The housing crisis for people with disabilities isn't happening somewhere else. It isn't a statistic in a report or a headline from another city.It's happening right here, in Brant County to our family members, our neighbours, our community.
They deserve a home. A place to belong. A chance to be seen.
These are their stories.
Real Stories from our Community.
A Good Place, For Now: Nancy's Story of Watching Josh Thrive — and Planning for What's Next
Josh Curley has always loved a job well done. Since kindergarten, when his principal arranged for him to have his own vacuum so he could help the school caretaker, Josh has found purpose in keeping things clean and tidy — today he works as a janitor and has a job shredding paper at Shredding Barriers, a social enterprise through Crossing All Bridges. He's funny, sensitive, and deeply loving — the kind of person who shows up with a tissue the moment he sees someone's tears.
One Crisis Away: Jeff and Patti's Story of Finding Matthew a Home — and the Fear of What Comes Next
Our son, Matthew, is 32 with intellectual and developmental delays and a seizure disorder, all caused by a metabolic disorder called Argininosuccinic Aciduria (ASA). He is a very social, happy, friendly, handsome young man who loves to be around people and participate in many social activities like dances, dinners, movies, sporting events and playing video games. Matthew has a special charm about him that draws others to him and will chat about anything with anyone who will listen to him! His joy for life, happy disposition, compassion and sense of humour make him an incredible human being who we are very proud of. He has helped us and many others see life in a different light and appreciate the simple things in life.
It Takes a Community: Christine's Story of Caring for Kaiden — and the Activities He Loves Most
Kaiden Weaver is 39 years old, full of energy, humour, and a love of being out in the world. His parents, Christine and Carl Weaver, ages 70 and 77, have built a life around making sure he can keep doing the things he loves. But as they look toward the future, they worry about what happens to those activities — and to Kaiden — when they're no longer able to provide that support.
Running Out of Runway: Nancy's Story of 50 Years of Caregiving — and the Future She Fears for Jordan
Jordan Seberras is 33 years old, cheerful, and capable of far more independence than she's ever had the chance to show. Her mother Nancy has devoted five decades to making sure she thrives. Now, with no supportive housing in sight, both of their futures feel uncertain.
Ten Years on a Waitlist (& Counting!): Neil's Story and the Housing Crisis Facing Families Like His
Neil is a social butterfly who loves spending time with family and friends. He enjoys being out in the community through work and volunteering. He is a very driven athlete and enjoys playing many sports including baseball, curling and Special Olympics. He's also a talented artist who loves practicing many different art forms including painting, woodworking and pottery. Neil loves to travel and has been to many places around the world including Hawaii, Scotland and Abu Dhabi - he has many travel stories to share about the people he's met and the adventures activities he's done on his travels.