Building the Path to Home

Long-term housing and residential services

There is not enough suitable housing, nor is there a broad enough range of housing for people with special needs. This is particularly true for people with a dual diagnosis. You may find that accessing sector-supported housing takes a long time, and that you have to compete for affordable market housing.

Some community housing options do have built-in supports. Through the City of Toronto's homelessness initiatives, some housing options can be accessed through organizations that support people who are homeless (e.g., Fred Victor Centre) or Woodgreen Community Services that support community members in a particular area.

The following pages have information about:

• developmental sector housing
• mental health sector housing
• social housing
• market housing

Developmental sector housing

The Toronto region of the Ministry of Community and Social Services co-ordinates a centralized housing list. To access the residential services offered, including supported independent living (SIL), or a 24-hour residential group-living environment, contact any of the developmental services agencies in Toronto.

Many of the agencies in the developmental services sector offer residential services, or will be able to steer you to the most suitable agency. If you make a referral to any of the agencies, the person goes on a centralized waiting list and his or her needs will be assessed.

If you are looking for a 24-hour staffed group home, the waiting time is considerable. If this is the most appropriate option, then get a referral and explain the urgency of the situation to the agency. You may need to look at short-term options while you wait for a placement.

This housing is appropriate for someone who:

• has a diagnosed developmental disability
• has developmental-related limitations in adaptive functioning that are more pronounced than problems managing the mental health issues and symptoms
• can cope with structure, expectations for group living, a regular daytime routine, and close staff involvement
• has been in a developmental service program (e.g., a social or day program) with some success, indicating that the person can cope with the structure
• is comfortable with others with the same, or more severe, developmental delay
• does not need to maintain a high level of independence
• might be particularly vulnerable to being taken advantage of or abused.

Workers outside the developmental services sector often have trouble accessing residential group home living for people who have not been part of the residential system. If you run into this problem, a history of using other developmental services supports (e.g., day programs, case management) can help to establish a relationship with the developmental services sector. Talk with the agency you contact about the criteria it uses to fill vacancies and any priority that it will assign to the person that you are working with.

Mental health sector housing

Although there is work being done to streamline access to supported and supportive housing programs offered through mental health organizations in Toronto, at this point there isn't one number that will give you access to the entire network of services.

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health published Housing Guide 2004-2006: A Comprehensive Guide for People with Mental Health and Substance Use Concerns. The guide contains descriptions of and contact information for:

• supported and supportive housing programs
• boarding homes and rooming houses
• generic housing
• emergency shelters.

You can order a print copy of the guide from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health by calling 416 595-6059.

The mental health sector includes a range of housing models from structured group home settings to independent apartments with support available in the building or through agency support workers.

Most of these are funded by the provincial Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care or federal homelessness initiatives. The amount of support is generally not high. Group homes with 24- hour staffing are the exception. Group homes are not considered to be a long-term housing option. They are for people who are making a transition to living in the community after significant involvement in the mental health system.

Some mental health housing programs have had criteria that exclude individuals with particular behavior problems or developmental delay. Getting someone with a dual diagnosis placed in one of these programs may require some advocacy.

This housing is appropriate for someone who:

• has good communication skills and can talk with other residents and support people
• will not require 24-hour care/support for long periods and for whom semi-independent or independent living is a long-term goal
• will be able to manage the tasks of daily living independently if given skills training and some continued support
• has daily concerns that seem related more to mental health problems (e.g., negative symptoms of schizophrenia) than to the developmental disability
• will to be accountable for behavior
• can take responsibility for his or her personal care
• has shown good judgement in risky situations.

Community-based social service agencies

Several of the programs offering housing and support to people who are homeless or hard to house do not fall within the community mental health sector but do provide some level of support.

Examples include:

• St. Stephen's Community House
• St. Christopher House
• Fred Victor Centre
• Dixon Hall.

Social housing

In Ontario, social housing is also called subsidized housing or rent-geared-to-income (RGI) housing.

This section has information about:

• Housing Connections
• social housing with support
• social housing without support

Housing Connections

Housing Connections was formed to make it easier for applicants to find and access social housing in Toronto. Housing Connections maintains and manages a centralized waiting list for 200 housing providers in nearly 600 locations. The housing providers include Toronto Community Housing, private non-profits and co-operatives. Housing Connections manages the waiting list for shared accommodation as well as independent rent-geared-to-income units.

To access the shared accommodation, you can apply through Housing Connections or directly to the housing provider. It may be faster to apply directly to the housing provider. To access the independent units, you must apply through Housing Connections.
Though there is a waiting list for social housing, if this is an appropriate option, we suggest that you apply.

*Descriptions of housing types are adapted from Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. (2004). Housing Guide 2004-2006: A Comprehensive Guide for People with Mental Health and Substance Use Concerns. Toronto: Author.

