Group Homes Solutions for Ontario
Ontario is facing a critical crisis in the care of people labeled with intellectual and developmental disabilities, driven by systemic institutionalization of our communities and abuse in government-funded institutions. Thousands of vulnerable individuals in group homes, host family settings, and intensive support residences funded by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS) and accessed through Developmental Services Ontario (DSO), experience neglect, exploitation, physical harm, and death.
Over 62,800 people are currently on the DSO waitlist for housing and services, while those in care endure underfunded, under-monitored, and abusive environments. Despite the work to transform Developmental Services through Journey to Belonging, access to individualized funding remains restricted, and conditions within group homes continue to reflect many characteristics of residential institutions, such as isolation, surveillance, abuse and neglect.
Group Homes in Ontario must have open doors and welcome families as partners in care, and further protect disabled children, adults and seniors. It’s long past time to protect our communities and our families.
It’s time for action now.
Read the Brief, Sign the Petition, See The Data, Hear Our Stories—but most of all, let’s act and protect all our communities, families, and friends across Ontario.
Read the Brief.
We believe that people with disabilities make our communities and families whole. We need to create systems where disabled people are free to be and live wherever they choose. The current system isolates, segregates, and warehouses disabled children, adults, and elders.
We have the solutions and the means to reshape how the Ministry of Children, Community, and Social Services provides funding for care—moving from an abusive system of private group homes to personalized, individualized funding and endorsing critical legislative steps to ensure all disabled Ontarians can live in their chosen communities, with their families, and thrive.
Read our brief on systems for adults and seniors here:
Policy Brief – Group Homes Solutions (PDF)
Policy Brief – Group Homes Solutions (DOCX)))
Sign the Petition.
We have the solutions, but we need action to bring them to life for all Ontarians. All parties have the opportunity to embrace change in how we care for each other, how we recognize the personhood of disabled people, how we build a world where we can thrive and live together.
Support our petition and send a letter to your elected representative.
@ODCoalition 