Local Non-Profit Awarded Grant to Build Apartments for IDD Community
Date Posted: October 31, 2024
Posted In: News, Organizations,
Promise Community Homes (PCH), St. Louis’ premier provider of safe and accessible homes for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, intends to expand its service model of free-standing houses to include multi-unit apartment homes. The Productive Living Board has awarded an anticipated multi-year grant to jump-start PCH’s plan to expand its residential living offerings, helping to combat housing insecurities and inequities that the IDD community continues to face.
“For adults with IDD, choice is scarce when it comes to finding a home that offers opportunities to live as active and independent members of society,” says Matt Elmore, Promise Community Homes Executive Director. “We are thrilled to set a new standard for accessible living as we design and construct an apartment building that meets the needs of our residents from the ground up. We will take everything we know from renovating existing homes, combined with best practices in accessible construction, and create a new understanding of how to address the growing and changing demands of this community.”
The PLB grant and expansion plans come on the heels of more than $1 million of projects in 2023 that improved many of the organization’s 80 homes located in neighborhoods throughout St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County, and Jefferson County. Nearly 300 adults with IDD call a Promise house their forever home. The new multi-dwelling building will become home to up to 20 adults with varying abilities, creating more inventory of in-demand homes designed with the accessibility standards required for adults with IDD.
“Our partnership with Promise Community Homes reflects our mission to fund quality services, foster collaboration, and drive innovation, as well as our shared commitment to providing inclusive and affordable housing solutions that support independent living for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This investment underscores our commitment to long-term, impactful solutions that empower individuals to live the lives they choose,” says Becky Herschbach, Executive Director for the PLB.
Comprised of only eight or 10 two-bedroom units, PCH’s new dwelling will have a relatively small footprint compared to most apartment developments. This innovative approach allows for privacy and independence within the economic constraints of the real estate market. The structure will allow freedom in mobility through the apartments with open floor plans, cohesive flooring, roll-in showers, and mindfully placed kitchen appliances. Each apartment will be an assistive and enabling technology environment with keyless entry, numerous electrical outlets placed with consideration of ease of access, and more.
“Promise Community Homes is keenly aware of the slight, but important differences in housing that make choice and independence for this population a much-needed reality,” says Elmore. “We find the right homes, make them perfect for our residents, and offer rent at below-market rates,” says Elmore. “Our homes allow residents to live independently and age in place, within the community they know, for life.”
In the late 1960s, a group of parents came together, asking “what’s next?” for their aging children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Now, 51 years later their promise endures. The only organization of its kind in the region, Promise Community Homes is the expert provider of safe and affordable neighborhood housing for adults in the IDD community. As benevolent providers of welcoming homes, we give families peace of mind knowing their loved ones live in a well-maintained home, with care provided by trusted partners.