This petition was inspired by a group of concerned parents in my riding who had come together to purchase a home for their adult sons who are living with developmental disabilities. Without adequate funding, the home largely sits empty and the parents must continue to support their sons in their own homes. They are worried about their children’s future, and so am I. Already in Ontario more than 1,450 parents over the age of 70 provide primary care to their adult child, it’s time for solutions. Ontario needs to fund Family-Created Housing.
To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario,
WHEREAS the Ontario Government’s 2014 budget included a commitment to address the waitlist of more than 12,000 adults with developmental disabilities awaiting residential funding, and some of whom have been waiting more than 20 years, and;
WHEREAS since the spring of 2014 the number of adults with developmental disabilities awaiting residential funding has grown to more than 14,000, and;
WHEREAS there is currently no available funding to plan for a respectful transition from the family home to a home of choice in the community, and;
WHEREAS more than 1,450 Ontario parents over the age of 70 continue to provide primary care to their adult child, and;
WHEREAS currently adults with developmental disability must go on the crisis list before they receive residential funding, often resulting in a loss of choice, dignity, and community, and;
WHEREAS family-created housing prioritizes dignity, choice and community inclusion for the resident living with disability as well as providing long-term cost savings for the province;
We the undersigned petition the Minister of Community and Social Services to address the growing waitlist for adults with developmental disabilities awaiting residential funding and provide stable funding opportunities for family-created housing.
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