Home accomodates former Valley View residents
A new group home has opened in Rosthern.
A grand opening was held July 26 for the home, which provides care to three former residents of Valley View Centre who have transitioned into community-based living. A total of 53 people remain at Valley View and are in the process of finding new homes in communities of their choice.
“The opening of this third group home in Rosthern represents another step forward in our government’s support of community living,” MLA of Biggar-Sask Valley Randy Weekes said in a press release.
“I wish all the best to the residents of this new home and I want to thank Valley Action Abilities for continuing to create an inclusive community in Rosthern.”
Valley View was a facility built in 1995 designed to house up to 1,500 Saskatchewan residents with intellectual disabilities. In 2012, the government announced it would be closing the facility and transitioning its residents to community living. The closure, after being pushed back, is expected to be complete by December 2019.
The new group home will be operated by Valley Action Abilities, which will receive nearly $2 million in 2018-19 to operate six group homes and a day program.
The organization has provided residential, vocational and recreational supports to people with intellectual disabilities in the Rosthern area since 1972.
“Valley Action is proud to acknowledge our partnerships with Community Living Service Delivery, the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation and Valley View Centre in realizing this dream,” Executive Director of Valley Action Abilities Cameron Nicolle said in a press release.
“This beautiful new space will be home to four residents who have been arriving from Valley View Centre in Moose Jaw over the last few months. We want to welcome them and look forward to providing these men with the best home possible.”
The group home funding is from the Saskatchewan Disability Strategy, which works to create residential services for people with disabilities. The 2015 strategy focuses on six areas, including transportation, respite, accessibility legislation, residential services, service coordination and navigation and awareness/understanding of the rights of people with disabilities.
