Another organization that received millions in taxpayer funding under the Ford government is now under police investigation, with provincial officials confirming the Ontario Provincial Police are examining the flow and use of public money provided to Jake’s House for Autistic Children.
Jake’s House is the second recipient of funding from Ontario’s Skills Development Fund to be investigated by the OPP’s anti-rackets branch. Police say the probe was launched after the province referred concerns related to transfer payments made through the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, adding that the investigation remains active and ongoing.
The Ford government said it expects all organizations receiving public funds to meet strict accountability standards and stated that the police investigation demonstrates those safeguards are working as intended.
Since the Progressive Conservatives took office in 2018, Jake’s House received more than $13 million in provincial funding, including over $9.5 million from social services and an additional $3.5 million from the labour ministry. The charity, once widely praised for its work supporting people with developmental disabilities, expanded its operations in recent years to include assisted living, training, and employment programs.
That expansion ultimately collapsed. In late 2024, the province abruptly cut funding to Jake’s House after internal records cited years of unresolved concerns related to governance, fiscal responsibility, and financial oversight. Shortly afterward, the charity closed its assisted living facility in Lucan, near London, forcing nearly 30 adults with developmental disabilities and several seniors to find new housing.
Jake’s House had long enjoyed close ties to high-profile political and institutional figures. Its founders, David and Irene Bodanis, were publicly associated with senior police officials and provincial leaders, including Premier Doug Ford, who attended and spoke at the charity’s events in earlier years. The organization also partnered with major construction unions and industry groups that have supported the Progressive Conservatives.
Provincial inspection records show compliance issues at the Lucan facility as early as 2022, including concerns related to financial tracking for residents requiring assistance. While some deficiencies were reportedly addressed, financial problems persisted. A private lender involved in financing the property later complained of non-payment spanning several years, prompting further scrutiny by provincial officials.
By early 2024, the lender had formally raised concerns with the government, leading to a provincial audit. Shortly after the audit findings were received, the ministry terminated funding, citing concerns over governance and accountability. Payments officially stopped in December 2024, and the facility was placed into receivership in May.
Legal filings indicate the lender is now seeking repayment of approximately $38 million tied to the property and related loans. The situation was further complicated by past personal bankruptcies involving the charity’s founders, which were annulled under financial arrangements connected to the same lender and property.
Families of residents affected by the closure have described the government’s decision as devastating, saying the facility had become a permanent home for their loved ones. Despite those pleas, residents were given only days to relocate before the facility shut down.
The charity has declined to comment on the investigation, stating only that it remains committed to supporting the autism community and warning against what it called unsubstantiated claims.
The unfolding case has raised renewed questions about oversight, political proximity, and accountability surrounding the distribution of millions of dollars in provincial funding. With the OPP investigation continuing, scrutiny is intensifying over how public money was awarded, monitored, and ultimately lost in one of the Ford government’s most high-profile funding controversies.