Finding suitable, supportive housing is one of the biggest challenges for families. Understand the different models, funding sources, and the reality of waitlists.
The crisis behind the housing shortage
Adults on 20-year housing waitlists are the grown children of Ontario's autism funding crisis. Early intervention reduces the level of adult support needed, and Ontario has been failing to provide it for years.
Registered
89,799Children registered
Total in the Ontario Autism Program queue
MCCSS FOI · Mar 2026
Funded
20,633Have active funding
Only 23% of registered children
MCCSS FOI · Mar 2026
Waiting
69,166Still waiting
Registered. Diagnosed. Un-funded.
MCCSS FOI · Mar 2026
Verified , MCCSS FOI · Mar 2026
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Children registered | 89,799 |
| Have active funding | 20,633 |
| Still waiting | 69,166 |
There is no "one size fits all". Options range from 24/7 care to occasional drop-in support.
Staffed homes (24/7 support) for 3-6 residents.
Best for individuals with high support needs. Funding typically covers rent, food, and support staff.
Individuals live in their own apartment/home with visiting support staff.
Staff visit for specific hours to help with cooking, cleaning, banking, etc. Requires some independence.
Living with a vetted family (not your own) who provides support.
Similar to foster care for adults. Also known as "Family Home Program".
Cluster of apartments or homes with shared potential supports.
Often created by family groups. Models vary widely (e.g., condo model with shared support worker).
Thousands of adults with developmental disabilities in Ontario are on the waitlist for residential services. The auditor general has repeatedly flagged this as a crisis.
The scale of future demand is significant: 89,799 children are currently registered in the Ontario Autism Program, with 77% waiting for core clinical services (MCCSS FOI · Mar 2026). Many of these children will eventually need supported housing as adults. The current system cannot absorb this demand.
Important Strategy: Even if you plan to create a private solution, REGISTER FOR DSO ADULT HOUSING immediately at age 18. This establishes your place in line for future funding or vacancies, which may become critical as parents age.
Understanding the gap between available services and actual demand is critical for planning.
Piecing together the financial puzzle is essential.
The primary gateway. Assesses eligibility for MCCSS-funded residential supports (Group Living, SIL).
Portion of ODSP monthly payment designated for rent/mortgage.
Can pay for support workers to come into the home, but CANNOT pay for rent or groceries.
Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit. Portable housing benefit to help with rental costs.
Does your child need 24/7 supervision? Can they manage safety alone? This dictates the model needed.
Every skill learned (cooking, laundry, transit) increases housing options and reduces support costs.
Connect with other families. Pooling resources (e.g., renting a house together and sharing support staff costs) is a common strategy.
Apply for eligibility at 16. Confirm housing requests at 18. Keep your file active and updated annually.
Can autistic students get an educational assistant (EA)?
Schools may assign EAs based on IEP needs, but 47% of families report insufficient supports. EA availability varies by board and often fails to match clinical needs, leaving many autistic students without necessary classroom support.
Source: Ontario Education Act & OAC · Verify Link
What are the out-of-pocket costs for autism therapy?
Private ABA therapy costs $100-$150/hour (BCBA supervised). Intensive programs of 20+ hours/week can cost up to $95,000 USD/year (2020 US cost estimate cited in FAO 2020 report; Canadian costs vary). Speech and OT cost $120-$160/hour. These costs are often prohibitive while families wait 5+ years for OAP funding.
Source: Ontario Provider Fee Schedules; FAO 2020 Report
Written by Spencer Carroll
Founder & Autism Advocate
Evidence on this page
Key claims are paired with their source, evidence tier, and verification date so readers can inspect the public record directly.
89,799
children are registered in the Ontario Autism Program
US$2.4M
Lifetime support costs for autism with co-occurring intellectual disability can reach US$2.4 million per person (Buescher et al.)
1 in 50
According to the 2019 Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth, about 1 in 50 children and youth aged 1 to 17 in Canada had an autism diagnosis
23%
Only 20,633 children have active funding agreements (23%) — less than one in four
WHO recommends accessible, community-based early interventions for children with autism — timely evidence-based psychosocial interventions improve communication and social engagement