Released on July 23, 2014
Today marks an exciting day for people with disabilities in Saskatchewan as six people with intellectual disabilities from Yorkton, and surrounding area, officially call 89 Rae Avenue home. The new Yorkton Adult Independent Living (YAIL) Harbor group home will provide residential supports for six emerging needs individuals.
“Our government is committed to making Saskatchewan the best place in Canada to live for people with disabilities,” Yorkton MLA Greg Ottenbreit said on behalf of Social Services Minister Donna Harpauer. “YAIL Harbor’s commitment to community inclusion and care is another example of how community-based organizations are helping to make this vision a reality.”
The Government of Saskatchewan’s total capital funding investment for the group home was $500,000, along with operational funding of $415,000.
“This home very much portrays a beautiful ‘new home’ look and feel to it,” YAIL Harbor Executive Director Sonya Reviczky said. “It blends in with the rest of the community, and provides our residents with housing to call their own as they work, live and play in the Yorkton community. We are so thankful to our partners for helping us make a difference in the lives of these six individuals.”
YAIL Harbor Inc. provides residential supports to individuals with disabilities in the Yorkton area. The agency opened their first group home for five individuals in 1973, and a second home for six individuals in 1976. YAIL Harbor also operates a 120-hour supportive living program and currently supports 46 individuals. The City of Yorkton donated the land for the construction of the project.
“We are very pleased to support this project in our community,” Yorkton Mayor Bob Maloney said. “It’s important that organizations like YAIL Harbour, who carry on such important work in Yorkton, receive our support on projects like this.”
In 2009, YAIL Harbor also began a housing project, Pathway Homes, to build affordable and accessible housing for people with disabilities. The construction of their first triplex began in October 2012, after YAIL Harbor raised $100,000 for the mortgage and received donated land from the City of Yorkton. The second triplex was opened in March 2014.
-30-
For more information, contact:
Brennen Schmidt
Social Services
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0531
Email: brennen.schmidt@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-519-9702