Housing for Autistic Adults in Calgary

Autistic adults make up a large proportion of Calgary’s population, yet many Calgarians are not aware of the stigmas these individuals face.

Some of the stigmas and struggles that this vulnerable population suffers from includes:

• Feeling that their disability is invisible
• Being mistaken for being neurotypical
• Minimal perceived need for help for their community
• Being mistaken for having the same requirements and needs as one another
• Hypersensitivity to sensory inputs such as loud sounds or strong smells
• Struggles with getting government organizations to support them

Since these individuals struggle with several inequalities, many of them are affected by homelesness as well. Only 16 percent of Autistic individuals have full time employment, and many of them suffer from not receiving proper services, such as counselling or medical care.

The Sinneave Family Foundation is a Calgary based foundation that is aiming to provide a better quality of life for Autistic adults. Specifically, they provide Autistic individuals with housing that addresses their needs.

The foundation works to bring together housing and support providers with clients. To date, the foundation has assisted with building three independent living locations in convenient and safe locations around the city.

Some of the priorities the the Sinneave Foundation has for their housing projects are

• Safe housing
• Affordable housing
• Sustainable and consistent support within the housing communities
• Making sure all residents’ needs are appropriately met
• A socially inclusive community
• A sense of belonging and peer interaction within the housing complexes

The Sinneave Family Foundation has two upcoming housing projects; both The Elan and The Sierra building will be taking vacant hotel and office buildings in Calgary, and revitalizing them into housing for the special needs community. These projects will be completed in Fall 2021 and 2022 respectively.

Personal Reflection

Getting to know the individuals at the Sinneave Family Foundation was truly an honour. Autism is a topic that hits very close to home for me. My brother, Ishaan Holloway, is Autistic. Autism is something that I have known for the majority of my life. Yet, so many individuals do not know about the issues this population faces. Something that has worried both my family and I, is safe and affordable housing for Ishaan when he becomes an adult. Every Autistic individual is different with their needs and there is not only one way to assist them. Learning about all of the housing options that the Sinneave Family Foundation provides is extremely heartwarming for me. This organization will not only help Ishaan find adequate housing when he becomes an adult, something Ishaan himself is extremely grateful for, but so many other individuals will receive the help they need. Safe, affordable and accessible housing where Autistic individuals can feel a sense of community is extremely important and needed. The Sinneave Family Foundation is exactly what Calgary needs to give the Autistic population the sense of support they need.

You can help the foundation with working towards their goals as well.

This is how you can contribute:

• You can donate directly to the foundation. The Sinneave Foundation uses donations to support their future projects
• Be aware and spreading awareness about Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Be an ally for the Autistic community by getting involved with local events
• Interested in being a partner? The Sinneave Foundation is always looking for partners that are interested in helping the Autistic population have access to employment and education
• The Sinneave Foundation is always looking for landlords that are interested in partnering with them to provide housing for their clients
• Looking for a roommate? The Sinneave Foundation is looking for individuals to open their doors to people on the Autism spectrum.