Communities to Know in Indiana
Each month we will highlight something about intentional communities for adults with IDD around the U.S. This month, we want to highlight several existing and planned intentional communities in Indiana, including two projects that are LTO Ventures clients - ILADD and OASIS Community..
CASS Housing. This is an innovative project in Fort Wayne that is the brainchild of our friend, David Buuck. It is a cluster of homes each of which is actually two residences, on one side for 3 individuals with IDD, and the other side is for an intentional family neighbor they call Stewards. They also have a creative funding structure for getting the homes built. At present they have no openings, but we doubt they are done growing!
Damar Village. The Damar Village is a high quality, affordable living community designed especially for individuals facing some of life’s greatest challenges. It is a public living community that provides spacious and connected living experiences for those seeking integrated and supportive experiences. Located on 13 acres, the Damar Village is located in the heart of Decatur Township – on the southwest side of Indianapolis.
ILADD / Crossbridge Point. This is ILADD’s first project. Crossbridge Point will be a unique neighborhood located within the Wild Air development in Zionsville, Indiana. It will feature approximately 20 homes, with about 75 percent set aside for adults with IDD. The remaining homes would be for adults without disabilities who choose to live as intentional neighbors and provide natural supports to the residents of Crossbridge Point.
Logan / Hannah and Friends Neighborhood. Maura and Charlie Weis founded Hannah & Friends in recognition of their daughter Hannah. The mission of Hannah & Friends is to improve the quality of life for children and adults with special needs. This community in South Bend is comprised of four homes, an activities building, gym, and an equestrian center on 40 acres. It was acquired by Logan Community Resources in November 2019 [article] who remain the operators.
New Hope of Indiana. The largest not-for-profit provider of residential services for individuals with disabilities in Marion County offering safe, accessible and affordable housing so they can live as independently as possible. New Hope operate 52 homes (41 supported living and 11 group homes) in both Marion and Hamilton counties.
OASIS Community. This will be a gated neighborhood of individual mostly for-sale homes and duplexes facing a shared community space. It will include a community center, walking trails, green space and an accessible playground for children and adults. As a neurodiverse neighborhood, OASIS Community will be a mix of neurodivergent and neurotypical residents who choose to live there as supportive intentional neighbors.
Sharing Meadows Community. Five villages make up the Sharing Meadows residential community. Each village has three houses, with two villagers and one steward per house. The villages are located on 200 acres in rural LaPorte, Indiana, where Villagers are able to spend their free time at the swimming pool, by the lake, or in the woods.
Villa Licci. A community in planning phase, Villa Licci will be done over the course of multiple phases. They are fundraising goal for our current phase, Phase II – which includes the initial residential building and accommodations for our first residents – is $14.5 million. Currently, they are in possession of 13 acres of land in Central Indiana, which is the future site of their first Villa Licci Community.
Village of Merici. The original building provides twenty affordable apartments in the historic Fort Harrison area on the northeast side of Indianapolis. They recently opened units in the North End Apartments in Carmel in collaboration with Old Town Properties, and this Fall plan to open their new Brunette Building which once housed two companies of infantrymen and has been transformed into 32 new, ADA-compliant condominiums.