Indwell is blessed by the gifts of many volunteers, tenants, supporters, and staff. Indwell’s outlook has always been “What do you have and how can you use it?” which goes back to its founding.

In the early 1970s deinstitutionalization was in full swing in Ontario, and across North America. Wards in long-stay psychiatric hospitals were closing and patients were being discharged back to their families and community based housing. All well and good. Except that too often there weren’t sufficient homes and supports in the community, or families were under-equipped to support their loved ones. An unintended consequence was people living unsupported, or inadequately supported, in substandard or dangerous housing, and tragically, on the street.

The Homestead

In Hamilton, by 1974, concerned Christians got together, formed a volunteer board comprised of professionals and others, raised funds, recruited staff and volunteers, and supported 6-8 people at a time in group home setting. They soon moved from a rented home in Hamilton Centre to a purchased home on now-trendy Locke St.

The Homestead, as it was then called, was an innovative program respected and supported by health care and social service providers. Residents worked hard, alongside house parents who staffed the home and volunteers to transition to independent living, usually within a year or two.

In 2000, with financial backing from Bill Voortman, The Homestead was able to purchase a nearby apartment building which, with some cleaning up and renovation, became 40 apartments which today is home to about 60 people including some families, including some of the original tenants.

Wentworth Program

Our Wentworth Program began in 2002 and continues to provide a high level of support in the 25-room residential care facility, as well as offering standard supports in two neighbouring apartment buildings—25 one-bedroom apartments and 11 studio apartments.

A legacy of excellence in care

Our program not only supports residents but has also served as a training ground for many dedicated staff members over the past 20+ years, fostering a legacy of excellence in care. The residents enjoy daily meals in a homey atmosphere, and annual barbecues involve volunteers, friends, family and community members. Some of the residents have even crafted their own anthem, “Take Me Home, Wentworth South.” (It may sound a lot like a certain well-known John Denver song!)

What started as a small group of people asking how they could use their gifts to help individuals who didn’t fit into the system, morphed into Indwell. Today we continue to ask how individuals can use their gifts to help, whatever their gifts may be.