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5 · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, October 23, 2009 Accessible housing rare OAKVILLE'S ORIGINAL BOOTCAMP Continued from page 4 Devreese said he and his father have essentially been on their own with respect to arranging for care when he leaves the hospital and in locating an accessible apartment in Oakville. Devreese said this was not the case for several other patients at Lyndhurst, who were spared the strain of having to navigate the system because they lived in different regions. Halton Region Commissioner of Community and Social Services Adelina Urbanski said the presence of `case coordinators,' who help people in Devreese's situation, differ from region to region with no such person present in Halton. Establishing such a service, she noted, would require the issue to go before the Ministry of Health or the local health integration network and be prioritized for funding. "There would have to be some kind of attention put to it," said Urbanski. After countless phone calls, Ken was able to arrange Devreese's care through the March of Dimes. However, finding an accessible apartment has been another story. "Just finding one with an entrance to the front door that doesn't have stairs is next to impossible," said Ken. "There are a few that I've found, but some of them have stairs inside them that you use to go up. Most of the one-bedroom apartments I've looked at, there is no way he could get into the kitchen, there's no way he could get into the bathroom in a wheelchair, it's just impossible." Ken went on to note an apartment is necessary as the Devreese family home is not wheelchair accessible and could not be made so without spending $20,000 to $30,000 on renovations, money the family does not have. Ken did succeed in finding one suitable apartment on Kerr Street. Devreese said representatives from this apartment even met with him and told him the apartment was his, but changed their minds a few days later noting that they couldn't provide the care he needed. This explanation perplexed Devreese because he was not asking them to provide his care. Subsidized housing, which has some accessible units, does offer a solution to Devreese's problem. However, these have a five-year waiting list. Urbanski said accessible housing is an issue in Halton because most apartment buildings were built when accessibility standards simply did not exist. "Legislation and different things are coming into play to try and change that for the future," said Urbanski. "What I can tell you is that the two affordable housing programs that we've submitted to the province for consideration have more accessible units in them, but those are for seniors because that is where the housing program as developed by the federal provincial government is at." For Devreese, the situation is becoming urgent. As OTMH, he said, wants to relocate him to a long-term care facility if he cannot find accommodations soon. Devreese said such an outcome is neither desired nor necessary. "I'm 21 and I don't want to be living in a long-term care facility. That's too much like living here," he said. Anyone with information on where Devreese can find an accessible apartment or who can otherwise assist him, is asked to visit www.sailathome.com and contact him or his father Ken. For your free invitation please call 1-866-283-7584 or register online www.welcomewagon.ca Enlist today! INDOOR & OUTDOOR FITNESS TOTAL BODY CONDITIONING River Oaks Community Church 2435 Munn's Avenue East 5:30am and 6:30pm 905.808.4055 www.survivorbootcamp.com Small Class Sizes Ensure Guaranteed Results. October 25th, 2009 at 12:00 pm The OE Banquet Hall and Conference Centre 2245 Speers Road, Oakville, ON FREE ADMISSION · Door prizes · Fashion show · Special displays · Gift bags for every bride Win a Dream Honeymoon to the Bahamas courtesy of Today's Bride. Grand Door Prize sponsored by The Niagara Wedding Helper.com valued at over $300. BUY LOCALLY SERVICE LOCALLY SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY Phone: (905) 825-8088 www.volvoofoakville.com A BRAND NEW GENERATION OF CLEAN FACE GAS INSERTS COLLECTION by Kingsman INTRODUCING THE CAPELLA Visit our showroom to see this model and all our 35 models burning on display. 3600 Laird Rd., Units 12 & 13 Mississauga, ON Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9-5, Sat. 10-4, Sun. 12-4 SERVICE DEPARTMENT OPEN SATURDAYS www.ontariohearth.com 905.569.2404