Assisted Living and Supportive Housing

Kotitalo (KOT)



725 North St.

Kotitalo provides supportive housing and enhanced living. 

Kotitalo, founded in 1982, is a Supportive Housing Program which is partially funded by the North-East Local Health Integration Network (NE LHIN).  Click here to view OFRA's Agreement with the NE LHIN.  Kotitalo provides sheltered housing and enhanced living. Services are provided to senior citizens over 60 and those disabled individuals who are between the ages of 55 to 59.

Resident services place emphasis on the physical, social and spiritual needs of the individual and/or groups. Enhanced supportive living includes personal care attendant services, dietary services, housekeeping, laundry, medication/security checks and activation programs.  Our community health service partners provide a variety of in-house programs such as physiotherapy, dental hygiene, low vision and hearing services, nursing care, and many more.

Services are provided in a milieu of Finnish culture and traditions. Kotitalo, through its management, staff and Residents’ Council promotes and encourages social activities to allow residents to maintain an optimum quality of life.

Kotitalo is a three-storey building with two elevators and 111 separate units with balconies. Each unit has a private bathroom and a small kitchenette. 

Our tenant applications can be picked up at 725 North Street or downloaded here.

Amenities at Kotitalo:

  •  24-hour Emergency Response available 24 hours, 7 days a week
  • Limited personal care services (e.g., assistance with one bath weekly)
  • Morning/evening care for residents that require more intensive care (i.e. awaiting nursing home placement or post hospitalization) 
  • Medication assistance (daily administration or reminders)
  • Planned recreational and leisure activities (e.g. shopping trips, outings, church services) 
  • Lunches and suppers are provided daily with afternoon and evening snacks (breakfast is the resident’s responsibility, although breakfast muffins and coffee are available for a small price in the dining room) 
  • Weekly laundry services
  • Weekly housekeeping services, including bed changes
  • Limited nursing services available to those who qualify
  • Hearing care clinics—every 2 months
  • Blood pressure clinics by volunteer nurses—once per month
  • Mail delivery—outgoing mail collected Monday through Friday. Stamps can be purchased during business hours at the front desk. 
In addition, the following services are available through external providers. OFRA staff are happy to assist in connecting interested residents to these and other external services; however, please note that additional charges may apply depending on the provider.
  • Foot care nurse 
  • Dental hygienist 
  • Milk delivery—every Wednesday
  • Physiotherapist (unless deemed high risk and service approved through CCAC)
  • Hairdressing services—available 5 days/week and every second Saturday

Found the perfect match?

To get started,  download and complete the Kotitalo Application Form & Medical Assessment below.
Kotitalo Application & Medical Assessment

Eligibility Criteria for Admission

Note that a physician is required to complete a medical assessment prior to admission and that the Ontario Finnish Resthome Association determines eligibility for admission and manages the admission application process. Furthermore, in order to be admitted and continued admission, care requirements cannot exceed the supportive housing program’s ability to meet your needs.

A new applicant must meet ALL of the following criteria in order to be approved for admission:
  • Disabled adult (55 years of age or older) OR adult aged 65 years of age or older
  • Have a medical assessment on file that has been completed within the last year and indicates that the applicant is suitable for admission to a supportive housing facility
  • Must be able to ambulate independently or by using an assistive device (e.g., wheelchair) to transfer self from wheelchair to chair or to bed independently (motorized wheelchairs/scooters are NOT permitted)
  • Must be able to complete his/her daily personal care, such as dressing and daily washing (unless partner able to provide this care)
  • Must be mentally alert and not at risk of wandering outside or at risk of safety to self or others
  • Must not be incontinent of bowel or bladder functioning unless able to change self
  • Must be able to prepare own breakfast
  • Must be able to control and take his/her own medications
  • No outside storage
  • OFRA is a smoke free property. Smoking is not permitted in apartments, balconies, bathrooms, public indoor areas and on OFRA property.
Please note:
  • Kotitalo Assisted Living Supervisor at the Ontario Finnish Resthome Association determines your eligibility for admission. You can find a description of the eligibility criteria on the facility information page
  • The cost of the medical assessment is at your expense and that additional medical assessments may be required before you are admitted. These are also at your expense
  • Admissions Monday to Friday during business hours
  • Kotitalo is exempt from Municipal Property Taxes and the rent payments do not qualify for calculating Property Tax Credits
  • The manager at Kotitalo will do an admission assessment when an apartment becomes available to determine eligibility to supportive housing.
  • Joint applicants (i.e. spouse/partner) to the supportive housing facility are to be assessed separately
  • For more detailed information regarding care services at Kotitalo, call the manager at 705-945-9987 Ext. 225
  • For tours please contact Tania Lavoie, Admission Coordinator at 705-945-9987 ext 243.
Return completed forms to the Ontario Finnish Resthome Association, 725 North Street, Sault Ste. Marie, ON P6B 5Z3. 

All information is confidential when completed.