It’s all in Ottawa’s hands now.L’Arche Comox Valley has submitted a grant to the federal government, which it hopes will help create more housing and more economic opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities.L’Arche Comox Valley board chairman Tony Reynolds, with help from L’Arche staff and volunteers and much support from many businesses and services in the Valley, completed the lengthy Human Resources and Skills Development Canada Enabling Accessibility Fund grant application and submitted it only minutes before the submission deadline in mid-January.Reynolds says it was a “great relief” to send off the grant application.”It was a huge amount of work, and we had co-operation from many people to get it done … the architect, construction companies and wonderful letters of support from a whole cross-section of people in the Valley,” he said.L’Arche had only about four weeks to complete the application, which required full architectural designs, bids from three construction companies, financing in place and letters of support from the community, explained Reynolds.Reynolds expects L’Arche will hear whether its application has been accepted in late March.This federal grant would enable L’Arche to build a facility that gives clients an opportunity to take part in creative economic activities geared toward their individual needs.The overall project is about $2 million, and it includes a new outreach and creative arts centre and two floors of apartments above that, the majority of which will be reserved for people with developmental disabilities who are able to live semi-independently.L’Arche has to raise about $200,000 in additional funds for the project, but the organization has started that process, and it looks like it will receive funding from BC Housing, explained Reynolds.If L’Arche receives the federal funding, the next step will be to buy the land, which is on Grieve Avenue between 14th and 15th streets, directly behind Courtenay Elementary School.Reynolds thinks they should be able to begin construction by June 1 if all goes well.As L’Arche’s board chair, Reynolds sees a lot of need for a facility such as this in the Valley.”The Comox Valley is a high-cost accommodation location, and several clients that L’Arche is responsible for but don’t actually live in Jubilee House are in situations of unsuitable housing,” he said.writer@comoxvalleyrecord.com
L’Arche applies for federal funds to help create building for adults with disabilities
It's all in Ottawa's hands now.
L'Arche Comox Valley has submitted a grant to the federal government, which it hopes will help create more housing and more economic opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities.
L’Arche Board Chair Tony Reynolds places the grant application in the mail at the Courtenay post office with help from post office sales assistant Sue Morrison.
