About Us

Community Involvement Legacy Homes

Building a Foundation for Independent Living

 

For most people, choosing where to live, who to live with and who can visit their home are basic freedoms. But for many individuals with intellectual disabilities, these choices are often out of reach.

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Community Involvement Legacy Homes (Legacy Homes) is working to change that. Based in Leeds and Grenville, this nonprofit helps people with intellectual disabilities find affordable and accessible housing that meets their needs.

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Legacy Homes was founded in 2005 by families supported by the Brockville & District Association for Community Involvement (BDACI). Their goal was simple: to ensure their loved ones could live in a community of their choosing, free of segregated and congregated living arrangements.

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Currently, Legacy Homes manages seven properties with nine units across Brockville, North Augusta, Lansdowne, Smiths Falls, and Gananoque. These homes provide more than just shelter—they give tenants a chance to live with dignity, make meaningful connections and contribute to their communities.

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Barriers to Affordable Housing

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The struggle to find affordable housing affects many people, but people with intellectual disabilities face unique and often compounding challenges. Fixed incomes, such as those provided by the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), are rarely enough to cover rising rents. In Leeds and Grenville, average rents far exceed what ODSP allowances can support, leaving few viable housing options.

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These financial constraints are further complicated by limited employment opportunities. Many individuals with intellectual disabilities are eager to work and contribute but often encounter systemic barriers to securing stable jobs. Without a steady income, the prospect of renting—let alone owning—a home becomes out of reach.

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As a result, people with intellectual disabilities are disproportionately affected by the housing crisis, facing a heightened risk of poverty and homelessness. Yet these individuals bring incredible talents, skills, and perspectives to their communities, enriching neighbourhoods in meaningful ways.

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“Legacy Homes hopes to be a bridge to community and connection for tenants,” says Doug Utting, Board President. “They have as much to offer as they do to receive from these relationships.”

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A home is more than just a place to live—it’s the foundation for belonging, contribution, and connection. For people with intellectual disabilities, having a home in a welcoming neighbourhood fulfills the human need for connection and supports their overall well-being.

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A Personal Approach to Housing

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Legacy Homes takes a person-centred approach to affordable housing. The nonprofit works directly with tenants and their families to find homes that fit their specific lifestyle, budget and needs.

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“This lets tenants live independently in the community they choose,” Doug explains. “We manage the housing and community agencies provide the day-to-day support.”

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This model—separating housing management from support services—is at the heart of Legacy Homes’ approach. The organization focuses on helping tenants and families find, secure and maintain affordable housing, while partners like BDACI provide the essential supports tenants need to live independently.

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Together, Legacy Homes and its partners empower tenants to make everyday choices, like deciding who to welcome into their home—a level of autonomy often missing in institutional settings.​