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The biggest housing challenge of all: affordable apartments for the developmentally disabled

March 28th, 2017 · No Comments

This story came my way in the most random way. I was at the B.C. Non-Profit Housing Association dinner last fall and talking to the man across the table who, it turned out to be the CEO of the Community Living Society.

So what, I asked Ross Chilton, is the big story in your world? He said: the problem of finding housing for people with developmental disabilities.

As I started on this story, I was surprised to discover that those with developmental disabilities don’t get any kind of priority status for subsidized units — in fact, they get fewer “points” because they’re not at risk of homelessness (since their parents are usually heavily involved in helping them out). And they don’t get any kind of extra subsidy for housing — just the standard $375 a month that is the allowance for anyone on disability or welfare.

My story is here, with some really compelling stories from parents about what they have gone through to try to ensure that their adult children get set on the path to independent living.

 

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