Thank you.
No home, no job, equals negative economic impact. Mr. Chairman, committee members, thank you for including me today. My name is Bryan Keshen, and I'm the president and CEO of a small social service agency serving children, adults, and seniors with developmental disabilities.
As the CEO of a small non-profit, I recognize how budgets send a message. From my perspective, you have a chance to send a message about the inclusion of people with developmental disabilities into our society in the next budget.
What federal measures would help Canadians with a disability maximize their contribution? I can think of nothing better than housing. To invest in housing creates a gateway to personal independence, while reducing costs, increasing engagement and productivity, and creating healthy communities. With your support, the federal budget can send a leadership message that is inclusive and proactive in support of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities by committing and dedicating 5% of any funds flowing through the national housing strategy to housing for people with developmental disabilities, making it a requirement for provincial housing programs.
In combination with a Canadians with disabilities act, and expanding employment efforts for disabled Canadians, this would transform the lives and quality of contribution of those with developmental disabilities to Canada's economic growth.
I speak today not only on behalf of our agency, but the 37 other agencies in the Toronto area serving, providing, and managing over a billion dollars' worth of housing assets. Our budget alone is $40 million in annual operations, managing $80 million in property. We serve over 1,000 people. We also support 150 people in affordable public and private rental units. We know housing. We know housing matters. We know that across this country those with intellectual disabilities are among those most at risk.
With extraordinarily high rates of homelessness, those often living in inappropriate settings such as shelters, hospitals, long-term care, and prisons, cost governments two to three times the cost of independent living. Ninety per cent of adults with developmental disabilities live below the poverty line. Seventy per cent have experienced abuse. Among the women who are developmentally disabled, it's higher.
This is a vulnerable population where we know supportive housing, safe housing, can make a difference and improve the quality of lives. My message is that it is imperative that those with developmental disabilities have a choice to be included in the community, rather than languishing in hospitals, shelters, or being locked in basements. The cost to our health care system, our municipal social supports, to provide inadequate and inappropriate care, is driven by the absence of housing.
In September 2012, in the riding of King—Vaughan, Reena opened one model solution that provides apartments for 84 adults with developmental, cognitive, physical, or mental health needs. The residence is designed as an intentional community for individuals with special needs. The residence received federal-provincial funding, and raised the majority through philanthropic giving. The residence provides a home for people who otherwise would not have a home.
Recently, the Ontario ombudsman's report on developmental services highlighted the issue. Minister Helena Jaczek recognized the community residence is one model that works at solving the issues for people who are in critical need.
I invite you to go into your communities and your hospitals, speak to your care providers, and ask those who are vulnerable in your community what they need. Housing will come up front and centre. We did, and we met a young man named Mark. Mark had been living in a hospital for 15 years. We were able to provide a home in the community. It's given him a life. I invite you to meet Mark. Anyone who wants to come to see our centre, please meet Mark.
But Mark is in every community across this country. People are looking to have a life. The message is the same: people with developmental disabilities are not a priority right now. They're not seen or heard from. You need to send a different message.
With a consortium of eight organizations, we are developing similar models across Ontario. We invite you to participate. We invite you to take a leadership role, and we invite you to be engaged in helping those most vulnerable. It does not require any new investment; it requires taking a planned investment and directing it to those who are vulnerable.
Thank you very much.