The Vancouver Parent Transition Group (VPTG) is an education and support group for parents of youth with disabilities who are transitioning to adulthood. The group meets once per month and features guest speakers who provide information and support to families. The topic of this month is Housing for People with Disabilities.

Home sharing is the fastest-growing Community Living BC residential option, and it has become the most common residential service offered to people coming into the CLBC service system. CLBC funds this service by contracting directly with a home sharing provider or with an agency which hires coordinators who recruit, screen, approve, monitor, and support up to 25 home sharing providers each. Agencies have various names for this service, which include Shared Living (posAbilities), and Life Sharing (BACI). At this workshop we will learn more about home sharing from various speakers, and what is being planned and advocated for in terms of non-profit affordable housing.

 

When: Saturday, January 26th, 10:30am – 1pm

Where: Vancouver Resource Society, 2006 West 10th Ave, Vancouver

Lunch will be included and youth care is also available.

Please RSVP with Monique at [email protected] or 604-299-4001 ext. 270 to confirm your space by Wednesday, January the 23rd.

 

Workshop Panelists

Louise Blackwell, posAbilities Manager of Shared Living services – Louise currently manages a team of four coordinators and oversees the quality of service delivery of 85 contracts with caregivers in communities across the lower mainland and sunshine coast. She is also an active participant in regional networks, and keeps her finger on the pulse of international support models. She will discuss current trends and how to make home sharing a success.

John McCulloch, Vancouver Community Council (VCC) member and CLBC Provincial Advisory Chair – John will update families on the various projects he has been involved in with CLBC including the “Joint Housing Forum” and “Reimagining CLBC”. He also attended the Housing Central, BC’s Affordable Housing Conference.

Patrice Pratt, Burnaby Association for Community Inclusion (BACI) Vice Chair – Patrice will share her experience with the Shared Living model of support, and her daughter’s journey living outside of the family home.

The hosts welcome families to stay for lunch, and mingle amongst themselves and with the presenters to learn more and to get answers to their questions. Please RSVP, as this is a learning event not to be missed!

 

Other Winter Workshops to Keep on Your Radar

Plan Institute is excited for a new year and new opportunities to share their information and resources to help people with disabilities and their families live their best lives. Check out their new learning opportunities coming up. Workshops include: Personal Support Network Facilitation; Wills, Trusts and Estate Planning; Registered Disability Savings Plan, and more! For registration and updates, click here