Walk 2

     Our twenty-six year old daughter and her friends have been raising funds and awareness for their ultimate goal: to live independently, to live in Harmony. This is no small feat. Money is tight for many of us especially now and there are so many worthy causes reaching out for our attention and our funds. I like to think about what a miracle a place like Harmony will be: affordable, inclusive and supportive housing for a person who, in the past, might never have been able to live on her own.      
     The model that UNITI has found successful is reflected in their first community immediately adjacent to Semiahmoo House which is called Chorus. There developmentally disabled people live in harmony with others: retired folks, new Canadians and students; folks who need below market housing in our community. There they find common goals, mutual support, safety, security and friendship.

     It goes with out saying that our eldest daughter would be so excited to be one of the lucky folks to live in Harmony. She could live alone or with a room-mate, safe in the knowledge that support would be there for her, should she need it, anytime, and at a monthly rental cost that she could afford. It truly would be a dream come true! However the demand is high, the list is long and there is no telling what tomorrow may bring. In the meantime, she will walk with her friends and advocate for this place called Harmony because she has to. That's what friends do....

If you want to help, please donate here:

 https://giving.uniti4all.com/-/NJTBXBSQ

Harmony 2

       Ever since our daughter was old enough to put it into words and action, she has been doing one thing: saving her money. First she was saving for a purple Mini Cooper and then when epilepsy made driving impossible, she kept working hard and is now saving for a home, saving for her future. Our daughter has an intellectual disability which means that she would need to live in a very special place; a place that was affordable, accessible and supportive. A place like Harmony. 
     Unless you have a relative with a disability you probably do not realize how lucky we are to live in Surrey. Here we are fortunate enough to have UNITI. According to the website: "UNITI is the partnership of the three affiliated societies that have provided important community services for decades. Semiahmoo House Society provides quality services and supports to people with disabilities and their families in Surrey and White Rock. Peninsula Estates Housing Society provides affordable and inclusive housing that reflects the diversity of our community. The Semiahmoo Foundation ensures that UNITI has the recognition, relationships and resources to support an inclusive community." This combination of these three vital organizations in our community makes us unique. 

     Since she is now an adult, our daughter realizes that she will not always live with us, her parents. We are already older than most of her peers' parents so time is important. Every day is an opportunity for our daughter to add to her skill set and knowledge base in order to become more independent. Disabled folks like her have the right to live independently in a community that lifts them up and supports them. And as their literature explains, Harmony is a 91 rental home, 6-storey inclusive building which will be affordable and inclusive housing for the life of the building. It will house families, seniors, people with disabilities and others. 

     Please support Harmony's latest fundraiser and UNITI. Our daughter is counting on it!