Our Story

Big endeavors often start with small steps.

The path to IHI began with conversation, with noticing what was missing, with advocacy, and now a plan of action. 

Four moms, Barbara Wells, Emily Peters, Linda Bader, and Shari Weingrod, came together in 2019, after years of conversations amongst themselves and their friends - to explore the world of lifelong housing for their children with different abilities and special needs, as they were growing to that stage of life. These moms grappled with where their children and others in the same situation would live when their parents were gone? What quality of life would they have? What friendships, what jobs, and who would look out for their well-being?

A Task Force Was Formed

The housing market in America is severely lacking, and the needs of the IDD community are large in need and number. This group of moms connected, a seed was planted, and after two sizable events for families in Milwaukee and Wauwatosa, formed a Task Force to further the work. The mission of the Task Force was to explore what was becoming an active community housing movement all over the country; to visit various places for residential living that are replacing the older model of group homes; to organize the information we gathered; and to, most importantly, bring awareness to our city and state about the desperate need for decent places to live for our population of adult children. We met at Bader Philanthropies for a year, around a table filled with interested people of mixed ages, backgrounds, desires, and needs. We represented many parents and organizations in Milwaukee. We continued on Zoom during the Covid years, hosted webinars and built a large container of knowledge.

We accomplished our goals, and ended the Task Force after 4 years. All of our resources are available on the DSAW.org website under Resources by Subject/Housing/CHTFWI. Today, there are numerous housing projects in the planning stages, and some already being built, by groups of parents and their advocates, in Grafton, Oconomowoc, Franklin, New Glarus, Brookfield, and Saukville, to name a few. Wisconsin has come to join so many other States in the USA in this bold shift and change of paradigm.

Friendship Circle

At the same time, a group of families who have known each other for many years, connected through Friendship Circle of Wisconsin, were also having table discussions about planning for their adult children with IDD, who know each other, work together, play together and have strong bonds already established. The missing component for THIS group is the housing - the most vital requirement for them is not to face loneliness in their adult years, but to be surrounded by a group of their peers and have enrichment to tap into together. The desire is to have interdependent living, where our children can help one another, and be supported in all levels of care to match their needs. We want to create a Jewish life for those that engage in and desire that, and will be open to the wider Milwaukee community.

Independent Housing Initiative, Inc. Formed

From all of this, IHI was born, working now to build lifelong housing, to be located in the North Shore of Milwaukee County, that will provide meaningful engagement, safety, affordability, and inclusiveness for adult children with disabilities, and others who choose to live there. The future residents will be the planners alongside their parents and supporters. Our intent is to have this realized in the next few years.

As you become our partners and join in this work, we want you to be aware of how dire the situation is for our children as they age. We want you to know the statistics of how many adults are waiting for housing possibilities that will never materialize. We want you to feel the impact when questions of what basic needs arise that make life viable for all of us, that are missing for these children who we all care about.

Mostly, after taking all of that in, we want you to help us build something beneficial, wholesome, creative, and caring, together. It is not a house, it is an environment that wraps all the modalities of wellness into an experience of friendship and love-the opportunities that we all require to live our best lives, to the extent that is possible. We so appreciate you joining our efforts in this exciting collaboration. Meet our leadership.