The Alice Saddy Foundation Blog


  • The Alice Saddy Foundation is Now a Landlord at 3 Apartment Buildings

    The Alice Saddy Foundation is Now a Landlord at 3 Apartment Buildings

    Since becoming a registered not-for-profit charity in 2021, the Alice Saddy Foundation,has been working in partnership with the Association to secure and protect theresources of the organization.This past summer, we had the opportunity to purchase three apartment buildings thatwere at risk of being taken over by commercial interests. We’re proud to say that thesebuildings provide…

  • Let’s Stay Well

    Let’s Stay Well

    This request came from outside the Alice Saddy group of supported people. Brenda, who has been living independently for many years now and has had some struggles with her mental health. She ended up in the hospital a few years ago. Since then, she has had difficulties accepting that she needs to take medications to…

  • Simple Everyday Essentials

    Simple Everyday Essentials

    Our next request came from Miranda, a Manager with the Alice Saddy Association. She provides support to Andre, who is 48 years old. He has a developmental disability and an acquired brain injury. He is wheelchair bound, but copes as best as he can. Due to severe mental health issues he was hospitalised in 2021…

  • Furnishing Home

    Furnishing Home

    In May 2023 we received a request from an APSW who works for Family Services Thames Valley. It is kind of a good news story because her client, Herbert, who has a developmentaldisability, was accepted into London Housing. The problem was, however, that he was moving from out of town into London and his only…

  • Silent Suffering

    Silent Suffering

    This request came from Lilly, an Alice Saddy manager. Our supported person, Wendy, suffered a severe fall, which resulted in a concussion and muscle/tissue damage to her shoulders, neck and upper back. Her pain was intense. The muscles in her neck seized and her support staff thought she was having a seizure. Wendy was scared…

  • Let’s Get a Little More Space

    Let’s Get a Little More Space

    Our next request also came from London Cares. It is for 2 people in a family of 3. The third person is a veteran so has resources available through the Legion. All three family members have developmental delays. The three of them had been living in a one bedroom apartment and have secured a two…

  • Towards a Better Future

    Towards a Better Future

    Our first request of 2023 came from London Cares Homeless Response Services. Christa is a double amputee after losing both of her feet to an infection. She required transitional housing to meet post operative treatment requirements. A developmental disability, mental health issues and an extensive history of trauma impacts her day to day functioning. It…

  • Preventing Eviction

    Preventing Eviction

    Alan has decreased cognitive functioning making it difficult for him to complete essential tasks. Finances are especially difficult for him to navigate. As a result of unintentional neglect, Alan’s disability housing benefits have been interrupted. He now owes $3,211.34 in rent arrears and his landlord has contacted the Landlord and Tenant Board to file for…

  • Recovering From a House Fire

    Recovering From a House Fire

    Peter has developmental disabilities. He recently experienced a devastating fire in his apartment that left him hospitalised with burns. He is now well enough to be discharged from the hospital but because of ongoing repairs to his unit he can not return home until Jan 3. To keep from being homeless, he needs to be…

  • Pest Infestation

    Pest Infestation

    Ralph struggles with severe ADHD and as a result missed several appointments with pest control to rid his living space of vermin. Ralph was charged $25.85 for each of the four missed appointments for a total amount of $113.00. The pest control people would not book another treatment until these arrears were satisfied. London Cares…

  • Supporting Housing & Care

    Supporting Housing & Care

    Our next request came Nov 20, 2022. This is a family that displays true love for each other. It involves three siblings. Henry (42), requires 24 hour care. He has individualised funding which the Alice Saddy Association assists in managing. His Mom, Val, manages the care (mostly hiring self-employed contractors) and she also self-administers the…

  • Solving a Legal Gap

    Solving a Legal Gap

    This request was the first one to give us pause; $320.58 was needed to pay off a lawyer’s bill. We really struggled with this request because we did not want to set a precedent by paying an outstanding debt. Our client Harold is developmentally disabled. He worked full time and had been married. His marriage…

  • Susan Shepherd Educational Talks

    Susan Shepherd Educational Talks

    Date & Time: Tuesday, March 14th, 2023 Reception with food & drinks: 5:30PM to 6:30PM Session: 6:30PM to 8:00PM. Location: Kenny TheatreDarryl J King CentreKings University College About This Event: Important information for direct care professionals working in developmental services or long term care, families caring for a loved one, GP’s who may have patients…

  • Supporting OIFN

    Supporting OIFN

    This grant request was unusual for us as it is not directed towards an individual but towards another agency, ( https://www.oifn.ca ), who support people with developmental disabilities to direct their own lives, and live as valued community members and citizens. Something that we at Alice Saddy are happy to support. The $500 grant is…

  • Healing from Past Trauma

    Healing from Past Trauma

    Emma is a 40 year old woman who has lived through many traumas in her life, but is an amazingly resilient, strong advocate for herself.  She is a woman with Cerebral Palsy and Quadriplegia who tries to maintain as much independence as possible (both physically and mentally). Emma moved into a  Cheshire Support Building in…

  • Supporting a Healthy Living Environment

    Supporting a Healthy Living Environment

    The next request was not person specific, but program centered.  Melinda requested help to buy a “bed bug treatment tent”. While APSE can wash clothing, bedding, linens, etc. and Landlords will pay and provide spraying of apartments and furniture, they will not de-bug  items such as TVs, electronics, air conditioners, microwaves/appliances and framed photographs that…

  • Moving to a Safer Home

    Moving to a Safer Home

    This request was to help Cheryl move into Bruce Manor where she has been on the waiting list for decades. She very much wanted to move due to safety issues and threats that she has been experiencing in her current living situation (people are stealing things from her, they have made physical and verbal threats…

  • Removing a Language Barrier

    Removing a Language Barrier

    Our second grant request came on behalf of a young man who is transitioning from the Children’s Aid Society to Adult services. 18 year old Bernardo has a developmental disability and lives with his Aunt and Uncle in London. He attends a local high school and is enrolled in the developmental education program. His Aunt…

  • Two Brothers

    Two Brothers

    Two brothers, ‘Mike’, (36) & ‘John’,(35),  have lived with a host family since they were very young children. Their foster parents became Share Your Home providers through the Alice Saddy Association, in November 2008, as part of the transition from the children’s world to adult life. They have quite complex support needs (physical, developmental, medical,…

  • A Medical Crisis

    A Medical Crisis

    In March of 2021, we were approached by a support worker on behalf of her clients – an elderly couple dealing with limited income and serious health issues. Garry had developed a sever heart condition, while his partner Gina was dealing with complications from diabetes. Due to literacy, technology and income barriers, management of medications…

  • A Respectful Goodbye

    A Respectful Goodbye

    In August 2021, we were approached by Anne who requested $675 to cover the costs of holding services, and the scattering of her sister’s ashes at Mount Pleasant Cemetary. As an ODSP recipient, Anne’s income is limited, and her budget did not allow for her to give her sister a proper goodbye.  Anne’s sister was…

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