Independence Village
EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW
Pike Autism Support Services (PASS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a mission to provide individuals with autism and related intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) with social, recreational, educational, housing and employment opportunities.
We envision a day when individuals with autism and IDD enjoy fulfilling and independent lives, embracing emotional well-being, interpersonal relationships, social inclusion, personal growth, self-determination, and individual rights.
Our Residential Model
Weplan to develop a safe, supportive, and affordable neurodiverse residential village for 50-60 adults with and without IDD in Pike County, Pennsylvania to be called Independence Village. This innovative mixed-use community will serve adults with a range of abilities and disabilities. PASS will set a goal for no less than 2/3s of the residents to be adults with IDD. As a private community, PASS will determine who will live at the Village. Residents will advise the community’s design and management as members of the Village’s Resident Advisory Council.
Independence Village will be developed as a private, integrated housing community that provides: 1) affordable home ownership opportunities for individuals and families who have the capacity and desire to build long-term equity; plus, 2) rental units at multiple pricing levels for individuals with IDD who have limited income and resources and would benefit from a supportive residential setting.
● Townhomes. Weareplanning for six two-story units providing housing for 14 individuals with 1, 2, or 3 individuals per townhome. One or more units may provide a private bedroom and bathroom for a live-in caregiver.
● Smallh omes. Weareplanning for eight small homes with one or two residents per home for a total of 12 residents. One-bedroom homes would be roughly 750sf each, while two-bedroom homes would be around 1,000sf. Each would have its own front shaded porch with a common area located within each cluster.
● Apartment Building. We are planning for a two-story building with 20 apartments providing housing for 32 residents. There would be eight one-bedroom units roughly 750sf, and 12 two-bedroom units of up to 900sf each. The building’s common spaces would include gathering spots and sensory rooms on each floor, plus an elevator. Units will be priced at multiple levels to serve individuals with IDD who have limited income and resources.
● All residential units will feature a living room, dining space, full kitchen, private bathroom for each bedroom, closet and storage spaces, and laundry room. Each bedroom will be large enough for a queen bed, dresser, desk, chair, 2 nightstands, and a walk-in closet.
Enrichment Center
● Wealsoplan to build an Enrichment Center that will serve as a venue for educational programs and classes, events, and social gatherings for our residents and members of the greater community. We will partner with other nonprofits, agencies, advocacy groups, and schools that serve and support adults with IDD and their families.
Construction and Operations
We plan to develop Independence Village in Pike County. The location will be established once land has been acquired through donation or purchase. Funding for the estimated $11.8 million project will be sourced as donations received through a $8.8 million capital campaign to commence once land has been acquired, and $3.0 million in proceeds from sales of the small homes and townhomes. Operations of the residential community will be funded and sustained through a Community Fee assessed monthly to all residents. Operations of the Enrichment Center will be funded and sustained through tuition and fees from onsite programming and rental to outside groups for a variety of uses and events. Capital enhancements and an endowment will be funded through grants and donations.
Supports and Services
Independence Village will be the owner and manager of the residential community and the Enrichment Center. Neither Independence Village nor PASS plan to be the provider of direct support professional (DSP) supports and services. Residents and program participants who require DSP supports and services to live successfully in our housing or to participate in our programs will be required to contract with their choice of service providers and pay for those supports using Pennsylvania Medicaid HCBS waiver funding and/or private pay.
Independence Village staff will be primarily responsible for home sales, Enrichment Center rentals, programming, facilitating community culture and resident quality of life, security of residents, staff, and guests, and ensuring the common areas are well maintained. Independence Village plans to supplement staffing with smart home technology and volunteers.
Timeline
Independence Village presently is in its first full year of planning and fundraising with a goal to acquire land in 2025. Based on this assumption, Independence Village would launch a capital campaign in 2024 with a goal of breaking ground on site work and infrastructure as well as the Enrichment Center in 2028. Homes will be built as they are sold with completion of all residences by the end of 2030.
The Need is Great
There were 264,340 people who have IDD in the State of Pennsylvania as of June 30, 2019. Of that total, 80,340 were 18 years of age or older not living in congregate settings.1 More significantly, only 3.407 Pennsylvania adults who have IDD who received Medicaid HCBS waiver funded LTSS lived in a home of their own. Pennsylvania is one of the worst states in the nation in the percentage of individuals with IDD receiving LTSS who still live with a family member at more than 50 percent.
Even more concerning is that 28 percent of adults with IDD in Pennsylvania are being supported by caregivers age 60 and older as of fiscal year 2019.2 This particular demographic can be considered at-risk due to the fact the caregivers may soon need caregiving for themselves.
For More Information:
Contact John Passaro (jpassaro@passnepa.org) or Jeannemarie Passaro (jmpassaro@passnepa.org).
Independence Village Project Overview | Version 1.2 | ©2024 Pike Autism Support Services of NEPA, Inc.