a collage of 3 photos, 1 with 2 women standing outside a house on a deck, 1 showing a man sitting on a front stoop, and 1 with a smiling woman in a pink golf shirt holding a golf ball.

Creative and vital housing solutions in Huntsville

Apartment hunting. Rental application walkthroughs. Landlord interview prep. Tenant advocacy. Every day, Community Living Huntsville staff members support a rising number of people with developmental disabilities and families to find and keep roofs over their heads in our community. At this moment, at least 10 people who access our services are actively searching for apartments. To say that is easy in a vicious market that favours deep pockets and in a system that is inherently biased against marginalized community members on fixed incomes would be entirely false.

According to the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation, the rental apartment vacancy rate in Huntsville is zero. The current rental market is not competitive. It is exclusionary. So, while our staff continue to work hard to empower people and families, build relationships with area property owners and landlords, and advocate for fair and equitable access to inclusive housing in a welcoming community, Community Living Huntsville has taken other drastic action.

Our Transitional Housing Initiative works to end homelessness by levelling the field for unhoused young men with developmental disabilities, who access our services. We need to sustain and expand this initiative to serve more community members – including unhoused young women with developmental disabilities. It relies on fundraised dollars, donations, and charitable grants.

We have also partnered with Habitat for Humanity to open doors to four affordable and accessible apartments for people and families in our community and to support stable tenancies.

We continue to explore new opportunities and partnerships. We are even considering how we might facilitate a new, accessible, and integrated community-based six-plex.

We cannot do this alone.

You can help with a contribution to our housing initiatives at https://www.clhuntsville.ca/donate/housing/. If you are a landlord with an apartment to rent, we want to talk with you. If you want to discuss other housing partnerships, you can reach me at Jennifer.Jerrett@clhuntsville.ca or 705-380-4153. Together, we can open doors in an inclusive community.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Jerrett

Community Engagement Specialist

Spotlight: Our Team

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DSW Appreciation Week 2023 – June 19 to 25

It’s Developmental Services Worker Appreciation Week 2023! Our team of more than 80 Developmental Services workers includes Direct Support Professionals who champion choice and inclusion for more than 300 children and adults, and their families, in North Muskoka. It’s all about empowering people with developmental disabilities and families to live, work, and play in unique and purposeful ways as respected, included, and contributing community members.

We have Resource Consultant, Family Support, Community Participation, Supported Employment, Supported Independent Living, and Supported Group Living team members. Everyone works to inspire possibilities for people with developmental disabilities and families, so they can live the lives they choose without barriers, both at home and in an inclusive community where everyone feels like they belong, together.

Thank you, team, for making a difference for people and building a stronger community. Happy Developmental Services Worker Appreciation Week.

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What's On

A woman holding a golf club while standing on a golf course. A white video play button is superimposed on top of the photo.

Golf Fore Inclusion 2023 – Early Bird Registration Now Open!

We are already 75 per cent sold out! Sign up now for Golf Fore Inclusion 2023, an all-abilities nine-hole tournament that tees off in Huntsville on Thursday, September 7, 2023: https://bit.ly/golfforeinclusion

Players with and without disabilities – and all level of golfing skill and experience – will share in fun, excitement, and community at the stunning Deerhurst Lakeside Golf Course. New! In partnership with Hole-In-One Canada, a $10,000 cash prize will be up for grabs to the first golfer to sink a hole-in-one on a select hole!

Funds raised from this event will support our community-based housing initiatives for people and families who access our services.

Don’t miss out! Early bird prices won’t last forever. And remember – this incredible event sold out in 2022!

Special thanks to our 2023-2024 Signature Event Partners, including Tall Trees, Lovegrove Construction, Muskoka Party Rentals, Dan Willett Financial, Stephenson District Lions Club, and Refined Kitchen & Bath, for making this event possible.

Did you know?

Support us by creating your own fundraiser!

Did you know you can create your own fundraiser in support of Community Living Huntsville?

We partner with JustGiving to provide you with all the tools and resources you need to make your fundraiser for Community Living Huntsville a success.

Learn More