FAQ - New Véro & Louis Homes

General

1.When will the homes open?

No date is determined for the moment. The Véro & Louis Foundation is leading the project. Many steps remain to be completed for the construction as well as implementation of the projects.

2.Where will the homes be located?

A first Home will be located in the Victoriaville area of the Mauricie-Centre-du-Québec region. The property is located on the edge of Promenade des Ainés, near the community gardens at 38A rue Lactantia in Victoriaville. The Fondation François Bourgeois is associated to this project since the very beginning and greatly contributes to the construction and development of the Véro & Louis Home.

For the project in the Laurentides, we wish for the house to be located in a place where social inclusion will be facilitated by the presence of various services: transportation, businesses, community services, leisure, etc. It is with these criteria, and according to land availability and the needs of the population, that the location will eventually be determined. If you wish to contribute by offering a plot in the Laurentides , please communicate with Katty Taillon, executive director the Véro & Louis Foundation: ktaillon@fondationverolouis.com

3.How many people will reside in the Véro & Louis Home?

Each Véro & Louis Home houses between 16 and 20 residents. In total, between 48 and 60 autistic adults will reside in the three Véro & Louis Homes.

4.How much does it cost for the resident?

The Véro & Louis Homes offer public housing spaces. The residents who will reside there will be held to the same conditions and financial charges as any person residing in a family type resource or intermediary resource. These charges are determined according to the person’s revenue. A calculator is available on the RAMQ website to estimate these costs. These costs are managed directly by the CISSS/CIUSSS of your region.

5.Do you accept pets?

Pets are not accepted in the Véro & Louis Homes. Although the presence of pets is sometimes acknowledged as being therapeutic, they represent a challenge in terms of responsibility, care, and maintenance. These homes are for many people, and the needs and specificities of each individual must be taken into consideration. Support dogs are nonetheless permitted.

6. Are they bedrooms or supervised apartments?

Each resident of a Véro & Louis Home has their own bedroom, which they can furnish according to their needs and preferences. Living rooms, bathrooms, the kitchen, dining rooms and other common areas are shared. The homes will be divided into four clear sections to reduce interactions/stimulations that may emerge in a home shared by 16 people. The goal is to make the environment as natural as possible and meet the needs of each resident. Individualized support for daily and domestic activities is offered. The Véro & Louis Home is a place where the inhabitants are residents, not tenants.

7.Do residents share a bedroom?

Each resident of the Véro & Louis Homes has their own room, that they can furnish according to their needs and preferences. The living rooms, bathrooms, kitchen, dining rooms and other common rooms are shared.

8.Will Guylaine Guay’s son reside in the Véro & Louis home?

Yes! Clovis will be one of the residents of the Véro & Louis Home in the Laurentians. Without Guylaine, there wouldn’t be a Véro & Louis Foundation. It is therefore natural that Clovis can reside in a Véro & Louis Home.

Registration

9.I have an autistic child. How may I register them?

Depending on the region of residence, housing requests must be sent either to the CIUSSS de la Mauricie-et-du-Centre-du-Québec- Institut universitaire DI-TSA or to the CISSS Des Laurentides via the CISSS/CIUSSS person you work most closely with or, if you are not already receiving services from the CISSS/CIUSSS, through the access point of your local CLSC. For the CIUSSS MCQ, requests can also be sent through the unique access point for evaluation, orientation and liaison. It must be specified here that there are adults currently waiting for housing and the wait times must be taken into consideration. Moreover, each housing request is analyzed with the person and their close ones to find the best place that will meet their needs.

10.My child is not yet 21 years old. May I still register them on the waitlist?

Housing requests are usually only received when the need emerges, not in advance. This is all the truer since housing does not constitute the first solution offered to families. Many modalities to support staying in the family home are considered before housing. Only candidates who will be aged 21 and over at the time the home opens will be considered.

11. My child does not have an autism diagnosis, but they have an intellectual disability/other diagnosis. Can they be considered for the Véro & Louis Home?

The Véro & Louis Homes are adapted specifically to the social and sensory needs of autistic people. An autism diagnosis is necessary but may co-occur with other diagnoses such as intellectual disability.

12.My child already resides in an RI/RTF. Could they still be considered for the Véro & Louis home?

If the Véro & Louis Home is better adapted to meet the person’s needs, it will be possible to consider a transfer for a person already residing in an RI-RTF.

13.What are the criteria to integrate a Véro & Louis Home?

To integrate a Véro & Louis Home, the person must be aged 21 or over, have an autism diagnosis, reside the Mauricie-Centre-du-Québec region or the Laurentians, require daily support and must want to integrate a new home. If the person has experienced periods of severe challenging behaviours, these must have been stabilized for at least twelve months.

14.I do not reside in the Mauricie-Centre-du-Québec region nor in the Laurentides, must I move in order to register my child on the waitlist?

