RECENT NEWS
Below you will find recent news and developments at LOFT Community Services.
Recent News
LOFT Community Services
Ontario Health Teams
Ontario Health Teams
From the desk of Heather McDonald, CEO – LOFT Community Services
We’re excited to continue taking a Leap of Faith Together with our health care and community service partners towards the vision of a connected health care system through Ontario Health Teams. Ontario Health Teams are groups of health care providers responsible for delivering a full and coordinated continuum of care to a defined geographic population.
As a regional community mental health support provider, we’re pleased to announce that we are part of the following Ontario Health Teams that have been selected to “proceed to full application”:
We also look forward continuing our work with several Ontario Health Teams designated “In Development”, working towards an invitation from the Ministry of Health to proceed to a full application.
Through this change, LOFT remains committed to influencing positive change; enhancing our clients’ voice through advocating for equal access to care; and wherever possible, ensuring clients are at the table in this new model of integrated health care.
In loving memory of Margaret Fleck
Reverend Doctor Margaret Evelyn Fleck was a devoted member of our LOFT family as a volunteer and donor for over two decades. Margaret believed that every member of the community deserved a dignified life and she gave the gift of hope to those who many have lost it. For many years, Margaret and her husband Jim opened their home for an annual picnic for LOFT seniors. This event was cherished by clients who often said they felt as if they were treated like family.
She will be deeply missed by our staff and clients, however her impact and legacy lives on through the sparks of joy and hope she added to the lives of so many. The Margaret Fleck Room at LOFT’s St. Anne’s place will continue to be a symbol of hope and unwavering support to our clients and we will forever remember her contribution to LOFT.
Our deepest sympathies to Margaret’s husband Jim, and their children, Robert, Ellen, David and Christopher.
Ontario Trillium Foundation Grant
BLOOM Program Receives Ontario Trillium Foundation Capital Grant
We are pleased to announce that LOFT has been awarded a grant of $42,600 from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. This grant will be used to renovate five washrooms in the LOFT-owned house that is now the BLOOM Transitional Gender Project, Toronto’s only mental health housing space for trans people.
The BLOOM house is home for five trans individuals who have been homeless or precariously housed and living with mental health issues. Another 10 individuals who have joined the program either have housing through a partner agency, or are receiving support while they wait for housing. These housing partners are among the nearly twenty organizations from across the social services and health care continuum, who have joined together to for the BLOOM Partnership Network, ensuring trans people have safe and open access to a full range of services.
The goal of the program is to offer each individual the support and services they need in order to follow their personal journey of transition and successfully rejoin the community in their authentic gender.
New Program Receives City’s Diversity Award
New LOFT Program receives City of Toronto 2017 Pride Award
On December 4, 2017, the City of Toronto Access, Equity and Human Rights Awards were presented at Toronto City Hall. The AEHR Awards recognize people who, or programs that, have made a difference in Toronto by reducing discrimination and barriers to equality.
LOFT was honoured to receive the 2017 Pride Award for LBGTQ and Two-Spirit Issues presented in recognition of the new BLOOM transitional gender program, launched in June of this year.
BLOOM is an innovative and ground-breaking housing program and networking group supporting trans people – statistically one of the most marginalized and oppressed populations.