The Anchorage Project is expected to open early to mid 2027. (Jeannie Lin / CHLY 101.7FM)

More Comox Valley adults with developmental disabilities will soon be able to live together semi-independently and connect with others in their community.

At a groundbreaking event on June 23, L’Arche Comox Valley announced that their new community-based housing initiative, the Anchorage Project, is expected to open early to mid 2027. Lynda Brosko, the community executive director, described the history of the project.

“L'Arche has been in the Comox Valley for 26 years. We're part of a national federation and an international set of communities as well that support various people with intellectual disabilities. So the traditional L'Arche home is people living together that need full support. In 2017, we opened the I Belong Centre, which has a great gathering space and spots where people can do activities together. And it also has six semi-independent suites. And so when we put in those suites, we discovered that the need was a lot greater than six,” said Brosco.

L’Arche Comox Valley also runs Jubilee House, which houses four individuals. Those housed are referred to as “core members” instead of clients or patients, centering them in the community’s life, mission and identity. The new Anchorage Project began in 2023, and according to the organization, is named because of its ability to provide the security of home and the warmth of an authentic community.

According to Inclusion BC, more than 5,000 British Columbians with developmental and intellectual disabilities are currently looking for housing. Brosko talked about how the project not only provides housing to people with developmental disabilities, but also allows them to flourish in life.

Lynda Brosko of L’Arche Comox Valley speaks at the groundbreaking for Anchorage. (Jeannie Lin / CHLY 101.7FM)

“L'Arche is unique. Our goal is to make known the gifts of people with disabilities. So we understand by hanging out together with our friends that people with disabilities have so much to offer the world around them. And so by helping them out with the little bits of things that they need, they help out our greater Comox Valley with all the lovely gifts that they have. So they're just a group of people that have so much to offer and can live independently with some supports,” said Brosco.

The Anchorage Project provides 15 different units, separated into different buildings, including three fourplexes, a duplex and a single. On site, there will also be an additional caretaker suite, called the Good Friend and Neighbour, to provide support to residents when needed. Brosko said it’s important for adults with intellectual disabilities to live in the same community.

“While they're connected with the greater Comox Valley all the time through their work and their activity and their play, they also enjoy being with other people that are just like them, and so there's a sense of community built there. And the supports, we have assistants that come alongside and help out however they need. For some people, that's just a bit of grocery shopping and budgeting, it just really depends on each unique individual,” said Brosco.

Amber has been involved with L’Arche since she was a teenager and is on the waitlist to live at Anchorage once it opens. She talked about why she wants to live in this community.

“Because of the people that live here, because of the people that have actually been what I would call my spiritual family since the age of 18. And it would provide me with the wraparound supports that I would need to be able to do the things that I want to do in community, but have support,” she said.

Brosko is also asking for support from the Comox Valley to fully complete the project.

“What limits our opportunity is typically funding. We're really lucky in L’Arche Comox Valley because we have generous funders. But this next project will certainly stretch us, so we're relying on the Comox Valley to come support and be involved, whether it's with volunteering, whether it's with their checkbook, helping out to fundraise, or just coming and belonging together and discovering how they can use their gifts within the community and connect with others. But it's really gonna be a full Comox Valley project,” said Brosco.

The Anchorage Project is located at 1560 Grieve Avenue. Although the space is located in the Comox Valley, applications are open to any adult with development disabilities living in B.C.

Funding Note: This story was produced with funding support from the Local Journalism Initiative, administered by the Community Radio Fund of Canada.