The CISSS des Laurentides/CIUSSS Mauricie-Centre-du-Québec-IU DI-TSA have the responsibility of offering services to the population from their socio-administrative region. The residents of the Laurentians/Mauricie-Centre-du-Québec will therefore be prioritized for this project.

Intervenants du CISSS

15.I work at the CIUSSS Mauricie-Centre-du-Québec- Institut universitaire DI-TSA /CISSS Laurentides. How can I refer one of my clients?

The process is the same as for any housing request. This process involves clinical discussions with the clinical coordinator and the service chief.

16.Is there a specific waitlist for the Véro & Louis Home?

From the perspective of the CIUSSS MCQ-IU DITSA and the CISSS des Laurentides, the Véro & Louis Home will be considered as one of the possible housing options added to a varied array of available services, from supervised and supported apartments to intermediary resources and family-based resources. However, it is to be expected that many people/families will be interested by this option and a waiting list will have to be created.

17.What are the criteria to integrate a Véro & Louis home?

To integrate a Véro & Louis Home, the person must be aged 21 or over, have an autism diagnosis, reside the Mauricie-Centre-du-Québec region or the Laurentians, require daily support and must want to integrate a new home. If the person has experienced periods of severe challenging behaviours, these must have been stabilized for at least twelve months.

Apply

18.Will the staff be employees of the health and social services centre?

No. Although operation costs are financed by the CIUSSS MCQ – IU DITSA or the CISSSS Laurentides, the home will have its own independent status and will hire its own employees. The modalities to apply to the Véro & Louis Homes will eventually be determined.

19.Which positions need to be filled?

Positions for special care counsellors (specialized educators), educational assistants, care attendants, cooks, and night-time surveillance will need to be filled.

20.How can I apply for a position at a Véro & Louis home?

No positions are open at the moment for the two future new homes. However, you may consult the « Careers » page of the Foundation’s website for the latest positions available in Varennes: https://fondationverolouis.com/en/jobs . Spontaneous applications are receivable at all times.

21.I would like to volunteer.

Once the Home is in operation, volunteer involvement will be welcomed and managed by the people in charge of the Home. Please communicate with Sarah Huxley, head of research and development for the Véro & Louis Homes: shuxley@fondationverolouis.com

Please note that the integration of volunteers will not start before the second year following the Home opening.

22.Will you employ autistic persons?

Yes! Applications from autistic people with the required qualifications will be considered for the positions available.

Contributions

23.I am interested in contributing to the project. Who should I communicate with? (Contribution type not defined)

Please communicate with Sarah Huxley, head of research and development for the Véro & Louis Homes: shuxley@fondationverolouis.com

24.I am interested in contributing to the construction of the Véro & Louis Home.

Please communicate with Katty Taillon, executive director of the Véro & Louis Foundation : ktaillon@fondationverolouis.com

25.I am interested in being the architect for the Véro & Louis Homes

Please communicate with Katty Taillon, executive director of the Véro & Louis Foundation : ktaillon@fondationverolouis.com

26.I am a researcher and I have a research project that I would like to present to you

Please communicate with Sarah Huxley, head of research and development for the Véro & Louis Homes: shuxley@fondationverolouis.com **As for any research project led in an establishment of the health and social services network or with persons receiving or offering services from the network, the management of research projects follows a formal authorisation process requiring an ethics certificate from a research ethics committee approved by the MSSS.

27.I would like to offer a plot of land for a Véro & Louis home.

Please communicate with Katty Taillon, executive director of the Véro & Louis Foundation : ktaillon@fondationverolouis.com

28.I would like to organise a fundraiser for the Véro & Louis Foundation.

Please communicate with Karine Henry, director of philanthropic development and donor relations khenry@fondationverolouis.com

29.I am interested in contributing a piece of equipment/product for a Véro & Louis Home.

Please communicate with Sarah Huxley, head of research and development for the Véro & Louis Homes: shuxley@fondationverolouis.com

30.We are working on a housing/respite/activity project in our region. Can the Véro & Louis Foundation support us?

Please communicate with Sarah Huxley, head of research and development for the Véro & Louis Homes: shuxley@fondationverolouis.com

31.I would like to contribute by offering zootherapy, music therapy, occupational therapy, etc.

Please communicate with Sarah Huxley, head of research and development for the Véro & Louis Homes: shuxley@fondationverolouis.com

32.I wrote a book/made a video/created a tool, can you share it?

Please communicate with Sarah Huxley, head of research and development for the Véro & Louis Homes: shuxley@fondationverolouis.com

33. I would like to inform you of an issue/a method concerning autistic people.

Please communicate with Sarah Huxley, head of research and development for the Véro & Louis Homes: shuxley@fondationverolouis.com