mike Hopton, executive director of Howe Sound Rehabilitation Services Society. "Both Freedom Place and Liberty Place are innovative in that they are the first
assisted living buildings exclusively for young adults with disabilities. Our partnership with the Province and Fraser Health has brought this project to fruition and we're pleased to welcome the new residents."

In 2008, the provincial government met its commitment to provide 5,000 net-new residential care beds, assisted living units, supportive housing and home support. The Province has opened 5,896 additional new beds and units across B.C.
since 2001. In total, 12,435 new and replacement beds and units have been opened, replacing many that were old and unsuitable.

FREEDOM PLACE

The Howe Sound Rehabilitation Services Society's Freedom Place, at 10342-148th St. in Surrey, provides 20 one-bedroom units of assisted living for young adults with physical disabilities.

The two-storey wood frame building was designed to accommodate tenants who use wheelchairs and includes ceiling lifts and specially designed kitchenettes.

Residents of Freedom Place will receive three meals a day, weekly housekeeping and linen services, 24- hour emergency response, personal care services such as
assistance with grooming, mobility and medications, and social and recreational opportunities.

This development is the second of two assisted living projects for young adults with disabilities in the Fraser Health region. The Howe Sound Rehabilitation Services Society also operates Liberty Place, a 20- unit assisted living development of for young adults in Burnaby.

Partners and Funding:

The capital cost of this development is $7.3 million:  * The Province provided $1 million in land equity, a grant of $500,000, and mortgage financing of $5.4 million; and * The Howe Sound Rehabilitation Services Society provided $350,000 in equity.

The Fraser Health Authority is providing $779,000 annually in funding for personal care and hospitality services. The Province is also providing up to $6.4 million in subsidies over 35 years.

HOWE SOUND REHABILITATION SERVICES SOCIETY
The Howe Sound Rehabilitation Services Society is a non-profit society founded in 1988 to provide homes and integrated services to individuals with developmental disabilities. The society now provides programs and services to
individuals with acquired brain injuries, physical disabilities, and complex medical care needs. The society operates a number of group homes, administers family care homes and conducts day programs, drop-in centres, and one-to-one life skills support programs throughout the Lower Mainland.