Communities to Know: Independent Apartment Communities
A category of housing we like for adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD) is Independent Apartment Communities (IAC). There are a handful around the U.S. and the leaders have banded together into the IAC Group to provide education, networking, resources, and support to nonprofits that might want to create their own.
The best way to understand what an IAC is comes from their website: “An IAC is a housing and supported service model specifically directed to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). An IAC combines many unique aspects that often are not found in traditional or common housing and supported service models throughout the United States. IAC's represent a unique, beneficial, and often preferred option for housing and supports for those with I/DD.”
Image Credit: http://independentapartmentcommunities.com/
We have visited two IACs - St. Louis Life in O’Fallon, MO, and Treasure House in Glendale, AZ. The first thing to note for both settings is that they are fully integrated in their respective communities. St. Louis Life is fully embedded in a mixed-use area full of homes, townhomes, condos, apartments, and a variety of retail. Walking through their access-controlled entrance leads you into the Commons Building and its very cozy large living and gathering space with overstuffed couches and a fireplace. It feels much like a large home. A separate but connected building has 16 one-bedroom apartments. It is a private pay setting.
Treasure House sits in a mixed-use area adjacent to an assisted living setting, office buildings, and at least one full-service restaurant. Also a two-story building, visitors enter into an expansive living, social, and dining space. Out the back it opens into an enclosed social and activity space. It is a modern almost resort hotel feel in the core area, with small gathering spaces along each corridor. Treasure House is comprised of 30 one-bedroom apartments, one of which is occupied full-time by a resident assistant. It also is a private pay setting.
The current listing of IACs is:
Casa de Amma (San Juan Capistrano, CA)
MY LIFE (a program of Keshet; Skokie, IL)
St. Louis Life (O’Fallon, MO)
Stephens Place (Vancouver, WA)
Treasure House (Glendale, AZ)
Weston Bridges (Aurora, IL)
The website is: Independent Apartment Communities | Home
