Region of Durham Adult Protective Services: Innovative Partnerships and Housing Stability

By: Durham Region

August 2024

The Adult Protective Services (APS) team provides case management and advocacy for over 300 adults with developmental disabilities living in the community. Clients of the APS program are those with mild developmental/intellectual disabilities that can often ‘fall-through-the-cracks’ and can represent some of our most vulnerable citizens in the community.

Traditionally, the APS team operated within its own intake/application process, separate from Ontario Works (OW), Housing Services, and other social services programs. Durham’s team recognized that OW intakes may not identify someone with a mild developmental disability who might qualify for ODSP. The APS team then began to establish an innovative partnership with the OW office. The approach instituted an integrated model that provided a supportive process to both OW staff and clients. Wrap-around support aimed to ensure financial security, homelessness prevention, and reduced vulnerability for clients.

Today, APS workers (APSWs) are successfully embedded within OW offices, Primary Care Outreach Program, Mental Health Outreach Program, community organizations and hubs. APSW’s support clientele with suspected developmental delays to connect with Developmental Services Ontario (DSO) and access funded assessments to confirm eligibility, if required. This has resulted in enhanced access to appropriate services and supports for individuals with a developmental disability.

This process also ensures that OW clients who are DSO eligible are transferred to ODSP. The APS team also plays a part in helping to reduce systemic barriers to accessing housing. Through a partnership with Housing Services the APSW Program attained rent supplement units to provide affordable community-based housing to clients, and ultimately preventing homelessness for many.

More recently, the APS team began targeting Canada Ontario Housing Benefit (COHB) to aid in securing affordable housing for vulnerable clients. The APSW service model supports clients to maintain their housing through a long term homelessness prevention lens.

Please watch the video below to learn more about the Adult Protective Services at the Region of Durham.

About the Author

The Region’s Social Services Department provides human services through a variety of programs and services to the citizens of Durham. On behalf of the Region, the Social Services Department acts as the Service System Manager in areas of; Housing, Homelessness, Early Learning and Child Care, Employment and is a delivery agent for Ontario Works. On behalf of the Region, Long-term care (LTC) is provided across four regionally owned and operated LTC homes and includes Adult Day Programming.