Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The market need that Independent Housing Initiative is addressing with their community is substantial and increasing. There are far more adult residents of Wisconsin with IDD than there are safe, supportive, and affordable residential settings designed to accommodate their needs and wants through their lifespans.

There were 129,968 people who have IDD in the State of Wisconsin as of June 30, 2019, according to the In-Home and Residential Long-Term Supports and Services (LTSS) for Persons with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities: Status and Trends Through 2019 report produced by the Residential Information Systems Project (RISP) of the University of Minnesota. Of that total, 80,340 were 18 years of age or older not living in congregate settings.

More significantly, only 7,387 Wisconsin adults who have IDD who received Medicaid HCBS waiver funded LTSS lived in a home of their own. Wisconsin 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 63 percent.

In Wisconsin, 60% of IDD individuals live with a family caregiver because they are unable to find

appropriate housing. Even more concerning is that 26 percent of adults with IDD in Wisconsin are being supported by caregivers age 60 and older as of fiscal year 2019, according to the State of the States in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities from The University of Kansas Center on Developmental Disabilities. This particular demographic can be considered at-risk due to the fact the caregivers may soon need caregiving for themselves.

The IHI community will be an innovative, replicable, self-sustainable model that can be deployed across the State of Wisconsin and nationally. Individuals, foundations, and corporations interested in our vision, mission, and model have an opportunity to help us bring a compelling solution to market in the next 5-7 years.

We believe that our focus on Jewish life, blended residential model, and emphasis on community engagement and interdependent living sets IHI and its village apart from other organizations in Wisconsin.

The residents of our village will include individuals with and without disabilities. We will build out our setting in phases and expect to have 30-40 residents total when we are fully completed.

Our opening date will depend on a variety of factors, including obtaining the right land and the necessary zoning approvals, fundraising, and availability of construction materials and labor. We hope to see residents moving in sometime in the next 5-7 years.

We do not have land yet, but we are interested in hearing from landowners who feel a connection to our mission and vision. Our plan is to build within walking distance of a synagogue and be fully integrated in the surrounding community.

We do not have that information available at this time. We will disclose it at a later date.

We plan to offer both. The number and ratio will be determined after future research with families about their preferences and capacities.

We do not have that information available at this time. We will disclose it at a later date.

Assuming that IHI plans to offer for-sale units, residences would not be sold on the open market. It is a closed resale market. IHI would buy it back at a market-rate price per the original sales contract or broker a transaction with the next appropriate applicant on our wait list. It is our desire for families to get a fair market amount and not be penalized for trying an option for their sons or daughters.

Adults ages 21 and older who have an intellectual, developmental, and/or physical disability and who meet the requirements of our evidence-based application process. We will use this to determine who we believe can be successful in our residences. We expect there to be a range of abilities, support needs, and mobilities. Just because an adult who has disabilities may not be able to live independently doesn’t mean they couldn’t be a fit with our residential setting.

Residents will need to be able to communicate their wants and needs whether verbal, nonverbal, or through assistive or augmentative communications (AAC) sevices. Residents and their families will be required to demonstrate that they have a sustained ability to pay for housing, programs and community fees (as applicable), and utilities, and have in place the necessary supports.

We will not be a licensed skilled nursing or long-term care facility, however individuals who have developmental disabilities and are medically fragile or require periodic skilled nursing may be able to live successfully in our community as determined on a case-by-case basis.

Because our first priority is safety, we do not believe that adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities whose behaviors make them an unmanageable risk to the safety and security of themselves, other residents, staff, and guests, or to property will be able to live successfully in our community.

We will use an evidence-based application process to determine who we believe can be successful in our community.

Yes, very much so. We will be conducting focus groups and feasibility sessions with families and self-advocates. We hope to add at least one self-advocate as a full voting member on our board of directors.

Yes, that is our plan.

We don’t have that information available at this time. Our goal is to make it affordable to a wide range of adults and their families.

Adult residents with disabilities will utilize Wisconsin Medicaid waiver funding or private pay to pay for their daily supports and services. They will utilize SSI or SSDI to pay for their daily living expenses such as utilities, entertainment, clothing, and sundries, and we expect many also will utilize Wisconsin Food Share (food stamps) to pay for some of their food costs.

Residents with their own direct support professionals will be transported in those person’s vehicles for getting around the community. IHI will partner with the city or county for other transportation options.

Isolation and loneliness, lack of friendships outside of paid caregivers, food and housing insecurity, and lack of access to appropriate health and mental health resources are prevalent among adults with disabilities and often are acute and difficult to solve. The IHI community be a seting in which approximately 30-40 individuals will socialize, build friendships, share experiences, and support each other. Knowing that a friend is just a few doors away will encourage many to spend time with others. Our Community Manager will help facilitate friendships, provide opportunities out in the community, and organize community activities for residents and their guests as well as families and volunteers.

We have no plans for a formal employment program at the present time, however once our community is built and occupied we may have opportunities for residents to have a role in its upkeep and maintenance such as snow removal and landscaping.

Yes.

At present, we are planning for residents and their support staff to be responsible for breakfast and lunch and for IHI to perhaps offer a dinner meal service. We are continuing our research with families.

Yes, we plan to make fully adaptable kitchens a part of every residence based on the abilities of the residents. Some may be very capable with range tops, ovens, and microwaves. For those who aren’t capable or are still developing the skills to operate them safely, we will substitute modular counter/cabinet units in place of the range/oven.

Generally speaking we would discourage pets like dogs or cats unless they are certified support animals, but we will evaluate each Applicant on a case-by-case basis. We prefer to minimize the presence of pets because of noise, biting, scratching, and toileting concerns that could affect the quality of life in our community. Also, we respect that some residents may be afraid of certain animals or allergic to them.

One person per bedroom. We would be open to a couple in a romantic relationship sharing a bedroom.

We anticipate there will be expenses shared by all residents for which we will charge a Community Fee. The amount has not been determined.

We are investigating this option.

Each bedroom will have its own private en suite bathroom.

IHI expects that it will have a list of names of Applicants who have expressed a desire to rent and have been approved through our Application process, but it will be the responsibility of the Resident and Resident’s family to choose the renter. The State of Wisconsin will not be able to “place” anyone in your home.

The Resident, Resident’s family, and Resident’s Supportive Home Care staff will be responsible for ensuring their unit is properly maintained.

Washer and dryer in each unit.

There will be some limits and guidelines which will be determined at a later date.

A Resident may choose to live his or her entire life there assuming that they remain financially, physically, and cognitively able to do so with appropriate supports.

Each resident will have staff supports as determined by their person-centered plan.

There will be a Resident Code of Conduct. This will address appropriate conduct around other residents, staff, and visitors. If a Resident demonstrates behavior that presents an unmanageable risk to other residents, staff, and visitors, or to property that cannot be resolved, IHI will initiate a process for moving the Resident out of our community. We hope that our very thorough Application process can make sure that all Residents are able to live successfully in our community.

Yes, we will be a Jewish-inspired community.