Ministry of Health
& Long Term Care
Nucleus Independent Living is a non-profit organization governed by a Board of Directors and has been in operation since 1983. Nucleus Housing was officially established in 1983 to provide housing for individuals with physical disabilities. Since its inception, Nucleus has grown to include outreach services in the community and provides services for approximately 60 consumers. In 2004, Nucleus Housing changed its name to Nucleus Independent Living to better represent the services of the organization and the independent living philosophy.
In 1981, the Canadian Paraplegic contacted some patients at Lyndhurst Rehabilitation Hospital to try and help them determine their needs. The patients had recently sustained spinal cord injuries and would require wheelchair accessible housing with attendant services.
It was very evident that there was a shortage of appropriate accommodations. Many people felt that super human efforts were made to save their lives but very little thought given to life beyond the hospital. Existing support service projects had extensive waiting lists with a possible vacancy of 1 - 2 years. Many people were having to face the grim possibility of chronic care institutions, or having to move home to inaccessible environments and put the onus on family members for assistance; hence the birth of Nucleus.
That group of patients were the founding consumers of Nucleus. As they began to learn about what was needed to develop their own organization they realized that they would require a well developed strategy if they were to achieve their goal to live independently in the community.
The first meeting was held in February 1982. It was at that time that the name "Nucleus Housing” was chosen. Nucleus was also approved as a Cheshire Homes Foundation affiliate organization. Nucleus decided to develop themselves as an attendant services co-operative with the majority of the members of the Board of Directors being tenants (consumers).
Nucleus Housing Inc. was incorporated in August 1982 and in July 1983 began providing 24-hour attendant services for 14 individuals who had sustained spinal cord injuries. Nucleus was the first organization created and operated by people with a disability.
In the following September, they celebrated their grand opening and were
fortunate to have Lord Leonard Cheshire there to officially inaugurate the
project. Being motivated by their independence, by 1985 they were eager to
build on their knowledge to create a second project. Two consumers of
Nucleus were elected to the founding board of
Humberview Housing Co-op.
In February 1991, the co-op was completed and Nucleus 2 began providing
services to 14 more individuals, in unique and accessible one, two and three
bedroom units.
In 1998, Nucleus was approved to provide an
Outreach
Program in Peel Region for 20 people.
In the spring of 2002, the Ministry of Health informed Nucleus that they
would receive additional funding to provide supportive housing services to
approximately 15 more people.
Nucleus’ work is designed to achieve one final goal - to allow people to live independently in the community and become active, functioning, self-sufficient members of society. Thanks must go out to the many individuals and to past and present Board and Committee members, who have dedicated their valuable efforts and knowledge.