Mother calls on province to tackle disability support wait list

A Halifax woman is calling for action as Nova Scotia's wait list for disability supports continues to grow.

Pam Anderson's son, Brenden, 26, lives with Down syndrome. Six years ago, he was placed on the wait list for housing for people with disabilities. 

"It's more for me that I have to have him settled before anything happens to us," said Anderson. 

"We never know if he's gonna go, if he's not gonna go, when he's gonna go. We're getting older, we need to have him in place so that we know he'll be comfortable." 

Possible placement opportunities 

With new funding provided in this year's budget, 25 individuals will be moved from residential housing for people with disabilities and into the community. 

"This will result in a succession of moves that may also create new placement opportunities for others on our wait list," Heather Fairbairn, spokeswoman for the Department of Community Services, said in an email.

"We recognize that being on a wait list is difficult for people looking for our support — and for their families."

She said changes to the Disability Support Program will offer more choice and more inclusion in the community.

The department has committed to a 10-year plan that it says will increase community-based living opportunities and make more room on the wait list for residential housing. 

Nothing being done

In 2013, the wait list for disability supports was at 951 people in the province. Now, the list stands at 1,132 people. 

Anderson said not enough is being done, and she's not getting any answers from the province. 

"Apparently they're not doing anything, the wait list is getting higher and there's nothing being done about it, so somebody has to figure out what's going on," said Anderson. 

"Twenty-five people, that's nothing."