October 21, 2020
Province to Support New Customized Home for People with Significant Intellectual Disabilities
– – –New Property to Create Safer Environment for Residents and Staff: Stefanson
Construction will soon begin on a new, custom-built home designed to help adults with intellectual disabilities and challenging support needs make the transition to living in the community, Families Minister Heather Stefanson announced today.
“We are a proud partner in this project, which will establish a safe and thoughtfully constructed place for people to call home,” said Stefanson. “This announcement marks an important milestone for the community and for the individuals with intellectual disabilities who will live there, along with their families and care providers.”
The province will provide up to $705,000 from the Idea Fund to build the $2.8-million customized four-bedroom home in Elie, which will help adults with complex intellectual disabilities move from residential care into the community. The minister noted the Manitoba government will also provide an estimated $1.75 million annually for operating costs once the home begins accepting clients.
The customized home is expected to support individuals for a number of years until they are ready to make the transition to a more traditional community residence. It will be built and managed by Life’s Journey Inc., a non-profit agency that supports individuals, families and communities significantly affected by neuro-developmental disorders.
“We are thankful for the support of the community and the province in expanding the kinds of home-based supports available to Manitobans,” said Graham Wyllie, executive director, Life’s Journey Inc. “In addition to this housing resource, we are honoured to host traditional healing and cultural practices on this site as a land-based component of our agency’s Indigenous spiritual care services. At Life’s Journey, we are committed to meeting the varied needs of the disability community in Manitoba.”
The home will be built to higher standards than normal construction, to help ensure the safety of clients and staff and to reduce wear and tear over time, the minister noted. This includes more personal space for clients than at a typical home, as well as reinforced walls, doors and windows, and a stronger plumbing system.
Some individuals with complex medical conditions or challenging behaviours require additional supports to live safely in the community, which can result in increased staffing or higher service costs. In addition to the safety and care benefits, Stefanson noted this customized home is expected to create ongoing annual savings due to decreased staffing to support the needs of its residents.
The province initially announced its plan to build a customized home with the support of the Idea Fund in January 2020. The concept was submitted by department staff to identify solutions and opportunities that result in better services to Manitobans while also creating a return on investment for government.
For more information on Life’s Journey Inc., visit https://lifesjourneyinc.ca/. To learn more about the Manitoba government’s supports for adults with intellectual disabilities through Community Living disABILITY Services, visit www.gov.mb.ca/fs/clds/index.html.
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