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TORONTO, ON. (March 23, 2023) – Safehaven is incredibly excited to announce the Ontario Government unveiled their 2023 budget this afternoon at Queen’s Park, which included a commitment of $12 million over three years to fund additional capacity at Safehaven for advanced programs which provide specialized care for medically complex children.

Safehaven’s strategic priorities to revolutionize care, expand capacity and provide choices are being made possible by the 2023 Ontario Budget, titled “Building a Strong Ontario”, which recognizes the need to invest in the developmental services sector to meet the ever-growing demand for care in the province. Safehaven is encouraged to see this government’s commitment to Ontario’s most vulnerable populations, such as the children and adults living with medical complexities in Safehaven’s care.

Safehaven hears from hundreds of families about the struggle to find care solutions for their children close to home and school in a community setting. Under the budget pillar “Faster Access to Care”, the investment of $12 million is a testament to this government and Safehaven’s shared goal of expanding capacity, alleviating system pressures and providing choices to the families caring for children with complex needs, while ensuring that these children can live dignified lives in inclusive communities across the GTA.

“Safehaven is incredibly grateful for this funding commitment from Premier Ford and Minister Fullerton. This is the single largest operational budget increase Safehaven has ever received and we are extremely grateful to this government for understanding the need to support some of the most vulnerable children in our community. This support will impact many lives, ensuring that Safehaven has the capacity to care for more children with the most complex needs,” says Susan Bisaillon, CEO, Safehaven.

Safehaven will continue working with both the MCCSS and our sector partners in the health and developmental services sector to support the growing needs of this population, particularly in the efforts to create seamless transitions from hospital to inclusive community settings for our clients.

About Safehaven: Safehaven works hard every day to provide an exceptional place for their clients and families so that they can thrive in place from childhood through to adulthood. Their unique approach provides day programming, respite and residential care in a warm, loving, stimulating environment – an environment that allows medically complex, technology dependent children, youth and adults to live a full and vibrant life in a community setting – one of the only models of its kind across the country.

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For media inquiries, please contact:

Ema Gradascevic, Communications Advisor

416-455-0151