HeavensGate proudly serves individuals across the lifespan. Our mission is to support and encourage individuals and families to achieve their full potentials as members of their community by empowering families to create housing solutions that meet the unique needs of their loved one with a disability.

We help families create a shared living solution that is sustainable, affordable, and that will serve as the foundation for a more fulfilling life for their loved ones by providing a stable group home with 24-hour support or a compatible supportive roommate.

Welcome to HeavensGate where our gates are always open to serve you.

Our vision is to ensure Persons with disabilities are safe and secure, active, engaged, included, and embraced in the community while attaining highest level of welfare.

Everything we do is embedded in our core values.

• Respect: We respect that everyone is unique, valuable, has potentials, and should be treated with dignity. People who have disabilities are fully included citizens of our community and deserve to be treated as such.
• Inclusion/Engagement: To ensure everyone is included in activities and embraced within the community while ensuring safety. We believe that everyone belongs and has the right to fully participate in their community.
• Collaborate: We collaborate with others to create solutions and achieve success. It takes a “village” to address the needs of vulnerable populations in our community. We recognize that we cannot achieve our mission alone and so we must work with partners in local businesses, governmental bodies, community organizations, agencies with aligned missions to open doors of opportunity to people who have disabilities.
• Diversity: Creating an environment that respects and includes difference, recognizing the unique contributions that individuals with many types of differences can make and maximizing the potentials of everyone.
• Friendship: A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friend.
• Compassion: We are kind and caring to everyone we encounter.
• Accountability: Each of us is responsible for our words, our actions, and our results
• Client Focused: In every decision or action, we will first of all ask how this effort will serve or benefit our clients.
• Teamwork: To develop and support healthy teams that is client focused and teams that will contribute to a healthy organization. We achieve more when we collaborate and work together.

The core of our SSRLP is Roommate matching and Family Connections. We believe that shared living increases stability, is flexible, creates oneness, and enriches the life of the new resident and host or primary caregiver. This program is grounded in the concepts of connections. We strive to create opportunities for individuals to live rich and meaning lives as contributing members of their communities while adhering to positive behavioural interventions and special education.

Our host families (Agency sub-contractors) receive the backing and support of program staff, case management, and program oversight by clinicians, alongside a robust on-call system as deemed necessary.

Caregivers in our Supportive Roommate Living program assist individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities with skills for daily living and other individual needs in a manner that is similar to our Residential Group Home program. However, with Supportive Roommate, service is provided in the caregiver’s personal home, which often results in a more casual, and nurturing environment.

Warmth, care, and respect are provided as the norm in a nurturing family environment, that happens to have open their arms to include those they care for. Being part of the family in our supportive roommate model very often leads to a loving and rewarding quality of life.

Across all our programs, HeavensGate provides a Person-Centered approach to individually tailor services in supportive homes in a way which best complements the personal strengths of each individual. We strive to provide the tools those individuals need to live, work, recreate and ultimately thrive in their community. Supportive roommates promote independence and community participation in a very respectful, engaging, and supportive way to enhance the overall quality of life of persons with developmental disabilities.

Direct care providers in our Supportive programs have been thoroughly vetted and have passed exhaustive background checks. More importantly, they share our core values of improving the lives of the individuals we serve.

HeavensGate devotes considerable time and resources to identify opportunities to match applicants with Supportive roommates that is just right for them. We consider each applicant’s personality, style, desires and needs in order to make the perfect match to the home, care provider and other residents. This has led to exceedingly high satisfaction and retention rates.

If you are interested in our Supportive roommate program, please contact us to apply, so we can begin matching you to the right home. If you are interested in being a supportive host, please contact us to apply and upload your qualifications.

Choosing the living arrangement that is right for your loved one is one of the first and most important decisions you will make upon receiving services from HeavensGate.  We offer a wide variety of living options, and we are here to guide you every step of the way. One of the options is the group home. In this program, comfort, choice, physical and emotional needs, and level of supports required are all key factors in determining the living option that is right for you.

At HeavensGate, services are customized to meet each individual’s unique needs. Support ranges from intensive 24-hour supervision to drop-in case management seven days a week. We provide a group home setting for teaching individuals new skills, improving self esteem, assist with activities of daily living such as feeding, toileting, grooming, dressing, communication, mobility, home management, budgeting, use of leisure time efficiently etc.

HeavensGate offers a therapeutic setting where each individual becomes well known to the staff and each person’s needs are able to be addressed.

The home-like environments are comfortable and familiar and in this setting, individuals learn skills to get along with family members as well as life skills. With ongoing support, HeavensGate is a good choice for many individuals with emotional or behavioural problems.

