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IRIS Celebrates 1st Anniversary

Windsor and Essex County have proven again just how generous and caring their citizens can be to those in need. About 200 supporters raised more than $10,000 at the inaugural gala IRIS Eyes are Smiling awards night and dinner in support of IRIS House and our efforts to provide housing and care for those with a Persistent Serious Mental Illness (PSMI).

The board of directors would like to thank the many sponsors and our host, Windsor Manor Club and Banquet Hall on Goyeau Street. Special thanks are given to Windsor West MP Brian Masse who acted as master of ceremonies.

Awards were presented to Judy Binder, district manager for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, and Luigi Albano, a senior partner at Albamor Construction and Engineering Ltd., for their help in making IRIS House a reality. Also honoured were tireless volunteers George Dunn and Frank Cullen.

Located at 1280 Ouellette Ave., IRIS House provides accommodation and support for 55 adult men and women with PSMI.

There is a waiting list of 24 people and about a dozen former residents have been aided in the transition to independent living in the community. Proceeds from the gala will help pay operating expenses.

Margaret Meade,American anthropologist

.These words, the first you see on the Web site of the Windsor-Essex Chapter of the Schizophrenia Society of Ontario, summarize what a small spin-off group from that Society and an inspiring champion accomplished when they created transitional housing and services for persons who are Persistently Serious Mentally Ill (PSMI).

When IRIS House opened in downtown Windsor in September 2002, offering a home and 24-hour care to 55 residents, it culminated three years of persistent effort by six families lead by a retired but tireless community college teacher. The event also paid tribute to the spirit of the community that rallied behind this project.

The Schizophrenia Society estimates there are about 3,000 to 5,000 persons with a persistent mental illness in the Windsor area. About a third requires residential support. In 2002, there were about 385 PSMI living in 15 area lodgings with two to six persons per room and about another 60 sleeping nightly in area hostels.

The Society’s Windsor-Essex Chapter identified two long-term priorities at a 1991 planning session. One was the need for residences, ranging in size from 10 to 50-plus units, where the mentally ill could lead semi-independent lives with on-site support services. The other need was for a drop-in centre in the downtown area where less-seriously ill persons and their families could obtain counseling and other services and participate in recreational activities.

Its own charter prevented the Society from becoming a housing agency so, in October 1999, six member families formed IRIS Residential Inns and Services as a non-profit charitable corporation.

Artist Vincent Van Gogh who suffered from mental illness painted “Les iris” the year before he died. The iris regarded as a symbol of faith, hope and courage-is a fitting namesake for this residence.

Frank Sheehan, long-time president of the Schizophrenia Society of Ontario Windsor-Essex Chapter and formerly a teacher at St. Clair Community College, chairs the IRIS Board of Directors. Before the group even formed, it had a building selected for the first project. Ideally located near the city centre, it was big enough for housing, a drop-in centre and staff work areas. Under successive owners, it had supported several small hotel operations and had most recently been a Salvation Army hostel.

The vacant building was owned by Albamor Construction and Engineering Ltd., design builders and general contractors. The City of Windsor’s Building Department, aware of and sympathetic to the efforts of IRIS Residential Inns and Services, encouraged Albamor to seek a federal Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program grant to pay for the work needed to turn the living floors of the building into private rooms, each with its own bathroom. Albamor received $660,000 in RRAP funds for this work.

At first, it seemed like a simple building improvement transaction for Albamor—get the funds, fix up the building and rent it out to IRIS. But that was before Luigi Albano and Spiros Govas, main principals of Albamor, came under the spell of the unflagging Mr. Sheehan, recalled Judith Binder, the CMHC corporate representative who worked closely on this file.

“Frank probably won their hearts over just as surely as he originally appealed to their motives as investors,” she said. “They became very, very gracious. They completed the lower level non-residential area of the building and put in a lot of upgrades at their own expense. They attend a lot of functions there and are now part of the IRIS family.”

Mr. Sheehan estimates Albamor spent about $200,000 of its own money on the project’s common area, kitchen, dining room, laundry room and storage area. It was the largest single contribution to the project but was certainly not the last. Through direct mail appeals, newsletters, personal contact and word of mouth in the community, IRIS has received numerous donations of money, goods and services to support its work—all of it welcome and necessary since IRIS had no money for furniture and equipment.

* Local suppliers William Food Equipment, John Sennema Telecommunications, Victor Mechanical, and Mario Electric have donated their time and some equipment  Private individuals have donated microwaves, towels, blankets, dishes, pictures and furniture. The Windsor-Essex County Housing Authority turned over five surplus washers and dryers.

* St. Clair Community College donated beds and local hotels donated surplus lamps and about a two-year’s supply of bed linens.

* The Radisson Riverfront Hotel donated surplus furniture and supplied enough for every room.

There have also been cash donation from individuals and charitable foundations.

The most recent contribution arrived in January when the federal government, through Human Resources and Development Canada (HRDC) announced funding under its Supporting Community Partnership Initiative, which is part of the national homelessness strategy. A total of $906, 654 is earmarked for Windsor area projects and IRIS House gets $57,200 of that. It was CMHC’s Ms. Binder who alerted IRIS House to this funding source.

