Creating your Housing Vision
by Abby Martucci, Families CCAN Program Director
Think back to the first place you lived after leaving your family home. Maybe it was an off-campus apartment when you were in college, or a shared home with half a dozen housemates right after you got your first job in a new city. Was it close to your workplace or school? Was it accessible to public transportation and shopping? Did you get along with your housemates? Did you feel safe and secure?
There are so many factors to consider when choosing a new home--and these considerations can become even more important for our loved ones with disabilities. Making the right choices can lead to a successful, long-term, more independent* housing arrangement.
One step in your housing journey will be creating a housing vision. For most people, this vision will not be a single statement so much as an ongoing conversation. When thinking about all of the choices involved, remember that exposure and representation are key. Seeing a variety of different housing options, settings, and situations will help you and your loved one to make a just-right choice.
Need help getting started? Here’s a tip: Think about all of the people in your life, and about their housing arrangements. Do you have friends or family members who live in rural, urban, and suburban settings? Use these contacts as a starting point for talking about which setting might best suit your loved one’s needs. If possible, go visit people in each of these settings and observe your loved one there. Do they love the hustle and bustle of Center City, or do they prefer a quieter, more pastoral landscape?
Families CCAN is here to help you work through this process!
Are you ready to take the next steps on your family’s housing journey? We still have a few spots available in our new Housing Readiness workshop, which begins on September 22nd.
If a one on one approach seems like a better fit for your family, we’re available to help through our Family Navigation Service!
Feel free to reach out with any questions--we’d love to hear from you!
*A note on language: I tend to use the phrase “more independent”, rather than just “independent” to highlight the fact that some folks, especially those members of our community with higher support needs, may require a high level of assistance in their long-term living situation. All of us live interdependently, and that looks different for everyone. Our goal at Families CCAN is to help everyone reach their personal goals for greater independence, whether that is living alone in the community with no formal supports, or sharing a home with housemates and 24/7 support staff. There is no one way to be more independent!