We offer specialized treatment for specific issues like substance abuse, inappropriate sexual behaviour, anger management, addiction and mental health treatment, individual and family therapy and many more listed below:

• Comprehensive educational and clinical evaluations/interventions
• Individualized behavioural plans and consultation focusing on each individual’s strengths, needs, and preferences.
• Coordination of care and collaborative consultation services provided by a physician, psychiatrist, psychologist, clinical social worker, speech and language pathologists and audiologist, and specially trained nurses.
• Coordination of social and recreational activities to ensure each resident is given a chance to be successful and well-rounded.
• Housing Access Coordination and Home Assessment
• Transportation and Settlement program to medical appointments, programs, and airport.
• Transition Services
• Supervised medication management
• Respite Services for Caregivers
• Assessment, Individual and group career counselling
• Job and life-skills training
• Day habilitative programs
• Family communications and Support and up to date documentation and reporting on each resident’s progress.

HeavensGate programs provide individualized support for adults of all ages, including those with complex medical needs. These programs combine medical and holistic monitoring, including daily support, nursing, psychotherapy, physical, occupational, and speech therapies with daily living skills training and active community involvement to support individuals in our care. These activities include daily one on one support, behaviour management, functional living activities, communication skills development, community integration, social skills training and volunteer activities etc.

The ability to be mobile is critically important for everyone, particularly people who have developmental disabilities. Reliable transportation allows us to participate in the community and to realize our individual goals, leading to greater life opportunities some of which include attending:

• Medical, optical, and dental appointments including flu shots.
• Mental health and addiction counselling
• Collaborative consultation services provided by Psychiatrist, Physician, Psychotherapist, Speech-Language pathologist, Clinical Social worker, Occupational therapist, etc.
• Socialization, health, and recreational activities
• Up to date documentation and reporting on each resident
• Family communication and Support
• Airport transportation

• Help you coordinate your annual person-centered planning meeting to include everyone you want to attend at agreed location.
• Help you find direct service providers to provide the services you identify in your plan of care.
• Help you navigate the system.
• Help you find additional resources in the community to help you and your family.
• Visit weekly, biweekly, or monthly based on a case-by-case basis to monitor your needs and satisfaction with your services.
• Help you apply for Coverages you are eligible for
• Coordination of care with other providers
• Stable housing, Room mate matching and Family connections
• Housing Access Coordination and Home Assessment
• Transportation and Settlement program
• Transition Services and Compatibility Assessment
• Respite Services for Caregivers
• Provision of transitional housing prior to location of supportive roommate matching
• Foster care coordination and respite home for emergencies.

Our HGSS respite services program offers short-term care for adults and children with special needs, providing their families much needed time to devote to other life needs.

We understand that being away from a child is difficult for any parent, never more so when that child has a developmental disability. Knowing your child is being cared for by dedicated, compassionate care providers, in a safe and friendly environment, provides tremendous comfort and relief. Families can draw comfort in knowing that their loved one is being well cared for by professional care providers who are certified in CPR, first-aid and disciplines supportive of an array of physical, emotional and behavioural needs.

Respite offers parents and caregivers an opportunity to take some time off from caring for their family member.

Respite stays are pre-scheduled.

Our Day Habilitation programs provide individualized support for adults of all ages, including those with complex medical needs. HeavensGate support staff alongside collaboration with multidisciplinary team support individuals with daily living skills training and active community involvement.

Day services and activities include:

• Volunteer activities
• Social skills training
• Community integration
• Communication skills development
• Functional living activities
• Behaviour management 

Day Habilitation program supports individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who need help acquiring, retaining, or improving socialization and adaptive skills to improve their community experience, as well as the experience of other members of the community. Day Habilitation participants learn new skills and achieve greater independence.

Some of our day programs include life skills programs, employment programs, cooking and baking programs, addiction and mental health or wellness programs, recreation, health and fitness, and socialization programs.

See the full details of our Day Habilitation Programs below.

Our Life Skills Programs help participants achieve maximum independence by strengthening independent living skills, including money management skills, household management skills, functional literacy, social skills, and safe community access skills.

Our Employment Programs provide training and volunteer service opportunities that build self-reliance that lead to meaningful employment or regularly scheduled volunteer work. For job seekers we collaborate to provide one-on-one or group support from a job coach. Assist with effective job search strategies upon the individual gaining some insight into possible career path. We provide interview support before, during, and after scheduled interview.

