Second housing unit needed in Sudbury for acquired brain injuries: March of Dimes

More than two dozen people living with acquired brain injuries remain on a wait list for supportive housing in northeastern Ontario.

With that in mind, March of Dimes Canada continuesto raisemoney to build another facilityin GreaterSudburyon the same property as Wade Hampton House on Bancroft Drive.

Thatfacility, which opened in 2011,includes rehabilitation and 24-hour support for its ten permanent residents all of whomlive withacquired braininjuries of varying severity.

There'snothing else like that facilityin the northeast region, said Susan Levesque,thelocalMarch of Dimescampaign manager.

"There [are]27 people still on a waiting list ... looking for similar accommodations," said Levesque. She added that a second facility would help takepeople off thatwaiting list, and help them to stay closer to home.

The nearest similarfacilitiesarein Toronto, Hamitlon, Oakville and Sarnia, saidLevesque.

CandiceKirkbride of Sudburysuffered an acquired brain injury 16 years ago as a teenagerwhen she washit by a vehicle in Hanmer.

She's nowthe spokesperson for the "Moving A-Head" fundraising campaignin Sudbury.

Kirkbride said she understands the need for24-hour care and assistance for residents of Wade Hampton Home.

"They can't care for themselves ... it's kind of a rehabilitation facility.I have gone through all my healing. I don't need this [kind of facility]," said Kirkbride, but said she still wantsto help.

Partial proceeds fromKirkbride'sfirstbook,Changed by the Rainwill go towardthe proposed new building.

The book, which chronicles herjourney with a brain injury, is expected to be published in July.

Morning North9:25Supportive housing for people with brain injuries

There's a wait list for supportive housing in Sudbury for people with brain injuries. Candice Kirkbride spoke to us about the March of Dimes campaign to raise money for a second supportive housing unit for Sudbury.

Local fundraisers set $1million goal

The "Moving A-Head"capital campaignwas first launched about a year ago, butLevesquewouldn't get into specifics abouthow much has been raised so far, saying only that it's"a small amount" towardthe goal.

Several other upcomingfundraisersare expected to bring insome money,and Levesquesaid the campaign is also looking for$2million in government funding, with variousrequests still pending.

Meanwhile, architecturaldrawing for the buildingwere completed in January.If the March of Dimes is able to raise the remainderof the funds this year, construction couldbegin in the summer of 2017.

The building would provide housing for 12 peoplefrom across Northern Ontario who are living withacquired braininjuries.

They would share rehabilitation and hydrotherapy rooms with residents of the nearby Wade Hampton House.