NEWS RELEASE
LOFT COMMUNITY SERVICES
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On Jan. 20, MPP Caroline Mulroney stopped in at LOFT Community Services - Bradford House to congratulate the group on putting their $149,500 Resilient Communities Fund grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to work for the community by purchasing a new wheelchair-accessible van.
The grant was awarded in the spring of 2022 and will help LOFT support greater accessible transportation for senior clients with mental and physical challenges.
“I’ve seen the great work LOFT has been doing to support our seniors and older adults in the community struggling with complex challenges,” says Caroline Mulroney, MPP of York-Simcoe, who visited Bradford House to welcome the new van. “This van means our most vulnerable community members will continue to have access to safe transportation.”
As a result of the grant, the new wheelchair-accessible van will allow clients at LOFT’s Bradford House program to be safely and comfortably transported to and from essential medical visits. The new wheelchair-accessible van will be replacing an older van that is no longer equipped to drive long distances. The van is expected to complete over 2,500 trips in a year in the York-Simcoe area.
“Our senior clients struggle with serious mental and physical health issues, requiring multiple visits to specialists. As they age, use of wheelchairs and walkers have increased. Appropriate transportation options have been limited and we have struggled to supplement higher transportation costs,” said Carolyn Donaldson, director, south Simcoe and north Simcoe Muskoka seniors services. “Not having access to timely and appropriate transportation can trigger immense anxiety for senior clients living with mental illness, cognitive challenges, and physical limitations. The new van means our staff can take our clients to meet with specialists and doctors regularly and on time, in a space that is comfortable, secure, and cost-effective.”
LOFT is one of the largest mental health service providers in Ontario, providing support to people facing complex mental and physical challenges, addiction, dementia, and homelessness. The Bradford House program in Bradford, Ont., provides specialized assisted living support to vulnerable older adults with complex needs. The program offers 24/7 care that includes essential housekeeping, laundry services, medication support and escorts to appointments.
“We are so grateful to the Ontario Trillium Foundation for their ongoing partnership with LOFT,” said Heather McDonald, CEO of LOFT. “Our mission is to ensure the optimal health and well-being of our clients. Access to reliable transportation that accommodates our clients’ needs is a big part of that.”
About LOFT Community Services: LOFT Community Services provides support and hope to people facing complex mental and physical health challenges, addictions, dementia, homelessness, or risk of homelessness. LOFT is there where there are few others, reaching out in response to unmet needs. Our goal is to help clients live independently at home or with us. For more information, please follow @LOFTCS on Twitter.
About The Ontario Trillium Foundation: The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF), an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations, celebrates 40 years of grant making in Ontario and making a lasting impact in communities. Last year, OTF invested nearly $209 million into 2,042 community projects and partnerships, which included funding for the Government of Ontario’s Community Building Fund. Visit otf.ca to learn more.
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