Positive feedback for acquired brain injury housing complex

She said the people in the building are like a small community with everyone helping each other, adding it provides a feeling of security.

“Just because of the differences in our health concerns; we’re all different in here. We all didn’t fall off a horse and smack our head … these people are everywhere. We are everywhere and to put us in a building like this where we’re going to have the emotional support … [and] safety wise, it’s awesome,” she said.

Paradis feels the complex is so beneficial she would like to see other communities build similar housing units.

“I think there should be at least one of these in every community, based on population more than one. I think this city could handle another one,” she said.

“It’s people that don’t know that they need it, need it the most.”

And Paradis isn’t the only one who would like to see more facilities like this. Linda Boyer, general manager of Prince Albert Community Housing Society Inc, said she would also get behind the idea.

She said after being open for more than a year, they are fully occupied and have programming from Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Services provided on site. Not only are they fully occupied, but they have a waiting list of five to six people, Boyer added.

“I know that I would love to build another one. Maybe not as big, but I can see the need out there. We have applicants coming in and we have referrals,” she said.

People from outside the community have also shown an interest in the housing complex.

“We’ve had people come and look at it and wish that they had it in their community. I do believe that it’s the first of its kind in Saskatchewan for [a] standalone program,” she said.

Whisper Way started after ABI Services approached the Housing Society about finding rental units for some of its clients. This was an idea that hit close to home for Boyer who said her granddaughter got in a quadding accident, which left her with serious head and body injuries to overcome.

“I saw firsthand what my granddaughter went through when [she] had her quadding accident and it took a while for her to recover. Today, she is fully recovered, which I’m thankful for,” Boyer said.

In 2012, their proposal for the 10 units was submitted under the Aboriginal Homelessness Program, she said. From there, $2,167,747 was provided by the Government of Canada’s Homelessness Partnering Strategy, a program that launched in April 2007. This money covered about 90 per cent of the cost of the project.

Boyer said construction began in spring 2013 and she’s happy they’ve finally got to this point.

“It’s not only the programming, but it’s the people themselves,” she said. “They (residents) have a support system, they all become friends, it helps them become more stable in their everyday life and become constructive citizens of Prince Albert.”

Wanda Rusk, team leader with ABI Services in Prince Albert, said they have weekly programs running out of the complex.

One of the main challenges for clients after having a brain injury, she said, is maintaining housing and having transportation to attend programs.

“So while we offer programs, having to travel to those programs is a limiting factor and being able to offer programs in-house and have a nice space where our staff can be here to meet with those clients, as well as others that live in the building … allows them that opportunity to get that support in their home setting where they feel safe and secure,” she said.

“It makes it easy for us to deliver, and easy for our clients to attend.”

She said this is a partnership that works and is beneficial to everyone involved.

“We do have some clients that currently reside here are quite happy to have, you know, some stable housing, especially in such a beautiful facility,” Rusk said.

At the grand opening Prince Albert MP Randy Hoback delivered a speech on behalf of the Honourable Candice Bergen, Minister of State for Social Development.

“I’m proud to be a part of the government that is providing direct support for those that need it most,” he said in his speech.

“(Whisper) Way is just another great example of tangible results that we can achieve through strong partnerships.”

He thanked all the volunteers that made this large project a possibility.

“This building has an important role to play in combating homelessness in Prince Albert by providing transitional housing for a group of people who are especially vulnerable.”

sstone@panow.com

On Twitter: @sarahstone84

by Sarah Stone

Positive feedback for acquired brain injury housing complex

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