Help us build hope at the new Bradford House
FOR LOFT RESIDENTS LIKE ANNE-MARIE,
There’s no place like home.
Anne-Marie was a wife, mother of two and cardiology nurse with big plans for the future when alcoholism and bipolar disorder stole her marriage, career and quality of life. Over 20 years, she spiralled into homelessness, hospitalization and repeated encounters with the justice system. “Our family rescued Anne-Marie from the street more times than I can count,” remembers her sister, Mary-Frances. But every step forward was followed by two steps back.
“We were desperate to find a place for her to go.”
Then a friend told Mary-Frances about LOFT Community Services.
For over 70 years, LOFT has been bridging the inequities in Ontario’s health and social systems by giving people with complex challenges an alternative to hospitals, homeless shelters and long-term care homes. Our 24/7, wraparound model of care includes housing plus customized support for mental and physical health challenges, substance use, poverty, food insecurity and behavioural issues.
Anne-Marie is one of 20,000 people currently benefitting from LOFT’s innovative approach to supportive care. But as our community grows and ages and the mental health and affordable housing crises grow, many more are still being left behind.
YOU CAN HELP with a gift to help build a new supportive care home for seniors, a cornerstone of LOFT’s $30 million Giant Leap Campaign.
“Anne-Marie has gone from losing her soul to being a happy, balanced family member living at LOFT’s Bradford House.”
Our $5 million capital goal
TO BUILD A NEW BRADFORD HOUSE FOR AT-RISK SENIORS
LOFT’s 46-bed supportive care residence in Bradford West Gwillimbury north of Toronto has provided seniors with affordable permanent housing and complex care since 2012. Prior to admission, half of Bradford House’s clients were homeless or at risk of homelessness and 80% of those live with mental illness and addiction.
Many had spent months or even years in hospital and on the wait list for appropriate care. Until Bradford House, they had nowhere left to turn.
“At LOFT, we carry people’s hope until they can take it back because they are ready to carry it themselves.”
— DEBRA WALKO, VICE PRESIDENT, CLIENT CARE AND EXPERIENCE
Why we need a new Bradford House
Bradford House has been operating at full capacity for more than a decade with 49 adults currently awaiting admission and dozens more pending assessment.
Parts of the building are 100 years old and is ill-suited to the modern standards of accessibility, privacy, safety and care.
Bradford West Gwillimbury is Ontario’s fourth fastest growing municipality with the number of people over age 55 projected to increase to 41% over the next 20 years.
Local seniors with complex needs but don’t require hospital-level care occupy an increasing number of hospital beds.
Since 2019, LOFT has transitioned 21 community members to Bradford House after they spent a combined 3,500 ALC * days –10 years – in the hospital.
*Ontario designates these patients as Alternate Level of Care or ALC
The new Bradford House
LOFT is partnering with our community to close the gaps in care and help more seniors achieve health, hope and dignity.
Construction is underway on LOFT’s first 24/7 supportive care residence custom-designed and built for seniors with complex physical, mental and social needs. Projected to open in early 2026, the new Bradford House will be six stories and 4,380 square metres – double the capacity of our existing property – and feature:
• 99 light-filled private suites, each with an ensuite washroom, kitchenette and living area
• 30% will be barrier-free units with larger doors and hallways, wheelchairheight counters and accessible showers
• An expandable dining room capable of accommodating all
99 residents and their guests at once
• A resident lounge, wellness room and outdoor gardens for residents to socialize and relax
• An entrance and accessible parking specially designed to accommodate residents with mobility aids
Experienced project team working together to create a build on time, on budget, adaptable and “future-proofed” with the latest innovations in design, energy efficiency and climate resiliency
The light filled dining room where all residents can share meals together
Designed, with client input, by experts in seniors, harm reduction, trauma, behavioural and Indigenous health
Community helping community
It takes a village to ensure every community member has a place to call home, so LOFT is uniting with the Bradford community to realize our $5 million philanthropic goal.
Grassroots support from our Bradford Believers and major gifts of all sizes will be combined with LOFT’s contributions, early government investments and a land donation from the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury to leverage additional support from all three levels of government and other funding partners. We will only make the $67 million Bradford redevelopment project a reality by rallying together.
HOW YOUR GIFT HELPS THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY
• Increase access to safe, affordable housing and personalized 24/7 care for at-risk seniors.
• Provide housing and care options for seniors who are homeless, unnecessarily hospitalized or ineligible for long-term care.
• Bridge inequities and reduce the cost of care for aging community members with complex needs.
• Raise the standard of care for vulnerable seniors and give more people health, hope and dignity.
RECOGNIZING YOUR INVESTMENT
We would be pleased to recognize major capital campaign gifts by naming Bradford House or one of its many featured spaces.
At $6,845 per client per month, LOFT’s supportive care model offers significant savings over the $22,815/month ALC hospital model.
It’s time to take a giant leap, together.
To learn more and make your gift in support of LOFT’s new Bradford House, contact:
Heather McDonald CEO hmcdonald@loftcs.org
416.459.8476
Alasdair Hooper Vice President, Development & Communications ahooper@loftcs.org
416.435.6857
LOFT Community Services
15 Toronto Street, 9th Floor, Toronto, ON, M5C 2E3 loftcs.org