Easterseals Arkansas introduces independent living through roommate housing program
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Finding a home that’s perfect for you isn’t always easy and it only gets harder for the 20,000 people Easterseals Arkansas helps each year.
Now they have a new option to gain independence starting with the Palisades at Chenal Valley in Little Rock. It is the first location of many the Easterseals hopes to start across the state where those with developmental disabilities or delays can find a roommate and a home tailored specifically for them.
For the first time in her life, Amanda Topich is living in her own place. Before taking part in Easterseals Arkansas’s Roommate Housing Program for Independent Living she said, “I didn’t have many options.”
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Thousands across the state in special needs programs either live with their parents or in group homes sometimes 100 miles away from their parents. This new, third option Easterseals said does not have to be in an apartment but can be in a home or anywhere.
“If you’ve got internet, we can make this work,” Easterseals Arkansas Senior Community Services Director Zach Lyons said.
The roommate housing program works by allowing smart technology to fill in the gap for some of the assistance people like Topich need, including smart locks, thermostats, medication dispensers and personalized apps for to-do lists and reminders.
This technology is customized for each resident, facilitating greater independence in managing daily tasks. Additionally, remote monitoring technology, such as video doorbells, motion sensors that can detect falls and stove sensors, ensures safety and security.
One support staff member can monitor up to ten homes simultaneously because a tablet in each living and bedroom has video conferencing ability for any questions or need a participant needs. The tablet also keeps a schedule and provides tutorials for skills like cooking and laundry.
“They may not be able to do everything, but they are doing more than we thought they could,” Lyons said. “It’s been really exciting to see the independence that they’ve been able to obtain.”
Prospective residents are carefully matched with compatible roommates through a thorough 41-question preference questionnaire. To ensure compatibility, Easterseals hosts social outings and meetups for potential roommates and their families, fostering a supportive community before the commitment to shared living is made.
Presently, seven adults are actively participating in this innovative approach to independent living, with plans for expansion to additional properties underway.
“I’m very happy and very supportive for what Easterseals is doing for people like me giving us independence and hope to live a more better life,” Topich said.
The goal is for Easterseals participants to only occupy about 10% of the units in the Palisades so that they can live among people unlike them.
“Our population has really been almost the most segregated population in the country, and now we’re getting to be part of an inclusive community,” Lyons said.
The program utilizes a unique housing and matching process tailored for individuals receiving the Community and Employment Supports Waiver. Easterseals collaborates with landlords to secure accessible housing in preferred community settings. Each residence accommodates two to four roommates.
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Operating on a unique model tailored to the residents’ needs, each roommate has an individual lease and is responsible for their share of the rent, utilities and household expenses. Depending on funding sources and landlord agreements, housing can also be adapted to meet accessibility and safety requirements.
To learn more about the program and potentially become a part of it, visit Easterseals.com.
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