CASS HOUSING INC

FOR MANY PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, MOVING OUT OF THE FAMILY HOME IS THE GREATEST HURDLE THEY WILL EVER FACE AS THEY ARE MOVING AWAY FROM THE SUPPORT SYSTEM THAT HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR THEIR ENTIRE LIVES. CASS BELIEVES THAT HOUSING OPTIONS MUST BE MATCHED WITH THE CORRECT SUPPORT TO MAKE THE TRANSITION OUT OF THE FAMILY HOME POSSIBLE. HOUSING AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES ARE TWO VASTLY DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES. HOWEVER, THEY MUST WORK IN TANDEM TO HELP MAKE THE TRANSITION SUCCESSFUL. THE HOME ITSELF MUST BE CREATED AND/OR ADAPTED TO THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE LIVING IN THE HOME. WHILE THIS PHYSICAL SPACE IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF THE PUZZLE, IT IS ONLY THE BEGINNING. THE NEW SUPPORT SYSTEM MUST ALSO BE CUSTOMIZED TO MEET NOT ONLY THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF THE PERSON, BUT THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE FAMILY AS WELL. CASS IS DESIGNED TO OFFER DIFFERENT HOUSING MODELS WITH VARYING LEVELS OF SUPPORT FOR THE RESIDENTS. A STEWARD LIVES ON-SITE TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT, DEPENDING ON THE NEEDS OF THE RESIDENTS. CASS IS UNIQUE IN THAT THE CORE MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES CHOOSE THEIR HOME, THEIR HOUSEMATES, AND THEIR SUPPORT STAFF. EXISTING PROGRAMS RANDOMLY ASSIGN RESIDENTS TO LIVE IN A GROUP HOME WHERE THEY MAY NOT KNOW THE OTHER RESIDENTS. OUR PROGRAM PROVIDES CORE MEMBERS THE ABILITY TO LIVE WITH FRIENDS WITH WHOM THEY SHARE INTERESTS AND COMPATIBILITY. HOME GROUPS CONSIST OF THREE COMPATIBLE CORE MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN VETTED FOR A CASS HOME. CASS BUILDS OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES TO LAUNCH THEIR LOVED ONES INTO INDEPENDENCE WHILE PROVIDING SOLUTIONS THAT ADDRESS THE FAMILIES' CONCERNS OF SAFETY, AFFORDABILITY, RELATIONSHIPS, AND LIFE SKILLS. WE FOCUS ON CREATING A PATHWAY FOR FAMILIES AND CORE MEMBERS TO TRANSITION INTO OUR HOUSING PROGRAM THROUGH: "ACTIVITIES AND MATCH MAKING EVENTS TO HELP TO CONTINUE TO CREATE A COMMUNITY OF SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN THE PROGRAM. ALL FAMILIES ON OUR WAIT LIST ARE INVITED TO THESE EVENTS. "WORKING ONE ON ONE WITH INDIVIDUALS THROUGH THE TRANSITION INTO THEIR NEW HOME. "PROVIDING ONGOING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS TO DEVELOP MORE INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS (MONEY MANAGEMENT, HEALTHY EATING, HEALTHY LIFESTYLES AND VOCATIONAL SKILLS). THIS ADDRESSES SOME OF THE MISSING SKILL SETS IN CORE MEMBERS AS THEY LIVE ON THEIR OWN FOR THE FIRST TIME. AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2024, WE HAVE 16 INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN CASS INDEPENDENT HOUSES. OUR MOST RECENT INDEPENDENT LIVING HOME WAS OPENED IN 2024 TO HOUSE THREE ADDITIONAL CORE MEMBERS. WE ARE WORKING WITH APPROXIMATELY 100 FAMILIES TO SUPPORT SKILL BUILDING AND MATCH MAKING OPPORTUNITIES WHILE WORKING TOWARDS LONG-TERM LIVING SOLUTIONS FOR THEIR LOVED ONES. CASS IS THE ONLY PROGRAM OF ITS KIND OPERATING IN ALLEN COUNTY SERVING ADULTS WITH AN INTELLECTUAL AND/OR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY WITH LONG TERM HOUSING AND LIVING SOLUTIONS. OUR CORE MEMBERS ARE LEARNING TO LIVE IN A WHOLE NEW WAY THAT BRINGS THEM JOY, BRINGS THEIR FAMILY A SENSE OF LONG- TERM SECURITY, AND GIVES THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THEIR FUTURE THEIR OWN.