New initiative brings awareness to waiting lists for supports

By Mark Ribble

People living with developmental disabilities are sending an urgent appeal to the Ontario government for help. The initiative with the hashtag #WaitingToBelong has been launched by Community Living Ontario.

Over 52,000 people are currently waiting for critical supports and services due to serious funding shortfalls within the sector. Since 1993, the Ontario government has increased core funding to support agencies by less than seven per cent, while the cost of living has soared by over 60 per cent over that same time. Developmental services agencies across the province, including here in Essex County, say the system is no longer sustainable. 

Karen Bolger, Executive Director for Community Living Essex County (CLEC), says in 2024 there were 1,406 people in the southwest region that were waiting on accommodation supports, 2,196 for caregiver respite and other specialized supports, and 2,493 on the waiting list for community participation, which includes recreation, leisure, volunteering and events. 

Bolger says that there are nine different regions across the province and that Community Living Essex County is in the southwest region along with Windsor, Chatham-Kent, London Middlesex and others.

“There has not been significant new funding for many years,” she says. “We have some who are waiting —  sadly — for someone else to pass away.”

She says that with caregiver respite, it’s critical to families to have these to avoid being in a crisis.

“Sometimes people just need that break,” she says. 

The services provided are not luxuries — they are lifelines that assist people with developmental and intellectual disabilities in their daily activities, enabling them to live and work in their communities while also offering support and respite for their families. 

Supportive services range from teaching basic life skills, helping with medications and appointments, to assisting people to find homes, jobs and community activities to participate in, so they can truly belong.

“It hasn’t been funded properly,” points out Community Living Ontario CEO Chris Beesley. “You can create a vision and be aspirational but unless you put the resources behind it, it’s meaningless.”

Karen Bolger says that CLEC has been a leader in utilizing technology within their supports and services, which helps the 700+ individuals and families in Essex County they support.

“We really embraced technology for our clients,” she says. “We’re utilizing staff supports and taking those dollars and stretching them as far as we are able to go.”

She said there was a three per cent increase in provincial funding last year, which has helped, but has not made up the shortfall by any means.

“We have really good relationships with our local MPPs and they’ve been very good about going to bat for us,” says Bolger.

Get more information by visiting their website at waiting2belong.ca