McGuinty Government Building Strong Communities

TORONTO—The McGuinty government is delivering real, positive change for adults with a developmental disability by supporting much-needed housing to help them lead healthier, more independent lives, Community and Social Services Minister Sandra Pupatello announced today.

"Everyone wants to live in a safe place they can call home," said Pupatello.  "By creating new housing across the province, we can help meet the needs of people with a developmental disability and allow them to live more independently in a community near family and friends."

This investment will support 44 projects in 27 communities across Ontario, and will improve the quality of life for adults with a developmental disability while helping families to access more community services.

The government is investing $24 million in capital and operating funding to address the needs of adults with a developmental disability whose parents are aging, those leaving the child welfare system and adults with changing and multiple special needs.

"We have a responsibility to help support the most vulnerable people in our society," said Pupatello.  "We believe that fairness and dignity matter to Ontarians and that investments like this build stronger communities for all of us."

In addition to the benefit to individuals who will move into the new housing spaces, this project will also free up much-needed resources in each of the communities.  Some of the new housing spaces will be taken by young adults who currently live in children's homes, thereby opening up spaces for more children to take advantage of those resources.

"People with a developmental disability want to live as independently as possible," said Pupatello.  "By strengthening our communities with investments like these, by helping those waiting for housing to get places faster, the McGuinty government is providing Ontarians with a quality of life that is second to none."