The threat of homelessness for individuals who are deafblind is real
This is what Canadian Helen Keller Centre is doing about it
Eumarson sitting and smiling at the camera. He is wearing a baseball hat and a t-shirt.
It’s a late sunny summer afternoon and 45-year-old Eumarson is enjoying a cup of coffee on a bench outside of Fort York Residence, an apartment shelter complex that is part of Toronto’s homelessness initiatives and prevention services. He has lived here for almost a year through the help of Canadian Helen Keller’s support network after he faced the real and frightening threat of homelessness.
He is tired as he recently finished the night shift at the nearby grocery store where he stocks shelves. Despite his employability and his desire to work, Eumarson’s dual sensory loss makes it more difficult because he communicates through American Sign Language (ASL). For example, Eumarson might find it challenging to get to work using public transit, communicating with his colleagues and direct supervisors, as well as navigating through his neighbourhood to get a coffee at Tim Hortons or to a dentist’s appointment.
It’s not only his disability that is a challenge. Even though he is employed he cannot afford an apartment in Toronto due to the current high-cost rental market. As is often the case with people who are deafblind he perseveres as well as he can in a world not catered to his needs.
It is because of this lack of affordable housing, especially for people with dual sensory loss that Eumarson depends on service organizations like CHKC.
At his shelter Eumarson shares a room with one other individual, and is the only person in the shelter who is deafblind, which makes Eumarson’s life more isolating because he cannot communicate with anyone in the apartment complex. Even then, he’s not complaining as luckily food and coffee are included in his shelter and that makes him happy.
Eumarson says through the use of his intervenor, “CHKC helped me find a home when I was almost homeless. I still depend on them, and they’ve improved my life a lot. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for CHKC, and I thank them for the hard work they’ve done to find me a roof over my head.”
Eumarson came to Canada from the Philippines when he was a teenager in the 1970s and acquired deafblindness which limits his ability to be independent and he requires the use of support services to help him access the world, work, social engagements and activities of daily living.
His situation is unfortunately not unique to members of the deafblind community, who without much needed supports are constantly on the verge of homelessness. They turn to CHKC to aid them in finding shelter as our waitlist at 422 Willowdale, a 16-unit affordable and accessible apartment complex specifically for the deafblind community in Toronto, Ontario, is quite extensive.
CHKC’s Consumer Support Specialist Lee Simpson states, “people who use our services are in desperate need of affordable housing and luckily we’re in a place where we can help some, but not all. With our new upcoming expansion project, we’re able to help more than ever before.”
In 2022, CHKC secured funding through the Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI) to build a new 56-unit affordable and accessible housing complex for the deafblind and people with other general disabilities which is slated to open in Fall 2025. The RHI is delivered by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), in partnership with the City of Toronto, under the National Housing Strategy (NHS).
Groundbreaking for the new apartment building will take place on October 29. It’s an exciting time for CHKC to meet the needs of more people who are deafblind.
Asked if he plans on moving into 150 Eighth Street when it’s ready for occupancy Eumarson says, “of course, I can’t wait! To have a place for myself, where I know I’ll be safe for the rest of my life is a dream come true. I am thankful that CHKC is here to offer people like me accommodations to safe affordable housing with access to intervenor services, programs, training and social connections.”
When 150 Eighth Street is complete CHKC will be able to secure apartments for most of the individuals on our waitlist. Eumarson is one of those people.
As the sun continued to shine Eumarson was ready for some much-needed sleep, as he was scheduled for another night shift at the grocery store that night. He finished his coffee, politely said his goodbyes and entered the shelter. There are thousands of people like Eumarson in Canada, and CHKC would one day like to help them all.
If you would like to secure housing for more individuals who are deafblind please donate today!
