All About LIGHTS

At LIGHTS, we have a proud history of helping some of our most vulnerable citizens find a place to call home. Find out more about who we are, how we got started, who helps us out along the way, and how you can help us, too.

Our History

It Began With a Mother’s Determination

Mary Pat Armstrong wanted nothing more for her daughter, Jenny, than most mothers want for their children: a fulfilling life she can call her own. But finding a home for Jenny, who has an intellectual disability, proved to be a three-year-long endeavour.

In 2003, she and her husband ultimately resorted to buying a house for Jenny and finding two housemates and a live-in caregiver. Mary Pat was struck with the realization that other families – thousands of them, in fact – were facing the same challenges. What if there were an organization that worked to find appropriate housing for those with intellectual disabilities and helped families budget and find financial supports to assist them?

This was the beginning of LIGHTS.

A long-time community volunteer, Mary Pat used her perseverance and determination to rally government support for this new service. She also approached Community Living Toronto, a recognized leader offering a full range of personalized supports and services to people with an intellectual disability and their families, to help.

LIGHTS officially launched in 2011, but the advisory board was recruited, fundraising started, and logistics were planned in 2010. Today, LIGHTS is making supportive housing a reality for many individuals with an intellectual disability. As a result, these citizens and their families are enjoying a much greater quality of life.

How can LIGHTS help? Explore our services

Our Partners

We couldn’t do it alone.

LIGHTS is all about community building. It’s with the help of others that we can do what we do. Our much appreciated partners include:

We also couldn’t do it without community donors including generous foundations, corporations, and individuals. Families from all around the city, province, and country have also generously donated funds.