NEWS RELEASE
CAMPHILL COMMUNITIES ONTARIO
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On Thursday, Dec. 5, a team from United Way Simcoe Muskoka (UWSM) met at Camphill Communities Ontario to celebrate a $280,000 multi-year UWSM community collaborative grant.
Through a partnership between Camphill, Habitat for Humanity Huronia, Community Builders, Lakehead University and Social Innovation at Georgian College, this project directly addresses the need for skilled training and supportive affordable housing by providing pre-employment construction training for underrepresented groups who will then put their training into action building affordable supportive housing.
“We are thrilled to be working with such an incredible group of partners to create opportunities for increased housing and income stability in our community,” said Brian Shelley, chief executive and philanthropy officer of United Way Simcoe Muskoka. “This collaborative partnership is a clear example of what happens when organizations come together to address complex issues.”
This project will provide over 20,000 hours of paid trades training and employment development for marginalized groups who face barriers to employment, including adults with developmental disabilities. Additionally, trainees will work on site in a supportive and supervised environment to build eight new affordable and supportive housing units in rural Simcoe County. Four of the units will be dedicated to local families in need of affordable housing and interested in homeownership. The remaining four units will be for providing housing for persons with disabilities supported at Camphill.
“The impact of this Community Collaborative grant cannot be overstated,” said Kathrine Killam, community participation and innovation manager for Camphill. “This grant opens the door for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities to receive accessible trades training, an opportunity that hadn’t been available to them before now. Best of all, some of the individuals who will participate in the paid trades training program can earn an income while building their own supportive housing.”
Camphill Communities Ontario is an accredited not-for-profit organization that supports adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Simcoe County. Camphill’s mission is to enrich society by creating meaningful opportunities to live, learn, and work together, building a community where people of diverse abilities enjoy quality of life and personal growth in a rich social and cultural environment. Visit camphill.on.ca to learn more.
United Way Simcoe Muskoka is the largest non-government funder of social services in Simcoe-Muskoka. Through multi-year collaborative projects focused on poverty reduction and social inclusion, United Way Simcoe Muskoka mobilizes collective action in our communities. In 2024-2027, partnerships with over 30 organizations from the public, private, faith, and non-profit sectors will address food security, mental health, housing and income stability to create social impact. Visit uwsimcoemuskoka.ca to learn more.
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