Our focus
Persons with intellectual disabilities in Canada are disproportionately experiencing homelessness, living in poverty, or in substandard housing. Inclusion Canada estimates that of the approximately 750,000 persons with intellectual disabilities in Canada, between 100,000 – 120,000 are experiencing housing and support gaps.
From a Housing First perspective, this lack of housing security underpins other gaps in peoples’ lives including access to support, services and social connection.
Knowing this, the work of the Lab focused on inclusive housing solutions that support and nurture belonging for everyone – including people with intellectual disabilities.
We started by asking
How can we work together to ensure that everyone – including persons with intellectual disabilities, has an affordable and accessible home that supports a sense of belonging and connection to the community?
The Lab had 5 phases:
Learning together
Engaging people with disabilities as co-leaders and co-learners
was essential to the work of this Lab.
Persons with intellectual disabilities were co-leaders and co-learners throughout the Lab as members of:
- New Brunswick Stewardship Partners Team
- Lived Experience Advisory Committee
- Peer Researchers
- Focus Groups
Guided by the New Brunswick Stewardship Partners Team. Profiles
Resource sharing by the National Community of Practice Team. CoP Profiles
“Being apart of the Stewardship Team is very empowering. It makes me feel like I am doing something to benefit the rest of the disability community.”
— Shawna Morgan, Stewardship Team member from Saint John, NB
“It’s a very important project. I like sharing experiences and learning from other people as well.”
— Stacey Howe, Stewardship Team member from Saint John, NB
New Brunswick Stewardship Partners Team
National Community of Practice Team
Facilitated by
