My Home, My Choice: Forging Ahead With Options for Persons With Disabilities in Windsor and Essex County

WINDSOR, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - March 29, 2011) - Brought together through community collaboration and a steadfast desire to provide homes for those who need it most, more than 100 housing providers, government partners, and local parents with first-hand experience, shared personal success stories and discussed best practices for the future of the region today at the Fogolar Furlan.

The day included an update from the City of Windsor on municipal and regional affordable and supportive housing initiatives. The day's attendees also learned how Killam Properties, a private developer and manager of rental properties in Halifax, partnered with Capital District Mental Health Program to help change lives by providing safe, affordable homes.

The featured speakers also included local parents who have succeeded in securing affordable, appropriate homes for their adult children. Their timely, inspirational stories about their journeys were well-received by the many families in attendance who are looking to learn about possible next steps for their family members to access independence through an affordable home of their own.

"Today is a perfect example of what can be accomplished by working together towards bettering the living opportunities and housing choice of our most vulnerable citizens, friends and family members," said Windsor Mayor Eddie Francis. "This forum was a remarkable, co-operative effort designed to identify specific needs and develop solutions to address them."

"This forum brought together a number of community partners and housing champions to share their stories and convey what has been accomplished and what needs to be done in the future," said Essex County Warden, Tom Bain. "It's important to look back and celebrate our past successes, but the true challenge is to maintain momentum and continue to help those in our local community access affordable housing."

"The municipal, county, provincial and federal partners genuinely care about providing appropriate, affordable and accessible homes in the community," said Michelle Friesen, Network Coordinator, Windsor Essex Family Network. "The success stories heard today of the journeys of people and families who have taken those first steps will help many to think about the future differently."

Lise Weston, parent leader and presenter at the forum, shared that her autistic son, Sean, has an affordable place to live where he can feel independent and safe.

"I wanted others to know about our journey and benefit from our experience with CMHC's Secondary Suite Program," said Lise. "This event has succeeded in giving people with disabilities and their families ideas, inspiration and hope for the future about what is possible for making an affordable 'home' a reality."

My Home, My Choice was hosted in partnership with the City of Windsor, the County of Essex, Windsor Essex Family Network, Windsor Essex Brokerage for Personal Supports, Community Living Windsor, and Community Living Essex County.