Supportive Living Environments for the Developmentally Disabled

W98-4: Hundreds of thousands of adult Americans are able to work or attend education/training programs despite their physical or mental disabilities. For these people, a supportive living environment can provide the opportunity to live independently but with the structure and support they need to make the most of their lives and to participate in the community. This paper outlines a proven approach to meeting their needs for housing which provides a supportive living environment. After describing the basic prototype, it reviews each step of the process: evaluating prospective residents, locating and improving the property, financial considerations, zoning matters, neighborhood relations, organizational structure, program operations and transition of the residents…