Social housing with support: Boarding homes

As mentioned, some social housing (non-profit and private) includes support services.

Boarding homes provide meals and cleaning services. Some boarding homes have single rooms. However, most rooms are shared by two or more people. Some boarding homes are private and a tenant pays full rent, but many boarding homes are subsidized. This means the government pays part of the rent. In the Greater Toronto Area, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and non-profit agencies (e.g., Homes for Special Care) administer and monitor subsidized boarding homes.

For older people who are homeless, and who have the social skills and an interest in developing and maintaining relationships with others, a boarding home can be more stable than a shelter.

Try to connect the person with a support worker who can monitor the person's needs and help to build in other supports. If you make a referral to a private boarding home, use the services of an organization that monitors standards of care and contracts with operators for supports to residents (e.g., Habitat Services).

For many, a boarding home is just a short-term solution, but others who like to be part of a community where there aren't pressures to develop skills may find that these environments work for them. However, it can be an early dead-end for younger people, and they can be taken advantage of by other residents, as the monitoring of activity is minimal. Physical environments also vary a lot.

Habitat Services

Habitat Services is a non-profit agency that was set up in 1987 to address serious concerns about the living conditions of psychiatric consumer/survivors in boarding homes. Habitat Services contracts with owners of selected boarding homes and rooming houses in Toronto. Habitat ensures that services are provided and housing standards are met. The agency also pays a per diem subsidy to the landlords. Habitat intake receives referrals and matches them to vacancies in its network.

Most Habitat-funded boarding homes are owned by private business people. In many cases, the owners operate the homes themselves. Two of the boarding homes are operated by non-profit agencies (LOFT Community Services and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul). Two of the boarding homes have single rooms.

Habitat is not an emergency service; it is intended to be permanent housing. The length of stay is indefinite and residents have rights and responsibilities as tenants under the Tenant Protection Act.

Homes for Special Care

Homes for Special Care (HSC) are residential boarding homes licensed by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. The homes provide long-term housing with 24-hour support and supervision for people with a psychiatric diagnosis who are unable to live on their own. HSC homes are located in both rural and urban centres throughout Ontario. If spaces are available, residents have the choice of living in the city or in the country. HSC homes are available in all regions of Ontario and are administered by various hospitals.

Homes for Special Care are licensed annually following inspections by fire and public health inspectors. The program's community support workers also conduct an annual environmental inspection. The community support workers also monitor the homes through frequent, random visits during which they discuss problems and concerns with both residents and the operator of the home.

Social housing without support

For people who can manage or who, because of behavioural issues, need to live independently, assistance in finding housing is available through Housing Help services. These services are offered in most communities. Toronto Community Housing (government subsidized housing) has some units available for people with disabilities that offer some support services.

Toronto Community Housing (TCH)

TCH houses about 164,000 low- and moderate-income tenants. This includes older adults, families, singles, refugees, newcomers to Canada and people with special needs. The TCH portfolio includes more than 350 high-rise and low-rise apartment buildings, and about 800 houses and duplexes. TCH has some subsidized or rent-geared-to-income housing. Applications must be made through Housing Connections.

Private non-profit housing

Private non-profit housing is usually owned and run by a church or community organization that gets government money.

Co-operative housing

Co-operative housing is owned by tenants, who elect a board of directors, approve the budget and policies, and share the work involved in running the housing. Co-operative housing gets government money.

Market housing

This housing is owned by private landlords. Tenants pay full rent. They also cook, clean and care for themselves. This housing can be expensive. Many people who have low incomes, or are getting help from the Ontario Disability Support Program or Ontario Works, cannot afford it.

Toronto Community Housing's market rental units

Toronto Community Housing has market rent units available for singles, families and older adults who can afford to pay market rent rates. These units are not subsidized. For more information, e-mail the market rental office at marketrent@torontohousing.ca. The office is open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Rooming house

This is independent housing where each person has his or her own bedroom in a shared house or building. Residents may have to share a bathroom, kitchen and common areas. To live in rooming houses, people must be able to cook and clean, or get help from home care. Some rooming houses may have social support and activities, but participation is voluntary.

Housing Help Centres

For help finding affordable market rent housing, call 416 924-3862 or your nearest Housing Help Centre.

• COSTI-North York Housing Help Centre: 416 244-0480
• East York Housing Outreach: 416 698-9306
• Flemingdon Neighbourhood Services Housing Program: 416 424-2008
• Etobicoke North Housing Help Centre: 416 741-1553
• Etobicoke South Housing Help Centre: 416 252-6471
• Scarborough Housing Help Centre: 416 285-8070
• Woodgreen Info-Link & Housing Help Centre: 416 469-5211 ext. 1175
• York Housing Help Centre: 416 653-5400.

For a list of offices in other communities, see RENT.

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