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Table Of Contents
- The Elmira Developmental Support Corporation/Elmira District Community Living Partnership
“The Road Taken and Oh What A Difference That Has Made” - “In Their Own Words” – From Field of Dreams to Living the Dream
- One Page Summary: Fact Sheet & Results
- Videos (a) Understanding The Need (b) EDCL – Snow Goose & Field Of Dreams (c) Past Scholarship Recipients
- “The Ripple Effect” – Gabrielle Gauthier
- “A House To A Home” – The Story of Snowgoose – Stacey Reinsma
- Draft Summary Good Neighbour Agreement
- Good Neighbour Legal Documents
- Tenant Application Package
- Good Neighbour Application Information
(1) “The Road Taken and Oh What A Difference That Has Made”
The Elmira Developmental Support Corporation (EDSC), incorporated in 2003, is a not-for-profit corporation “dedicated to the development of supportive affordable housing and facilities incidental thereto” for persons with an intellectual disability in and around the Townships of Woolwich, Wellesley and Mapleton Townships.” Its OBJECTS additionally include the creation of housing for “others without an intellectual disability but who create community within the housing complex through the development of relationships and the provision of companionship to people with intellectual disabilities.” The Elmira Developmental Support Corporation is committed to the “promotion of inclusion for persons with an intellectual disability and to further maintain a high quality standard of support for persons supported by Elmira District Community Living (EDCL).“
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(2) “In Their Own Words”
Realizing their vision of creating affordable housing in the region, and especially affordable housing that offers dignity and independence to some of its most “vulnerable” citizens, is a monumental achievement for EDSC and EDCL.
To paraphrase: They built it…and the people did come.
There have been many accolades and much praise for a job well done. There are “official” photos taken at Snow Goose and Field of Dreams buildings, beaming faces at dedication ceremonies, celebrations that mark the culmination of all the weeks, months and years of work by the many, many hands it took to get here.
And then there are the snapshots and video clips taken by family, friends and tenants on their respective move-in days, full of joy, pride, gratitude and…hope. For them, a finish line as well…but also a beginning.
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(3) One Page Summary: Fact Sheet & Results
Fact Sheet
Who: Creation of affordable housing sponsored by Elmira Developmental Support Corporation (EDSC), in partnership with Elmira District Community Living.
Why: Demand for affordable housing far exceeds supply.
Also wanted to mitigate two challenges to successful independent living for people with intellectual disabilities: an unsafe environment and social isolation.
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(4) (a) Video - Understanding The Need
(4) (b) Video - EDCL Snow Goose & Field Of Dreams
(4) (c) Video - Past Scholarship Recipients
Learn more about this housing initiative in Elmira, and hear from past scholarship recipients:
(5) "The Ripple Effect" - Gabrielle Gauthier
When I first learned that I was a successful candidate for the Snowgoose project, I had no real idea what to expect. On paper the idea seemed good, the philosophy sound and of course what student wouldn’t be excited about a free place to live and having my tuition paid for, not to mention that it would look wonderful on a resume! For those of you not familiar with the Snowgoose project it is a new project sponsored by the Elmira Association of Community Living (EACL) where a large house was constructed that contained four apartments. Three of these apartments were designated for tenants with developmental delays who had the capacity to live relatively independently and the fourth apartment was designated for two students who applied for a scholarship with the Snowgoose project. In return for accommodations and tuition, we students would spend time with the tenants of Snowgoose in a friendly neighbour capacity and ensure that one of us was available and on site during the overnight. The apartment complex also had communal areas including the laundry facilities, a large family room and outside space that was shared amongst all the tenants. During my time at Snowgoose I learned a lot about myself and really grew as an individual and had the privilege to develop genuine relationships with the people I was co-tenants with. I witnessed incredible growth and development with each of them as individuals and with all of us as apartment neighbours and friends. My time at Snowgoose was unlike anything else I had ever experienced and the life learning and friendships I developed during this time will stay with me a lifetime. While living at Snowgoose I also had the opportunity to work part time in one of the association’s group homes. Again this was a new opportunity for me and one I also enjoyed and learned from. While it has been a good experience, it did bring to light for me the many differences that exist between the Snowgoose model of home and the more traditional group home model. Through my time spent in both settings I have discovered many benefits of the Snowgoose model that are absent from or underutilized in the group home model. In this paper I plan to discuss these differences and the impact I believe they had on the lives of the people in both settings. For the sake of clarity I will refer to those living in the group home model as residents and to those of us living at Snowgoose as tenants or co-tenants.
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(6) "A House To A Home" - Stacey Reinsma
When I first heard of the Snowgoose project three short years ago I had no idea what to expect or what I was getting myself into. Originally I was enticed by the scholarship and beautiful living arrangements, but I soon learned the significance of this project and what it meant for the individuals I would be supporting and involved with. As I look back on Snowgoose it is not the lack of tuition I had to pay or the gorgeous accommodations I recall, but instead the impact the individuals living there had on me, and the relationship we shared that mattered most. I feel honoured and privileged to have been a part of such an innovative project that not only revolutionizes housing for individuals with disabilities, but also offers a living arrangement that improves the quality of life and enjoyment of life for everyone involved.
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(7) Draft summary Good Neighbour Agreement
Purpose: This summary is not the final agreement it will be the framework of the agreement that will be crafted by the Lawyers of EDSC. It is recognized that input from the potential good neighbours at this time will be helpful in finalizing the agreement between the two parties. There is no precedent that EDSC can find at this point in time to guide us in crafting this agreement that defines the relationship between the two parties however it is necessary to outline or acknowledge two concerns. The prospective Good Neighbour needs to be assured that the continuation of their housing is secure and the EDSC needs to ensure that the individual respects and performs at the agreed to expectation of the Good Neighbour in exchange for the housing offer. Where the individual fails to honour their agreement the housing offer will be withdrawn and that tenant will be required to make alternate housing arrangements. The EDSC will be fair in its decisions around discontinuation of the agreement and that appropriate mechanisms are in place for performance evaluation of the Neighbours role that allows for correction and that there is a dispute mechanism in place within EDSC in areas of disagreement between the agent of the EDSC Board and the Good Neighbour.
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(9) Tenant Application Package
Tenant Application Form – McGuire Lane
Tenancy Agreement with EDSC
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(10) Good Neighbour Application Information
The Elmira Developmental Support Corporation (EDSC) is accepting applications for a one or two bedroom apartment unit in a new building that is part of an intentional housing community known as “The Field of Dreams”. Family and individual applications will be considered. Special consideration, but not limited to, will be given to seniors or retired couples or individuals. This seven unit apartment building is the third of four proposed on a single property located on McGuire Lane in Elmira. The Field of Dreams Housing Complex is primarily intended for the provision of supportive affordable housing for individuals with an intellectual disability and others interested in a shared living or hybrid co-housing community experience. Rents are set at “affordable rates” inclusive of all utilities for persons living on a fixed income or because of personal circumstance could benefit from less than market value rent. Construction is expected to be completed in December of 2017 with occupancy commencing in January of 2018.
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