Home | About Us | Related Links | Construction | Contact Us | Donations | Newsletter

There was good reason to heave a mighty sigh of relief last September when IRIS House finally opened at 1280 Ouellette Avenue. Frank Sheehan and other members of the IRIS Board, as well as, Luigi Albano and Spiros Govas of Albamor Construction and Engineering Ltd., have achieved what many had thought impossible.

As many as 55 residents who are Persistently Serious Mentally Ill (PSMI) finally had a home they could be proud of. They had clean, freshly painted rooms and comfortable common areas where they could socialize and relax. And, most importantly, they had 24-hour care and compassion from Residential Manager Sue Preston and her full and part-time staff.

What could be wrong with this picture? Well, the seven-member volunteer board also has the responsibility for raising at least $150,000 a year to help operate IRIS House. It’s a tough challenge but there’s no reason the task can’t be fun and rewarding. Such will be the case on Friday, April 25, when IRIS Residential Inns and Services cordially invites you to the inaugural Gala Dinner and Dance to be held at the Windsor Manor Club, located at 1140 Goyeau Steet.

Windsor West MP Brian Masse will be the Master of Ceremonies.

A highlight of the evening will be a silent auction of art items and goods and services provided by generous area businesses.

Another highlight will be to honour Judith Binder, District Manager, Southwestern Ontario from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, and Luigi Albano, a Senior Partner of Albamor Construction and Engineering Ltd. , both of whom were key to the success of this project that involved the public, private and volunteer sectors.

Also honoured will be super volunteers George Dunn and Frank Cullen who could always be counted on to provide countless hours—and their trucks—to help IRIS House take shape. The evening begins at 6 p.m. with hors-d’ oeuvres and cocktails. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m. followed by the silent auction and dancing with music of your choice provided by DJ Marty Babony Tickets are $25 each and are available at IRIS House or from any board member. Come join your friends for a memorable evening, support a worthy cause—and keep IRIS eyes smilin’.

IRIS House has had all 55 rooms filled since January 2003. We’ve had some residents move to apartments in the community. We have about 10 names on our waiting list.

Thanks to all who have donated their gently used items to us.

We have taken on a full-time activities coordinator. We continue to operate the Resident Rehabilitation Work Program with a budget of $ 1,200 per month. About half are able to participate in the light cleaning duties involved. Those who work can earn extra money and gain self-respect.

We have started a tuck shop for the residents. It is operated by residents as part of the Work Program, and sells pop, cigarettes, juices, chocolate bars, and chips at cost.

We currently have 13 full-time and 18 part-time staff. We also have three staff from Human Resources Development Canada who are in a training program.

Here is some information on the residents:

Twenties and under – 8

Thirties – 15

Forties – 17

Fifties and up – 13

Schizophrenia - 34

Bi-Polar – 11

Depression – 8

Males – 39

Females – 14

Ontario Disability Support Program – 34

Ontario Works – 12

Canada Pension (CPP) – 2

Private Pay – 5

Complete it to make it more useful. Raise funds so that we can hire staff to run programs from this area.

We need a house doctor. Ten residents do not have a family doctor. One does not see a psychiatrist. Forty six are on the newer typical medications (this is good). About a dozen could have a better quality of life by either changing or adjusting their current medications. We need to improve access to medical care.

Fund Raising Activities

April 25, 2003 – Friday, Dinner and Dance at Windsor Manor Club (The old K of C Hall) at 1140 Goyeau St.

April 26, 27 2003 – Saturday and Sunday, Craft Sale at Devonshire Mall

May 31, 2003 - Saturday, Auction of antiques and collectables at IRIS House, 1280 Ouellette Avenue.

By: Sue Preston

Foot Care Nurse – courtesy of Teen Health Centre.

Chiropractic Services via Dr. Albano:

  Nursing students from St. Clair College are doing their psychiatric volunteer hours at IRIS. University of Windsor students presented 3 seminars and held a spring party for residents.

From Tim Hortons , St. Clair College, Caboto Club with help of Bendo Blazers

Furniture

Clothes

Linens

Personal items

Donations still being received.

IRIS House grateful for generosity.

Management, staff and residents of IRIS House wish to give heartfelt thanks to everyone who has helped make the home a success since its opening last September. Located at 1280 Ouellette Ave. in Windsor, IRIS House, on the site of the former Bavarian Inns, is a residence that provides 24-hour care for up to 55 residents with a persistent serious mental illness (PSMI).

IRIS House is both a permanent residence and a transitional one. It provides many troubled, higher functioning mentally ill people with an opportunity to become stabilized on medication before moving back into the community. In fact, since September, five residents have felt well enough to re-establish their independence and move into their own apartments.

Thanks to the generosity of the public, IRIS House has been able to provide former residents with basic household essentials to get them settled. Under the supervision of residential manager Sue Preston and business manager Anne Ryan, IRIS House now has 13 full-time and 20 part-time staff.

An eight-member volunteer board manages the home and has the responsibility of raising about $150,000 a year to keep the residence operating.

Various organizations and volunteer groups donate time and money, and more help is needed. Please call 252-1819 if you can help.

Frank Sheehan

To recognize all donations of $1,200 and to commemorate their generosity and contribution, these donors’ names were engraved on door plaques and are permanently attached to 38 doors of residents’ rooms.

*Schizophrenia Society of Ontario, Sarnia-Lambton Chapter: "In Loving Memory of Helen Rankin 1928-2001 and her son Bill Rankin 1953-1996."

*George C. Dunn Jr.

*Frank Cullen

*Bob Markovich

*Williams Food Equipment (1988) Co. Ltd., Windsor, Ontario

*Parishioners of Assumption Church,  Windsor, Ontario

“1^st Annual Oldtimer Hockey Tournament – 2002” c/o Mario Muzzin

In Memory of Loved Ones- Ms. J.B. W.

In Memory of Loved Ones- Ms. J.B. W.

Bendo Blazers and Friends

John and Dorothy Prieur

Anne Bodkin

Ford Motor Company of Canada

Limited, Windsor, Ontario

Spurgeon and Ellen Montague

FVS and JM

Madeleine Sheehan

* DeMarco - Chapel of Angels Funeral Home, Windsor, Ontario

*John Sennema Telecommunications, Windsor, Ontario

                           Smoking lounge furnished with donations                         A typical resident room.                                   Frank Sheehan, Chair, leading a tour.

We would like to thank the following for their donations:

Favot Holdings Inc.

“IRIS is very well put together. The staff here is fine. We are lucky to have a chef on site because other places don’t have one. The food is great! … I love being here because I get to work on the work program. My room is like a bachelor apartment. There always things to do. I am never bored”. Michelle Charette

“I’ve been at many institutions and they didn’t do what IRIS has done for me. I’ve gained my self confidence back and actually starting to set goals for myself. I am starting to realize that there some good people out there and they actually care and support people that have mental illness”. Ed Barnum

“I like it here. It’s peaceful on the weekends and people are nice. It’s also nice to have a room of your own”. Jim Desrosiers

“Since I’ve arrived at IRIS I found the staff professional and courteous. Most of my needs, if not all, have been meet. I find the atmosphere quite amicable. The food quite to my liking and my room comfortable and self-contained which is the icing on the cake”. Dale Elliott

“It’s very good here! The medicine helps me. I enjoy all the facilities which includes my room, good food, the staff. We need a gym like the YMCA’s”. Hameed Al-Sheredawi

“It’s hard for me to be here, … I am not use to it. No matter how long it has been; it is hard to accept life like this”. Name withheld