For the past 73 years, Community Living London (CLL) has advocated on behalf of people with developmental disabilities, championing their right to live fulfilled and meaningful lives. No one should be left behind, forgotten, or isolated. That was the intention of the brave parents who, in 1952, stood up and advocated for inclusion for their children in the community. In 2025, that advocacy continues as parents still fight for the supports their children desperately need.  

Currently, there are 3,000 people on the Developmental Service Ontario (DSO) Supported housing waitlist in London, and more than 13,000 in Ontario. Parents all across the London community are waiting for a call that will change their loved one’s life. Sadly, they may be waiting over 14 years, and Adrian is one of these people.

Adrian is 31-year-old man. He is non-verbal and communicates using sounds. He also uses a speech-generating app on his iPhone to speak with his family and CLL staff.

Community Living London has supported Adrian since he was 10 years old. He has attended CLL’s Respite Services and participated in Community Access programs.

Adrian has an Intellectual disability. He struggles with regulating his emotions, impulse control and adapting to changes in routines. These challenges can sometimes lead to destructive behaviors and, in certain situations, physical aggression toward himself and those around him, including peers and family.

One day last summer, while on the way to CLL programs, Adrian became very upset while in the car with his mom Sharon. She had to pull over and with the help of CLL staff, Adrian was taken to the hospital.

For the past 8 months, Adrian has been in the Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit at London Health Science Centre. Sharon visits with him. They sit together on the floor outside his room while they charge his iPod-his only means of communication with staff and the outside world. Sharon knows it is not safe for Adrian to come home, but leaving him in the hospital breaks her heart.

At this time, Adrian has no clear path to discharge. There is no available space in a supported living home where he could live safely with roommates and caring support staff.

Another person who continues to wait for a home in our community is Cameron.

Cameron is a 27-year-old young man with an intellectual and developmental disability. At two years old, Cameron was diagnosed with Quadruple X. He was also born with cleft pallet which went undiagnosed until he was 15. At 18, Cameron applied to Developmental Services Ontario and the family was told he had been placed on the waiting list for assisted living. And so, the waiting game began.

After high school, Cameron began attending Adelaide Access, one of CLL’s Community Access Programs. In the program Cameron enjoyed walks in the park, swimming, bowling, and participating in in-centre activities like crafts, bocce ball and bingo.

Over time, Cameron’s mood began to change. He became verbally and physically aggressive. His mother, Nicole, could no longer care for him on her own and feared for his safety.

Cameron was admitted to the Dual Diagnosis Program at Parkwood Mental Health where he remained for three years. After a scheduled knee surgery at University Hospital, Nicole was told that Cameron could not return to Parkwood.

Cameron ended up staying in the Orthopedic Ward for 10.5 weeks, with nowhere else to go. Nicole visited everyday after work- shaving him, making sure he ate. Then she would go home, sleep, and repeat the exhausting routine.

Parents and caregivers get tired too. They advocate endlessly for their children and are repeatedly met with roadblocks: no space, no funding, no staff, no support.

And then what? Where do they go? What do they do? Who will help them?

In 2024, Nicole made the difficult decision to move Cameron into a long care nursing home. It wasn’t the ideal solution- but it was better than a hospital room. The adjustment has been challenging for everyone. Nicole continues to work closely with staff to help them understand Cameron’s diagnosis and needs.

Sharon and Nicole have experienced both hope and disappointment while navigating a system plagued by miscommunication and lack of resources. Adrian and Cameron remain on the waitlist for supported living, while their mothers continue to wait for the call that will change everything.  

Their dream is simple: for their children to live in a group home with caring staff, roommates who feel like family, and the opportunity to take part in everyday life—like helping to plan and prepare meals, go to the movies, out shopping or visiting friends and family.

Though Sharon and Nicole continue to advocate tirelessly on behalf of their children—and for all adults on the waitlist—they cannot do it alone. The support of our London community is powerful, and with your help, the voices of people with developmental disabilities and their families can be amplified.

We urge you to contact your local MPPs—call, email, and write letters of support—to make them listen. This is a crisis. People deserve a home. Together, we can make change happen. Together, we can give Adrian and Cameron a home.

Until then, Community Living London will continue to support Adrian and Cameron through staff visits to her temporary residences and opportunities to access programing- even if only for a few hours a week- because their lives are valuable and their needs must be met.