'Terrifying' reality for adults with disabilities forced to move after care home loses funding

More than two dozen residents of a southwestern Ontario care home for adults with autism and other disabilities are now faced with finding new housing after provincial funding was cut.

Jake's House, a charity founded by David Bodanis and his wife two decades ago, runs a care home in Lucan that has been open since 2021. On top of providing housing for seniors, it cares for nearly 30 adults with autism — a model that relies on government funding.

However, that funding from the province ran dry on Dec. 3, Bodanis said. 

"I am furious. I have two autistic sons myself. I understand the struggles of the parents," he said. 

Bodanis said he was notified in early October that funding provided by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services would stop 60 days later.

"We've done our best to maintain the home privately. The original relationship was a public-private partnership. Once you lose the public part, it's extraordinarily difficult to maintain," he said.

Jeannette Wannamaker has serious concerns over where her loved ones might go as residents are displaced. Her brother, Paul, and his wife, Ruth, both live at Jake's House.

"They found the most amazing home. It's been a home that they feel is extended family. They talk about their friends there and the staff as their family. It's warm. It's welcoming. It's given them opportunities to thrive and to develop," Wannamaker said.

"As a married couple, it's really, really hard to find supportive housing. I'm really concerned. It's terrifying, honestly. I have no place for them."

Jake's House is more than a home, she said. It's a place where her brother and sister-in-law were able to find a sense of community and step out of their shells. During their time there, the couple pursued personal goals that meant a lot to them.

"My brother is learning to read. That's been a lifelong goal. He's in his 60s now. My sister-in-law is learning to ride a horse," Wanamaker said.

The Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services provided a statement citing "ongoing compliance concerns" as a reason for funding being pulled, but did not list details. 

"The ministry's primary concern will always be the health and safety of people in the developmental services system," the statement reads.

"The local Developmental Services Ontario (DSO) office has been in touch with all residents (or their substitute decision makers) and has been available to work with individuals impacted since early October 2024."