Supported Living Agencies

A number of agencies around the country are committed to providing only supported living services. These agencies share several attributes that contribute to the successful implementation of this approach including:
  1. They are small, nonhierarchical, nonbureaucratic, and personal.
  2. Leaders are driven by people and values, rather than regulations and funding.
  3. They have clear principles that drive their work.
  4. They are not defined in terms of narrow service categories but by the issues which affect people's lives such as poverty.
  5. They learn from experience and are open to change.

Described below are agencies that have taken the lead in successfully implementing supported living.

Options in Community Living
22 North Second Street
Madison, WI 53704
(608) 249-1585
Contact: Gail Jacob

Options in Community Living is a private, non-profit agency that provides support to approximately 100 people, including some with severe and multiple disabilities, to live in their own houses and apartments. The agency was one of the first in the Un ited States to develop this approach. It originally developed a "clustered apartment" approach whereby people lived in neighboring apartments located in one complex. Now people live where they choose and with whom they choose--sometimes by themselves, s ometimes with roommates.

About 24 people served by Options have paid roommates or personal care attendants to provide full-time support, using a variety of Medicaid and state funding mechanisms. For these people, Options acts as a broker--assisting them to recruit, screen, h ire, supervise, and, if necessary, fire their attendants. Options also provides support to about 75 people who do not require live-in assistance but who may need intensive services and supports to remain in their homes.

The agency has three teams of "community support specialists" who provide support, case management, training, and other services. All team members know each person supported by their team and can give each other support and assistance as well as prob lem-solving help when a dilemma arises. One of the agency's priorities, in terms of support, is to assist people to become part of their neighborhoods and communities, and significant staff time is devoted to this area.

This agency did not have the benefit of learning from the experience of others as it developed this approach and has relied on practices such as story telling and journal writing to reflect upon and learn from their own work. Some of the reflections of members have been compiled in Remembering the Soul of Our Work which is listed in the resource material section of this information package.

Neighborhood Connections
312 West Lakeside Street
Madison, WI 53715
(608) 251-1221
Contact: Sid Nichols or Maureen Quinlan

Neighborhood Connections is a non-profit agency that assists 19 people, most of whom have developmental disabilities and challenging behavior, to live in their own homes. The agency was formed by staff from Options in Community Living and is committe d to supporting people for whom community living is often thought not possible.

Most people the agency supports need a great deal of assistance. Though situations vary, many people have live-in assistants and receive additional support. This agency is grounded in the belief that staying small and maintaining strong personal rel ationships with the people it supports provides a foundation for success.

Supported Community Living, Inc.
220 West Main Street
Midland, MI 48640
(517) 631-4439
FAX (517) 832-5528
Contact: Rebecca Shuman or Myrna Barlett

Supported Community Living, Inc. is a coalition of The Arc of Midland, Michigan, the David Reece Fund, and Services for People with Developmental Disabilities Midland-Gladwin Mental Health. The coalition is working in cooperation with the Department of Social Services to provide low cost housing and supported living opportunities for people with developmental disabilities. These services are directed by individuals and their families.

Supported Community Living, Inc. is interested in sharing what is has learned in this effort, particularly related to collaboration between agencies, individuals, and their families. Members are currently in the process of developing training materia ls and technical assistance services. The agency is open to arranging visits with individuals living in their own homes to learn how these situations were made possible. There is a fee for these visits. For more information, contact the persons listed above.

NABORS, Inc.
(Neighbours Allied for Better Opportunities
in Residential Support)
2 Carlton Street, Suite 1001
Toronto, ON M5B 1J3 CANADA
(416) 351-0095
Contact: Beth French

NABORS is a non-profit organization that was started in Toronto in 1984 by a group of individuals with disabilities, parents, and allies. They were interested in expanding the housing options for people with disabilities. Out of this evolved the crea tion of two housing cooperatives--Chord and Courtyard--based on a vision of inclusion and diversity across people of varying ages, income levels, abilities, and cultural origins. NABORS works in conjunction with the coops to support the active membership and participation of a small number of people with disabilities.

Specialized Community Care P.O. Box 174
Bristol, VT 05443
(802) 453-4175
Contact: Scott Hill

Specialized Community Care was developed by former staff of Vermont's only institution. The agency's leadership is grounded in the commitment to supporting people with challenging behavior in the community. The agency supports 13 people, many of who m lived in the institution and were considered the most difficult to serve.

Each of these individuals shares a home with a person or a family who provides them with support. In addition, each person has a team of respite workers that is organized to provide regular assistance as well as support during difficult times. Overa ll, people who had much difficulty in the institution are living successfully in their own homes.

Job Path
22 West 38th Street
11th Floor
New York, NY 10018
(212) 944-0564
Contact: Fredda Rosen

Though Job Path has primarily provided support to people in community employment, it has recently shifted its focus to also supporting a small number of people in their living and social lives. This shift came about when agency leaders made a commitm ent to developing services that were responsive to the needs of people with severe disabilities.

Job Path's approach is based on the recognition that many people with severe disabilities have not had the opportunity to develop interests. Agency members work closely with individuals and their families to provide opportunities to explore their int erests and make connections in their neighborhoods. See Job Path: Shifting the Focus Beyond Work in the annotated bibliography section.

Atlanta Alliance on Developmental Disabilities
Suite 105
215 Lakewood Way, S.W.
Atlanta, GA 30315
(404) 622-5343
Director: Mary Yoder

The Atlanta Alliance on Developmental Disabilities (formerly Project RESCUE) supports children and adults with disabilities and their families, many of whom experience poverty, homelessness, exploitation, abuse, and discrimination. Forty-three percen t of those served are mothers with a label of mental retardation. The Atlanta Alliance on Developmental Disabilities provides a wide range of supports to people, including: in-home assistance; help in obtaining housing, clothing, food, and furniture; tr ansportation; support in work and recreation settings; assistance in making connections with neighbors and other community members and organizations; counseling; and support groups.

The guiding principles of the agency are that support approaches need to be personalized and that people need to be served on their turf. The relationship between the support staff and the family is critical. A chapter describing the efforts of this agency can be found in Life in the Community: Case Studies of Organizations Supporting People with Disabilities which is listed in the annotated bibliography section.

Training Toward Self-Reliance (TTSR)
2755 Cottage Way, #2
Sacramento, CA 95825
(916) 483-3817
Director: Charles Galloway

TTSR supports adults with developmental disabilities who live in their own homes and apartments. The agency places a priority on supporting people in ways that are not controlling. TTSR staff support a number of individuals with disabilities who are parents, and they support a number of people to manage their own personal care services. The agency uses person-centered planning as a vehicle to assist people to develop connections and relationships with other community members and organizations. Staf f have established key connections with a variety of generic service providers in the community. Overall, the agency has decided to limit its expansion in terms of numbers of people supported and instead focus on enhancing the quality of people's lives.< br>

Return to Table of Contents
Return to CHP Home Page