Mr. Sheehan said that the money will help pay for the security, telephone and kitchen equipment. He said HRDC provided earlier help to IRIS House with a Job Creation Program grant of $72,000, which was used to hire three professional workers who are providing human resources, administration and rehabilitation program design expertise.

Even with all this support, IRIS House will still need to raise about $150,000 each year to cover expenses, said Mr. Sheehan. Bingos generate about $45,000 of that but the rest will have to come from churches, service groups and individuals. It looks like many more years of letter writing, newsletter publishing and personal appeals lie in store for Mr. Sheehan and his IRIS team. But Judith Binder is certain they are up to the task.

“Projects like this don’t happen overnight and it is the stick-to-itiveness of the people involved who got them to where they are today. Frank Sheehan is the type of person who is hard to say “no” to. And he won’t accept “no” for an answer even if you do”, laughed Ms. Binder. “He’s the kind of person who will go the wall for something he believes in.”

Judith Binder was honoured to be one of four individuals whose contributions were recognized by IRIS House at its first fund-raising gala attended by over 200 people on April 25,2003.

 We will be selling IRIS Cookbooks at the Open House and Garage sale for the price of 5$.

 Please come and celebrate this very important event with us.

Saturday, September 20th

9:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.

Chef  Barry and three members of IRIS staff had the opportunity to prepare & serve fine dinners for  two local families. They won these prizes as part of the silent auction event at IRIS Gala.  It was enjoyable experience  both for recipients and IRIS staff.

By: Frank Sheehan

 Security System

As mentioned in the article from the CMHC Newsletter, IRIS Residential Inns and Services initially received a total of $57,200 under the Supporting Communities Partnership Initiative (SCPI) to purchase and install telephone and security systems for our building.  Later we received an additional $14,300 for a total of $71,500.

Thanks to this money, we were able to install private phone sets in all 55  rooms, a security system for the whole building, as well as, kitchen equipment.  

This was very important to providing a safe and secure environment for our residents.

Internal affairs

IRIS House provides housing and care for 55 residents.  We offer the Residential Rehabilitation Work Program for those residents who are willing to work.  We have crafts and activity programs for our residents.  Our residents  enjoy different outings that are offered to them. They have baseball games every Thursday .  Our IRIS team plays against the Salvation Army and the PACT team at Lanspeary Park. After the game, they all enjoy a barbeque at the park.

 By Sue Preston

The residents’ first car wash on July 26 was successful and raised $211.  This money will go toward a day trip & barbeque at Jellystone Park.

Our next one will be Saturday, August 23 at the rear of the building off Dufferin St.  We would appreciate your support.

 We would like to thank everyone  who donated flowers to IRIS. Our residents enjoy beautiful flowers that are now blooming in the front and back yard of IRIS, as well as, in planters on the side.

By Anne Ryan

 We have received $140,242 in donations (cash & in-kind services)  since we opened IRIS House in September 2002.  Thanks for being so generous.  We have an unfinished basement area we affectionately call the “Dungeon”.  We need donations to convert this into usable space for our residents.

We have 35 employees, 14 full-time, 9 regular part-time, 8 weekend call-in and 4 on HRDC JCP (Job Creation Program) grants.

Donations are always welcome. 

By Frank Sheehan

 Our first anniversary is approaching and we realize how much we have accomplished.  We have achieved our goal to provide supportive housing for those with PSMI.  We could not have done this without the generosity of our community. Donations of cash, furniture, household items and volunteer time were essential.  As I come into the building each day I realize how important the contributions of staff have been.  We were fortunate to hire great staff.  They took the initial vision of our Board of Directors and made IRIS a living breathing reality.  They have worked very hard to create a kind, caring and compassionate environment for our residents.  Their dedication has been the secret of our success.

IRIS House has been opened for almost one year.  We  took in our first residents on September 16/2003.  Some residents have been here since we opened.So again we asked the residents how they feel at IRIS.  These are some opinions, responses and comments:

“I think it is the best home in Windsor.  I feel the methods of giving out medication are excellent.  Most people here are very nice, especially the staff.” Jim Bondy

 “I feel I get plenty of  consultation when I ask for it. The staff is always willing to help solve my problems.” Gino Muzzin

“I enjoy IRIS House.  People go out of their way to help.  Staff is wonderful.  It feels more like home than any place I’ve been in.” Delima Bailey

“It has its ups and downs like any place.  But generally speaking it is a beautiful place with beautiful people.  I have my good days and my bad days.” LillianDexter

“I love it.  I love it because it is cool.  I don’t want to move.” Joe Adams

“The work program is extremely good.  I am happy here.  It is one of the best places I’ve been since home.” Todd Vicker

“I like IRIS. I think it is a good place for people.  IRIS is a benefit for people in need.” Steve Corazza

“I think it is a great place.  It’s basically a work in progress.  I think living here is one of the best.” Robbi-Lynn Jessop

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