WELLINGTON COUNTY – Community Living Guelph Wellington is facing a $3-million deficit in 2025 and will be closing two of its residential sites to rein in expenses.
It’s not the choice officials want to make, said Cindy Kinnon, executive director of the agency that provides services for people with developmental disabilities.
“Over 30 years, we’ve only had a four per cent increase” to the base budget, she said.
She adding that while Community Living did receive a three per cent increase from the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services this year, “it’s not enough to cover the deficit.
“Something has to give somewhere. We’re just holding the line.”
Kinnon said over the years the agency has found efficiencies in operations and has not filled staff positions to the point where staffing levels are currently at 63% of what they used to be.
That has reduced the staffing ratio to one staff member per four people who need support, down from previous ratios of one to one or one to two.
“We can’t cut any more,” she said.
Community Living has 36 residential sites, where people with disabilities can live and are cared for by staff.
The agency owns 28 buildings and rents another eight.
“We are closing two homes this year through attrition. In this way we are able to reduce the number of homes,” said Kinnon.
She pointed to cost savings from not paying rent and other operating costs and from an overall reduction in the number of people it cares for in group homes.
That also means the agency will not be working on its waitlist, which is dismal news for families hoping to have their loved one placed in residential care.
Asked which sites will be closing, officials said they are not identifying the exact locations due to “privacy” reasons.
But they confirmed the two rented sites that will close are in Guelph.
Last year when faced with a deficit, Community Living cut some of its day programs and laid off staff, causing an outcry from families.
The province stepped up with some one-time funding and the day programs were reinstated, but they are not what they once were.
Kinnon said it’s not just the Guelph Wellington agency that’s up against the wall.
She said some 62% of agencies in her sector are facing deficits.
And closing group homes will only move this population to hospitals, long-term care facilities, and possibly the streets.
“More people with developmental disabilities will wind up homeless. We’ll see more in the judicial system as well,” Kinnon predicted.
“We have to get the community to care to get help and rectify this.
“We’re working with provincial bodies and the ministry to keep this front of mind.”
The province introduced a new way of handling developmental disabilities in 2021 in its “Journey to Belonging” document, which was updated in February.
It trumpets a “person-centred” approach to services. Through consultation with the person with a disability, their family and professionals, personal goals are set for that individual.
If they want to volunteer, volunteer opportunities are found. If they want to learn to swim, swimming lessons can be arranged.
People with disabilities are allotted $5,000 per year in passport funding. This is what’s used to pay for day programs, lessons, transportation and personal support workers, for example.
But when agencies stop providing services for free, the passport funding barely covers the basics.
Pam Howard lives in Guelph and her daughter Crystal Routliff has severe developmental disabilities and has lived in a group home in Marden for 12 years.
In a phone interview, Howard said she has studied the government’s “Journey to Belonging” document and worries that it’s so vague, the real intentions won’t be realized until they are implemented.
“It seems like they want to get people out of residences,” she said. “But what alternative is there to a group home? Nothing.”
Howard said she agrees with the idea that people with disabilities should not be locked up in institutions, and they should be welcome and visible contributors to society.
“But the government seems to think everybody is capable of living in their own apartment,” she said.
“That’s not the case for my daughter. That’s not the case for many people with developmental disabilities.
“This government change is causing a predicament for many parents.”
Howard noted a lot of families are on waiting lists for placements in group homes. Now it appears the list will never be addressed.
“This government doesn’t care about the developmentally disabled. But these are citizens of Ontario too and they are forgotten,” she said.
Howard has started a petition that Guelph MPP Mike Schreiner will take to Queen’s Park and read in the legislature.
The petition calls for an increase in funding for agencies like Community Living that support people with disabilities, increased passport funding for families and more transparency around its overall plan.
“We just want to see what the end result will look like and for them to communicate that to parents so we can plan,” Howard said.
“Where my daughter is now, she is safe and fed and bathed. I can’t do those things for her anymore.
“I don’t see my daughter in that report at all.”
Because Queen’s Park will only accept hard copy petitions, Howard is asking people to email her and she’ll send the petition, which can be printed, signed and dropped off.
Anyone interested in signing can email Howard at howard.march@outlook.com.
