Project Grant CE147256

COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING/CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING - CONSTRUCTION - PROJECT ABSTRACT: ONE SKY COMMUNITY SERVICES PROPOSES TO BUY A PROPERTY IN NORTHWOOD, NEW HAMPSHIRE AND CONSTRUCT A GROUP FACILITY THAT WILL HOUSE 6 RELOCATED INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE CURRENTLY LIVING OUT-OF-STATE AND SERVED BY OUR ORGANIZATION. THERE IS AN URGENT HOUSING SHORTAGE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES IN NH THAT IS DEPRIVING THESE INDIVIDUALS OF A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT - A DECENT PLACE OF THEIR OWN TO CALL HOME. THE PROBLEM IS WORSENING AS THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH AGING PARENTS, THOSE WHO REQUIRE 24/7 CARE, AND THOSE WITH INADEQUATE FUNDING AND FINANCIAL MEANS TRY TO MEET THE RAISING LIVING COSTS IN NH. AVAILABLE TREATMENT BEDS NEEDED TO MAINTAIN A PERSON'S RESIDENTIAL PLACEMENT WITHIN THE GEOGRAPHICAL BOUNDARIES OF NEW HAMPSHIRE ARE EXHAUSTED, RESULTING IN NUMEROUS OUT-OF-STATE RESIDENTIAL PLACEMENTS TO FACILITIES IN FLORIDA, PENNSYLVANIA, AND TEXAS. OUT OF STATE PLACEMENT SEPARATES INDIVIDUALS IN NEED OF SUPPORT FROM THEIR FAMILIES AND THE COMMUNITY THEY RELY ON, WHILE SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASING THE SUPPORT THAT INDIVIDUAL NEEDS DOUBLING THE ASSOCIATED COSTS TO CARE FOR THEM. IT ALSO MAKES MORE SENSE FOR AN ORGANIZATION SUCH AS OURS TO PLAY AN ACTIVE ROLE AS WE CAN ENSURE THAT THESE CHALLENGES ARE MET WITH KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE. ACCESSIBILITY IS JUST ONE OF THE MAJOR FACTORS TO DEAL WITH: PHYSICAL FACTORS SUCH AS WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE, WIDER DOORWAYS, RAISED ELECTRICAL OUTLETS AND LOWER KITCHEN SURFACES, AND THEN ENSURING THAT THE APPROPRIATE SERVICES AND SUPPORTS ARE IN PLACE WITH THE NECESSARY STAFF. ANOTHER IMPORTANT MOTIVATION IN CREATING THIS HOUSING IS TO INTEGRATE THESE INDIVIDUALS BACK INTO THE SEACOAST COMMUNITY AND OUT OF AN INSTITUTIONAL SETTING. A MOVE THAT THAT HAS FAR-REACHING BENEFITS FOR THE INDIVIDUAL'S MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING. ONE SKY COMMUNITY SERVICES, IS A NONPROFIT HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES ORGANIZATION, CONTRACTED WITH THE NH DIVISION OF LONG-TERM SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, LAUNCH ED AN INITIATIVE TO CONSTRUCT HOUSING TO HELP ADDRESS THE LOCAL HOUSING SHORTAGE CRISIS FACING OUR CLIENTS. WE ESTIMATE THAT WITHIN TWO YEARS, BETWEEN 75 TO 100 ADDITIONAL INDIVIDUALS WILL BE AT RISK FOR OUT-OF-STATE SPECIALIZED HOUSING PLACEMENT, FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF 70 RESIDENTS ALREADY LIVING IN OUT-OF-STATE. THEY DESERVE TO BE RETURNED TO NH WHERE THEY WERE RAISED, CARED FOR AND TO BE BACK IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS QUITE FAMILIAR AND SAFE TO THEM. THE EXORBITANT COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH KEEPING THESE INDIVIDUALS LIVING OUT OF STATE CAN BE MITIGATED BY CREATING HOUSING THAT IS SUPPORTIVE, AFFORDABLE GREATLY REDUCING THE YEARLY COSTS NOW PAID BY THE STATE WHERE THOSE SAVINGS CAN HELP TO PAY FOR FUTURE HOUSING NEEDS. LIVING WITHOUT STABILITY AND SECURITY THAT FAMILY AND COMMUNITY CAN PROVIDE - CAN DRASTICALLY EXACERBATE HEALTH CONDITIONS AND PREVENT THOSE CONDITIONS FROM BEING ADDRESSED. MANY OF OUR CLIENTS ALSO EXPERIENCE BEHAVIORAL CRISES AND ARE OFTEN TAKEN TO HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOMS. MOST WILL NOT BE ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL BUT WILL REMAIN IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM UNTIL AVAILABLE HOUSING CAN BE FOUND. THESE SITUATIONS CAN TAKE DAYS TO MONTHS TO RESOLVE BASED ON THE AVAILABILITY OF TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT TREATMENT BEDS APPROPRIATE TO THE INDIVIDUAL'S NEEDS. SADLY, THESE INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND ACQUIRED BRAIN DISORDERS WILL SPEND WEEKS AND MONTHS LANGUISHING IN EMERGENCY ROOM LIMBO. SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME, GENERAL REVENUE DOLLARS, AND PRIVATE DONATIONS PROVIDE LITTLE RELIEF IN ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE. ACCESS TO TREATMENT BEDS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY CAN ONLY BE CREATED BY RESIDENTIAL SUPPORT AGENCIES WITH CLINICAL PROGRAMS COMPREHENSIVE ENOUGH TO MEET THE CHALLENGES OF THE INDIVIDUALS WE SUPPORT. CONTINUED ACCESS TO A BROAD ARRAY OF SUPPORTS AND SERVICES, COUPLED WITH SAFE AND SECURE HOUSING IS ESSENTIAL AND BUILDS THE FOUNDATION FOR A FULL AND PRODUCTIVE LIFE IN ONE'S COMM