A charitable organization called Community Living Huntsville, located in Huntsville, Ontario, has made it their mission to help connect people with disabilities to local employers to help create job opportunities and affordable housing.
In recent years, local employers in Huntsville have been hiring many new employees, but people with disabilities have still struggled to find work. Community Living Huntsville is working to connect these individuals with employers in the community who want to hire them. Diane Lupton, the community support manager, highlighted the importance of these connections. She pointed out that having a job can make people feel valued in their community.
In 2023, Community Living Huntsville received the District of Muskoka’s Idea Grant, which allowed them to produce a video aimed at engaging employers to consider hiring individuals with disabilities. The hope was that this video would reach a broader audience and spark discussions about the benefits of inclusive hiring practices in the community.
Housing remained a significant concern for people with disabilities, as outlined in recent studies which indicate that individuals with disabilities faced considerable barriers to accessing safe, affordable, and inclusive housing. Despite the right to adequate housing being recognized in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Canada’s National Housing Strategy Act, the challenges remained.
Community Living Huntsville ran a Supported Independent Living program that helped people with disabilities rent apartments and living spaces to live independently. The team assisted as needed, whether it involved creating budgets, grocery shopping, planning meals, or managing laundry, ensuring that residents had the support necessary for safe successful living.
The organization has also sought to develop relationships with local landlords to improve the existing housing options. Lupton mentioned Steve Hernen, a representative from Brunel Road Management Corp., as one of the valuable local connections that they have since created.
In April, Hernen received $800,000 in funding from the Muskoka Affordable Housing Initiatives Program to construct eight affordable housing units at 24 Gouldie St. in Huntsville. All units were designed to be affordable, with some subsidized by the district, addressing the critical need for housing. Most of the units were one-bedroom apartments, which aligned with the needs of the community.
Source: Muskoka Region
