Friends with intellectual disabilities to get own home
Bree Warsaba wants to learn how to cook.
Right now, there’s a lot she can do. She can clean her laundry, volunteer at a retirement home and figure skate at the Special Olympics.
She hopes her childhood friends might be able to teach her some culinary tricks once they move into an innovative housing project in Harbour Landing for people with intellectual disabilities.
“We all have different abilities,” said Warsaba. “We know what we’re capable of and what we’re not.”
The Input Housing project will see 10 people like Warsaba move into supportive-living units their families will own on their behalf. If all goes according to plan, it will be shovel ready in months and fully built sometime next year.
Warsaba looks forward to living in the same building as her boyfriend, Nick Popowich, and Lindsay Ast, one of her closest friends. The two women bowl together through Special Olympics.
All three go to the same book club and graduated from the University of Regina’s Campus for All program. Now adults, they’ve known each other since they were in school.
Lindsay’s father, Dean Ast, said the project was a way to plan for their future.
“Six years ago we were sitting around and our kids were getting to the age where their siblings were moving out,” he told council last month, “and they asked ‘ When are we moving out?’”
But the families didn’t want to see Lindsay, Nick and Bree in a group home, where their housemates could change from one year to another. They wanted them to always be with their friends.
Dean said the project will offer security of tenure, a place owned and controlled by families. It’s a guarantee that they’ll never be pushed out.
“We’re trying to plan for when we’re gone,” said Ast.
Nick’s mom, Elizabeth Popowich, said they wanted a place that would be as unlike an institution as possible. The home will have self-contained units for each of the 10 residents, and common areas where they can get together on the main floor. There will be live-in “house parents” to provide support.
Mostly, though, the residents will care for each other.
“They will be like family,” Elizabeth said. “Together they form a strong, diverse community.”
Warsaba, 30, still lives in her childhood home. She’s “a little nervous,” but also “really excited” to leave.
“I like living with my parents,” she said.
“But I’m getting to the point where now I just need a little more independence, just so I can learn some new skills and open my horizon a little bit.”
Her best friend might be the one to teach her. Lindsay has already moved into a bungalow in the Douglas Park area, something her parents call an “intermediate step.”
She keeps busy, working 28 hours a week at three jobs.
One is at the Saskatchewan Legislative Building, where she pitches in with office jobs for Executive Council.
She enjoys ripping up paper. And there’s a lot of paper at the legislature.
“I’ve been shredding paper mostly and I’m doing some typing so I’ve had the chance to kind of expand my typing skills,” she said.
In her view, the new home will be “a perfect fit.”
Lindsay now pulls in enough money to pay the rent her parents will charge to cover maintenance and condominium costs, with each unit expected to run in the $300,000 range. Dean said many of her housemates will be on social assistance, with the rent kept at the low rate the government requires.
They ’re looking for ways to bring that number down even further.
“A big part of our project and steps is still working to solidify a partnership with all three levels of government,” Dean said. “Ultimately, we’re looking for monetary support.”
But he said the unique ownership structure has created obstacles, with some provincial government and city officials saying it doesn’t fit in with current policies.
“I’ve had discussions with some city staff last year and they’ve highlighted where they thought we were, I’d call it, offside,” he said.
He said he’s optimistic that both sides can make adjustments and come to a resolution that will open up support through the city ’s housing incentives policy.
Dean noted that city councillors have already shown “wide ranging support” for the project. At last month’s council meeting they changed zoning bylaws and granted the project’s discretionary use application. One after another, they celebrated what Bree, Lindsay, Nick and the others will give back to Harbour Landing.
“I can’t think of a project that meets our vision like this one,” said Coun. Sharron Bryce.
“This is going to be a jewel in our community.”
Coun. Bob Hawkins, who represents Harbour Landing, put it simply:
“What we’ve seen tonight is a remarkable expression of love.”