Housing for the Developmentally Disabled
Your child may flourish living in a supportive intentional community, in a suburban single family house or in an urban apartment. (S)he may enjoy living alone, in the company of others with similar abilities or in the company of people of different ages and abilities. As a loving parent, your noble task is to determine where your child will flourish and see to it that (s)he is able to live in such a place. We can help.
Living Unlimited is a 501(c) (3) non-profit charity helps families establish and oversee the care and management of communities for people with and without disabilities to live safe, supportive, balanced, fulfilling lives with dignity, purpose, warmth, culture and employment, while encouraged to be as self-sufficient as possible and to reach their full potential.
Living Unlimited is helping families explore
Three Different Housing Concepts
Integrated Rural Communities
“Integrated Properties” are properties where there is a multitude of houses on one site. Properties such as this are rare and hard to come by. Other organizations have established such housing (mostly in other states) and they are thriving. They are, however, all full and provide no solution for our children. Additionally, since they were established as being all encompassing (meaning they not only provide housing, but include all services such as day programs, ILS or SLS), they may no longer be acceptable under the new rules and guidelines put in place by CMS. Living Unlimited’s concept is that housing and services are separate. LU manages the housing and outside vendors provide the services residents require.
About one-third of our Living Unlimited families report that an intentional community would be their first choice option for their adult disabled child.
If you feel your child might thrive in an inclusive community where nature and beauty are manifest in the raising plants and animals and the passing of the seasons, this option may be ideal. Take your child to a local petting zoo, equestrian park, park or large garden. If they seem to be at peace, you are probably on the right track.
Clustered Single Family Homes
Mostly Suburban
Our clustered home concept revolves around what we call an “anchor property”. A large property which can provide amenities that a typical suburban home may not have such as a large community room, a place for farm animals, room for an orchard and plenty of land for gardening. The community then gets filled out by homes close by (usually in a suburban development) that residents can live in and be within walking distance of the anchor and it’s amenities. Living in a suburban home is similar to the way most of our children are now living.
Thanks to “Angel Investors”, we have recently purchased a 4,000 plus square foot house on 5.5 acres in Petaluma to be the “anchor” for our first clustered home community.
Multi-Unit Homes
Mostly Urban – Apartments, Repurposed Assisted Living Homes or Converted Motels
This type of housing is located in more urban setting with the advantage of easy access to amenities.
To date, we have not identified any attractive properties, but have looked at enough to be able to describe what is in the market and what our options might be.