We’re developing more than housing.

We’re developing a societal shift.

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Limited Data, Options, and Time

There are an estimated 7.43 million Americans with I/DD. Of those Americans, only 1.55 million are known to or served by their state developmental disability agency.* Of the population known to/served by their state, 61% live at home. That number is over 80% for people not served by their state.* Lack of coherent housing policies have left stakeholders with very limited data to quantify housing and support needs.**

This means that over 80% of our fellow citizens with I/DD are left to figure it out with the support of family members. And for adults with I/DD, 50% of their family members are over the age of 50.*** We are running out of time, and while monumental strides have been made, it hasn’t been enough.

*Larson, S.A., Neidorf, J., Pettingell, S., Sowers, M. (2022). Long-term supports and services for persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities: Status and trends through 2019. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota, Research and Training Center on Community Living, Institute on Community Integration.

**Resnik, D. D., & Kameka Galloway, D. (Eds.). (2020). A Place in the World: Fueling Housing and Community Options for Adults with Autism and Other Neurodiversities. Phoenix, AZ: First Place AZ; Madison House Autism Foundation; the Arizona Board of Regents for and on behalf of Arizona State University and its Morrison Institute for Public Policy at the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions.

***Mahar, Elizabeth; Sladen, Jennifer; Nitsch, Casey. Older Caregivers of People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Grantmakers in Aging. https://www.giaging.org/issues/older-caregivers-of-people-with-intellectual-developmental-disabilities/#:~:text=In%20the%20U.S.%20today%2C%20there,with%20caregivers%2060%20or%20older.

EmpowerMe Living will harness the power of private capital and decades of commercial construction, real estate management, and equity fundraising experience to create networks of consumer-controlled housing choices across the country.

EmpowerMe Living was founded in 2022, and we’ve been working diligently since then hosting focus groups and meeting families, networking with industry champions, identifying properties and forming new partnerships. We currently have a pipeline of potential properties but do not have any housing available yet. Please sign up for our newsletter for housing updates.

Network of Housing Choices

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    Single Family Homes

    Freestanding single family homes primarily designed for one individual or an individual family.

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    Shared Homes/Duplexes

    Homes designed with a shared wall in a duplex style for an individual and caregivers or homes designed to be shared by two to four people living together with en-suite private rooms and shared common space.

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    Apartment Communities

    Apartment or condo communities with individual apartments available for rent or sale including intentional campuses and neurodiverse campuses.

Housing Features

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    Universal Design

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    Natural Light

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    Green space

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    Communal Space

Benefits of the Network

  • Multiple housing options creating choices based on needs and preferences

  • Choice of provider

  • Built-in natural supports

  • Property manager specialized in serving the I/DD community

  • Ability to leverage shared resources like transportation

  • Opportunities for social engagement

  • Community integration

  • Opportunities for home-ownership

Cincinnati: Home of the First Network

Wealth of Resources

Cincinnati is home to a wealth of resources to support the I/DD community, including one of the top Down Syndrome Associations in the country.

Healthcare Leader

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital is #1 in the nation, and The University of Cincinnati’s Freeman Center is dedicated to healthcare for adults with I/DD.

Global Business Leader

Cincinnati is home to more Fortune 500 companies per capita, including Kroger, P&G, and Cintas. These companies infuse funding into our communities.

America’s Test Market

Due to its demographic composition and location, Cincinnati is one of the country’s top test markets for new products and concepts.

Tristate Location

Cincinnati’s proximity to Kentucky and Indiana allow for future growth and expansion.

Headquarters

EmpowerMe Living is based in Cincinnati.

We received permission to include the following testimonials. Caregivers worked with their loved ones to provide insights and ensure both perspectives were considered. We will continue to build this section to showcase the diverse perspectives, needs, and preferences of people with I/DD. Interested in providing a testimonial? Contact us. 

Who This Benefits