2017 Shaping our Future
 



Sessions

Aging in Place

Across Ontario, our population is aging at a rapid pace. Housing providers working with low-income, aging tenants face unique challenges.

Canada’s aging population means that seniors housing is an increasingly important and urgentlyneeded component of the housing sector. Gain inspiration and ideas from a panel of housing providers who are leading the way with their innovations in seniors housing.

Jane Kuchma, Executive Director, Richview Baptist Foundation
Nicole McClughan, Manager of Tenant and Housing Services, Durham Region Non-Profit Housing Corporation
David Munch, CEO, Finlandia Village
Jane Sinclair, General Manager, Health & Emergency Services, County of Simcoe

203 Connecting vulnerable tenants with the right care
Friday, November 3
3-4 p.m.

Stream: Our Communities   |   Format: Learn

Where does an aging tenant with serious mental health challenges and active addictions go when they are no longer able to live independently? What support and housing options are available in a healthcare system that's already overburdened by demographic and cost pressures? Finding suitable long-term care or other high-support housing options for vulnerable residents who are aging-in-place and unable to live independently is a growing challenge for many organizations and communities. Join the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MoHLTC) and Community Support Services (CSS) funded agencies in the Toronto Central Local Health Integration Network (LHIN), and hear about collaborative solutions that will help tenants find the right mix of housing and support.

Alison Hunt, Executive Director, Regeneration Community Services
Debra Walko, Director of Seniors Services, LOFT Community Services

305 Rent-geared-to-income for older tenants
Saturday, November 4
8:30-10:30 a.m.

Stream: The Basics   |   Format: Practice

There are significant changes to rent-geared-to-income (RGI) when a tenant turns 65. Learn from an experienced RGI professional about how to verify different types of seniors’ incomes, what’s included and excluded, how to assist tenants who are moving off of social assistance, how to conduct two-year income reviews for seniors on fixed incomes, and more.

Roberta Jagoe, Policy Analyst, Region of Durham

Unique housing challenges require unique solutions. Be inspired to approach housing from a different angle and learn of innovative approaches being used to serve populations that often fall through the cracks of traditional housing models. This includes Toronto’s Friendly Housemates program, which pairs adults with intellectual disabilities and post-secondary students; the 360°kids Nightstop Program that mobilizes community members to provide emergency shelter for homeless youth; and, Muskoka-based Solterra Co-housing, which offers co-ownership opportunities for seniors.

Donald Easson, Professor and Program Coordinator of the Developmental Services Worker Program, Centennial College
Bonnie Harkness, Director of Operations/Interim CEO, 360°kids
Matthew Poirier, Manager of Policy and Stakeholder Relations, Community Living Toronto
Shelley Raymond, President, Solterra Co-housing

Ottawa Community Housing (OCH) along with their community partners and tenant leaders in their Hampton Court property, noticed bullying affecting seniors in the 250-unit high rise community. With a lack of resources for adults and seniors who experience bullying, the Healthy Relationships, Healthy Communities project was developed to provide a multi-layered approach to address the issue. This included developing workshops as well as hosting more community events to engage seniors in social activities. Learn the steps OCH took to develop this project and its results, plus explore possible avenues for future collaborations to address seniors bullying.

Ubah Hersi, Tenant and Community Worker, Community Support, Ottawa Community Housing