At HeavensGate, we are committed to helping individuals with intellectual disabilities expand their employment opportunities.  We work with vocational providers, school districts, food industries, transportation agencies, state agencies, and other community resources to offer those we serve a variety of employment options.

Job coaches train, support, motivate, and assist individuals with disabilities in their jobs. We advocate for individuals who may be looking for advancement opportunities or job change, working toward individual independence and inclusion in the workplace.

Service plans are tailored to meet the specific needs, goals, and strengths of each individual served. An evaluation and assessment process helps identify the optimal supports recommended for each individual. The goal of our services is to equip individuals with the skills, resources, and supports they need to live and work successfully in their communities.

The Culinary Programs provide food-industry training that concentrates on customer service, grocery list preparation, healthy dietary planning, safety and sanitation, and food preparation with a pathway to employment in the mainstream food industry or in one of our cooking classes. This program also ensures individuals are confident in their own personal meal preparation.

Life Skills Culinary Program teaches our students to work in a homestyle kitchen to learn the necessary skills needed for independent living or progression to employment in the food industry.

Participants in this Life skill culinary program participate in the planning and preparation of meals. This program is taught using initial five-block system and later participants engage in ongoing weekly or biweekly practice of skills learned and meal preparation:

Safety and Sanitation (Block one) Coursework includes lessons on personal hygiene, proper kitchen attire, proper use of equipment, kitchen safety and sanitation as well as food safety.

Plan Healthy Food Choices (Block two). Participants will be taught lessons on food groups, teaching of a variety of different eating plans, how to create and use shopping lists, how to use recipes and read food labels, and minimize caloric intake in meals and snacks.

Kitchen Discovery (Block three) Participants will be taught how to organize kitchen tools and equipment, appropriate knife selection and handling, and use of kitchen equipment.

Customer Service (Block four) This session includes the importance of customer service, how to greet a customer, how to properly set and clear a table, how to pour liquids at a table, and proper mealtime behaviours. This session is very beneficial for those hoping to work in the food industry. Participants are encouraged to choose restaurant position of their choice such as Server Assistant, Front Wait (Server), Prep Cook/Dishwasher, and Cook.

Technique and Timing Skills (Block five) This course work includes learning how to bake, braise, grill, poach, stew, roast, and sauté meals etc.

Meal Preparation (Ongoing) Participants strengthen their cooking and baking skills weekly or biweekly as they actively prepare meals for themselves. This session gives participants ongoing opportunities to prepare breakfast, lunch or dinner for themselves.

Our mission is to ensure that we address the whole person, integrating care and supports in ways that support the unique needs and preferences of each person we serve. Our goal is to provide integrated care that addresses the whole individual, including intellectual and developmental disability, addiction, mental and behavioural health, and the primary care conditions of everyone, many of which are inexorably linked in the population we serve.

The Whole-Person Integrated Care team consists of caring professionals that understand the myriad of complex issues people with disabilities are challenged with daily. As part of our holistic care, the team of professionals who provide treatment on a case-by-case basis will include registered nurses, clinical social workers, psychologists, mental healthcare practitioners, intellectual disability specialists, and psychiatrists. The outcome is a successful plan that incorporates medical and behavioral health care with preventative and wellness services to support each person with dignity and integrity.

Our Recreation Performing and Fine Arts Programs provide Music, Art, and Dance options to develop the potential for growth through creative expression and showcase opportunities.

We are hoping that through this program participants will strengthen social skills with peers and staff. For example, our dance program, it offers unique performance opportunities at our annual dance recital or community events. This program will give individuals an opportunity to showcase their culture and identity, constantly practice their culture while keeping it close to heart.

Our Recreation Health & Fitness Programs provide group fitness opportunities and an outlet to socialize and build community.

Participants are periodically provided with fitness coaching and nutrition support to aid losing weight, and to gain stamina or endurance.

The Recreation Socialization & Respite Activities allow participants to build strong, positive relationships with their peers and enjoy all aspects of community life while providing respite to parents or guardians.

Recreational experiences and social opportunities are essential part of one’s life. These activities factor in developing one’s identity, creates personal fulfillment, and promotes overall happiness. Our vision is to offer outlets for social and recreational activities as these activities will allow participants build strong, and positive relationships with their peers while enjoying all aspects of community life. Events may include weekly or biweekly after-hours Friday Fun Night and Saturday Social events, themed dances, trips to local sporting events, and restaurants etc.

Community-based programming is a great way to provide social experiences to individuals in their local communities. Engaging activities may include:

• Park visits
• Picnic
• Trips to historical sites
• Hiking
• Sports
• Bird and animal observations
• Music
• Art therapy
• Library visits