Creative Housing and Therapeutic Community Websites
- www.pathfindervillage.orgPathfinder Village is unlike any other place on earth. It is a home where people who have Down syndrome discover their own value and talents, and share these gifts with others. It is a friendly, beautiful community where residents become involved and find opportunities. Pathfinder Village opened in 1980 with seven homes and a School. Since then, the Village has added more homes and programs, all with the goal of providing fulfillment for those who have Down syndrome.
- www.safehavenfarms.org Safe Haven Farms is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization offering residential, day and community services for individuals on the autism spectrum. It provides a variety of meaningful living, working, learning and leisure activities in a safe and accepting farm environment, where every individual is respected as a valued and contributing community member.
- www.nichehousing.org Our mission is to facilitate home ownership of quality, accessible, affordable housing, within integrated settings of cohousing communities. Using the principles of Universal Design and environmentally sound concepts, these homes will be ideal for persons with disabilities, seniors, and low-to-moderate income individuals and families.
- www.specializedhousing.orgWe work with families seeking supportive independent living situations for adults with developmental disabilities, learning disabilities, traumatic brain injuries, physical disabilities, or psychiatric illness. We are a development team of clinicians, lawyer, architect, and builders committed to creating housing for people with additional needs.
- www.fullspectrumfarms.org Full Spectrum Farms will serve adults with autism in WNC by providing a farm community where affected individuals can live and work in a healthy, enriching environment. Independence will be fostered through meaningful work, recreation, and community involvement.
- www.disabilityhousingnetwork.org Disability Housing Network (DHN) was established to promote and support education and best practices in the development and management of rental housing for individuals with mental retardation and developmental disabilities by member nonprofit housing development corporations.
- www.jacobsvillage.org Jacob’s Village was established to provide families with just such a trusted partner. Our Village is designed to fulfill the wishes of caring grandparents, parents, and other caregivers all over the nation, by offering a quality choice for the continued support of developmentally disabled adults. The dream and prayer of Jacob’s Village is that everyone living here will enjoy a life rich in experiences and opportunities, in an environment shaped by Christian principles.
- www.goodneighborvillage.org The mission of Good Neighbor Village is: to provide a residential opportunity in a community setting for adults with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities. The Village exists to meet with comfort and dignity, the housing, administrative, fellowship and community needs of the residents as they strive to be, to the best of their ability, productive and independent members of the community.
- www.beverlyfarm.org Illinois home to 380 adults was opened in 1897 by Dr. William Smith to practice his then revolutionary idea of caring for people with a wide range of developmental disabilities. Beverly farm has three types of living arrangements: 10 apartments, 6 group homes, and 10 cottages. Each member of the active Board of Directors has or has had a loved one in residence.
- www.atcoftexas.org The Autism Treatment Center was founded in Dallas, Texas in 1976 by a group of parents, some of whom were also among the founding members of the Autism Society. Residential programs provide a variety of living options for over 60 adults with autism spectrum disorder. This full service program is featured in the Autism Advocate’s fall 2009 housing issue – a must read issue for those interested in housing for adults with disabilities.
- www.camphillvillage.org 600 acres in upstate New York is home to 103 adults with developmental disabilities, known as villagers, 97 long and short-term co-workers and 43 children of co-workers who live together as extended families. A typical household has 4 to 6 villagers, 2 experienced co-workers, their children and 1 or two younger co-workers. Other locations in Pennsylvania and Minnesota.
- www.themissionproject.org Parents, guardians and friends of adults with developmental and cognitive disabilities established a not-for-profit corporation to support independent living in rental apartments for adults with developmental or cognitive disabilities and actively raise funds for this purpose. The goal is to create a community and support systems for participants to enable them to live as fully and independently as possible. Volunteers answer a 24/7 help line to provide support and respond to emergencies. Professionals provide job training and other assistance. Participants enjoy a wide range of cultural, fitness and social activities.
- www.larcheusa.org The International Federation of L’Arche consists of 133 communities in 35 countries. Each L’Arche faith based community involves people with and without disabilities living together. Mutual relationships and trust in God are at the heart of the program as are volunteers and charitable support.
- www.cooperriis.org A private specialized residential therapeutic community in Polk County, NC for people with mental illness that includes step down supportive housing to provide transitional support to independent living.
- beyondacademics.uncg.org/about/ A post secondary education program for adults with intellectual disabilities. On campus living in college housing. Program is designed to develop independent living skills.tt
Support Organizations / Technical Assistance and Research Websites
- www.narpaa.org National Association of Residential Providers for Adults with Autism. Members are 28 agencies, rural and urban, that provide services for adults with autism in 20 states. A major focus is training direct-care staff working in residential and employment programs for adults with autism.
- www.ncbraininjury.net The Brain Injury Association of NC website lists a family helpline and an online Resource Book with good sections on independent housing options and NC referrals for specialized services.
- www.autism-society.org The national website for the Autism Society. The fall 2009 issue of the Autism Advocate, published by the society, is devoted to residential options for individuals on the spectrum.
- www.arcnc.org The NC website for the ARC contains a comprehensive housing resource reference manual and lists current housing openings. Regional housing coordinators help develop supportive housing. The national website, www.arc.org, contains information about the Disability Policy Collaborative with United Cerebral Palsy that is an invaluable resource on federal legislative, regulatory and legal matters, including advocating for feral long term services and supports as part of health care reform.
- www.artausa.org American Residential Treatment Association lists therapeutic communities for mental health residential treatment, like the Cooper Riis facility in North Carolina.
- www.tacinc.org The Technical Assistance Collaborative, Inc., Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities Housing Task Force. The website provides extremely useful technical information to help organizations that help people develop housing.
- www.thedof.org This is a financial institution focused exclusively on the needs of people with disabilities by providing loans, co-lending opportunities with technical assistance.
- www.mercyhousing.org This is a major housing development organization sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy. #3 in the top 50 affordable housing owners. Develops affordable senior, family and special needs housing.
- www.teacch.com The TEACCH Autism Program is a division of the UNC Dept of Psychiatry. The program provides clinical services and conducts training and consultation nationally and internationally. The website includes regional listing of group homes (http://teacch.com/regional%20centers) to which TEACCH refers families and information about the Carolina Living and Learning Center, a residential treatment and research center.
- www.ghaautismsupports.org/carolina-farms/ Currently, Carolina Farms supports 15 residents in three homes. Operated by GHA, Carolina Farms is a new and innovative program in Albemarle, NC that will enable additional individuals from the ASD population to realize a dream of living and working in a farming environment in beautiful Stanley County. They opened their first home in January 2004.
- www.csh.org CSH is a national non-profit and community development financial institution with particular expertise in obtaining governmental housing and support funds. It also has a goal to leverage philanthropic and private funds as well as public moneys to make it easier to create and operate supportive housing.
- www.autismsociety-nc.org The Autism Society of NC (ASNC) has grown to become an organization that provides a variety of services for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their families. The primary focus of the organization has and continues to be advocacy for individuals and families and ongoing education of the public about the needs of the autism community.
Shared Living: The Possibilities
Are Endless
