Families Moving Forward

Houselink is one of the few housing alternatives in Toronto to help the families of people with mental illness stay together. Of our 400 residents, over 50 are children.

The children of psychiatric survivors are at higher risk than their peers. The stigma of their parents’ illness can isolate them from other children. And their parents’ poverty denies them access to life-enriching recreational or social opportunities.

Families Moving Forward enables our members’ children to live normal lives. We provide funds so that Houselink children can play sports, participate in extra-curricular activities and go to summer camps. Each child can also receive tutoring to help them succeed at school.

A volunteer committee reviews applications and grants funds tailored to each child’s needs. In 2005-2006, the committee awarded over $8,000 to 26 families to pay for summer camps, soccer league fees, driving lessons, continuing education, school books, funds for class trips and ESL tutoring. These opportunities would not be available to Houselink children without this program.

Core funding pays for the administration of this program. That means every dollar donated to the Families Moving Forward program goes directly to benefit the members and their children.